CeTech and Vasco launch authentication-as-a-service

Sydney-based managed services provider, CeTech, claims to have become the first Australian company to launch two-factor authentication as-a-service.

The company’s offering is based on Vasco’s Digipass authentication tokens and allows customers to access identity management on a per user, per month fee. The service has no upfront or install cost and starts from $20 per user, per month for up to 20 seats. Organisations with 21-100 users will be charged $15 per individual. Those with 101-200 seats are charged $10. All prices are based on a 36-month contract.

The solution is based around a specially designed hardware unit, which hooks into a customer’s infrastructure and is managed remotely by CeTech. The appliance is based on a Linux operating system and includes CeTech’s remote monitoring and reporting applications and Vasco’s identity management platform. All user information is hosted in the services provider’s datacentre facility.

CeTech managing director, Craig Barnett, said it had been looking for ways to make authentication adoption easier for its customer base. Previously, organisations would need to meet certain internal technical and skill requirements to implement authentication solutions.

The cost was also often prohibitive for smaller companies, he claimed.

“This has opened up the availability of this kind of security to businesses that wouldn’t have accessed it any other way because of technology and cost,” Barnett said. “A lot of partners and companies have found it too hard.”

He hoped to have 10,000 users per month managed through CeTech’s authentication service. Target markets included its core SMB managed services customer base, along with other systems integrators and services providers.

Barnett said authentication-as-a-service was not only a security tool, but could also extend into broader identity management. As an example, he said it could be used to give gym members individual information access at a gym or fitness centre.

“We want to push the boundaries around what this technology can do,” Barnett said.

Vasco channel manager, Gary O’Sullivan, said CeTech’s new offering was the first of its kind across the vendor’s partner base globally. Depending on how the service is received in Australia, Vasco hopes to take the initiative into other markets.

“What’s great about it as CeTech is selling its own solution, but also selling Vasco Digipasses,” he said.

Vasco continued to invest in and expand its local channel, and trained 65 engineers in Australia over the past year, O’Sullivan said. It now has 15 certified partners.

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