Duo Security and Intel Announce Collaboration on Native U2F Authentication for Windows Devices

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Intel Corporation announced that it will collaborate with Duo Security, a cloud-based Trusted Access provider protecting the world's fastest-growing companies, to provide native Universal Second Factor (U2F) support - as created by the FIDO Alliance - embedded into Windows systems with 7th Generation Intel® Core™ Processors.

As organizations across the world update their endpoints in the coming years, companies can utilize native U2F support and integrate their client devices with Duo to provide secure access for customers and contractors.

U2F is an open authentication standard that enables internet users to securely access any number of online services, with one single device, instantly. Using public key cryptography, U2F is widely considered one of the most secure methods of authentication available, as it secures logins, helps prevent phishing attacks, and stops adversaries from stealing user credentials, all while providing strong privacy assurances to the user. Duo and Intel believe that incorporating the best authentication technologies natively into hardware will accelerate adoption of the U2F standard by making it even easier and less expensive to adopt. Duo has proudly supported U2F as an authentication method since 2014, delivering the easier and more secure authentication methods for end users.

As two-factor authentication becomes more widely adopted, it is critical for organizations to move away from less secure secondary authentication methods such as one-time passwords (OTP) or SMS. Recently, the U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technologies (NIST) recommended against SMS as a two-factor method. As a result, Duo and Intel expect growing adoption of the U2F standard, especially as it becomes more widely available for implementation without additional capital expenditure.

Duo Security will demonstrate a working prototype of Duo U2F authentication on 7th Generation Intel® Core™Processor-based systems from February 13-16 at the RSA Conference 2017 at Duo Security's booth (#1247) in the Moscone Center South, San Francisco.

The Duo/Intel prototype takes advantage of Intel's 7th Generation Core Processors that incorporate Intel® Online Connect technology and provide full support for U2F that works seamlessly with Duo.  Intel Online Connect allows companies to benefit from the advantages of using U2F as their second factor without having to make an additional investment in 3rd party hardware, Duo expects this to make U2F available to a much broader range of customers and help drive adoption of the standard.

About Duo Security
Duo Security is a cloud-based Trusted Access provider protecting thousands of the world's largest and fastest-growing companies and organizations, including Dresser-Rand Group, Etsy, NASA, Facebook, K-Swiss, Paramount Pictures, Random House, SuddenLink, Toyota, Twitter, Yelp, Zillow and more. Duo Security's innovative and easy-to-use technology can be quickly deployed to protect users, data and applications from breaches, credential theft and account takeover. The Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company also has offices in San Mateo, Calif.; Austin, Texas and London. Duo Security is backed by Benchmark, Google Ventures, Radar Partners, Redpoint Ventures and True Ventures. Try it for free at www.duo.com.

SOURCE Duo Security