Equifax Expands Trusted Identity to the Federal Government Cloud

ATLANTA, Nov. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax is collaborating with Hewlett Packard Enterprise Services to expand the HP cloud-based Assured Identity Plus solution with Equifax's Identity offering, Anakam Identity Services. The integration of Anakam Identity Services into HP's Assured Identity Plus will make possible remote online identity proofing and tokenless authentication for federal websites. The joint effort combines the strength of Equifax, the leading public identity assurance provider, and HP's Assured Identity Plus service to offer strong, trusted credentials to the U.S. public sector market.  This will ensure that users are trusted before given access to secure government sites and provide strong web-based authentication when it is impracticable to issue a card, token, or other device.

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HP's Assured Identity Plus Two-factor Authentication and Identity Proofing services augment common access cards (CAC) and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) by supporting non-card carrying stakeholders and disenfranchised card users unable to use their card at home or at work. This complete identity management solution is fully compliant with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Level 3, HSPD-12 and OMB M-11-11.

"Users can be authenticated and begin work immediately, even before the card or token has been issued and provisioned," said Equifax Anakam Identity Services' Chief Technology Officer Brent Williams. "This significantly reduces down time for new hires and contractors.  Additionally, retirees, veterans, and dependents can securely access their benefit information without having a physical CAC or having to prove their identity in an expensive time-consuming face-to-face check," he added.

The identity management and security solution will provide the option of strong authentication tools to users without requiring the use of tokens, smart cards, or other devices. This gives federal agencies a complete solution from remote identity proofing of trusted users to NIST Level 3 user authentication in any situation. Government personnel and citizens accessing the sites can simply use their own computer or handheld device with a web browser.

Equifax is the innovator of identity proofing, securing over 60 million identities annually across multiple markets, and has unique ID verifying databases and analytics to accurately secure users' identity. The Anakam Identity platform provides a secure, remote identity proofing capability to enable seamless registration for strong authentication which allows users to register for trusted access from remote locations —even in time sensitive situations. Use of strong authentication delivered to devices the users already have, such as a mobile phone, provides access to resources that are not smart card enabled. This is an enormous benefit for those with legacy systems and for users who are not issued a card or token.

Assured Identity Plus will be offered in both the public and private sectors with a flexible suite of solutions tailored to each client.  Visit HP and Equifax at the Smart Card Alliance in Government Conference, through November 4, in Washington D.C. to see a demo of the Anakam Identity Services solution working with Assured Identity Plus.

About Equifax

Equifax Inc.  (NASDAQ: EFX) is a global leader in consumer and commercial information solutions, providing businesses of all sizes and consumers with information they can trust. We organize and assimilate data on more than 500 million consumers and 81 million businesses worldwide, and use advanced analytics and proprietary technology to create and deliver customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Equifax operates in four continents and 16 countries, and is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500® Index.  Its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EFX. For more information, please visit www.equifax.com

For more information about Equifax's identity services, visit www.anakam.equifax.com or call (888) 826-2526.

SOURCE Equifax