The expanded agreement will focus on tighter integration between the RSA SecurID two-factor authentication system and the Passlogix v-GO Sign-On Platform. The announcement also presages the transition of responsibilities for RSA’s own enterprise single sign-on (ESSO) solution, RSA Sign-on Manager, to Passlogix.

There are two distinct aspects to consider in light of this announcement.

At the time RSA was acquired by EMC, some expected that EMC would acquire further to expand RSA’s identity and access management (I&AM) suite to incorporate a provisioning capability. It seems now that this expectation will not come to fulfillment, as it is likely that EMC considers that offering a more extensive I&AM suite – incorporating the most business-oriented I&AM capability, provisioning – would not suit the context of its other offerings, which are sold to a customer base that is more technically skilled than business-focused.

Given the strength of the competition (primarily Oracle and IBM, and, to a lesser extent, Sun, and others) in selling end-to-end suites, in what is now quite a mature market, EMC may well be wise in making this choice, and it certainly has other ways in which to capitalize on the value of RSA’s technology, in applying direct security to information under storage and management within its products.

The second notable aspect is the continued success being attained by Passlogix in the I&AM market. From its position of strength in the cosy corner of SSO (that most mature of all I&AM capabilities), its ESSO offerings form part of the more extensive I&AM ranges from IBM, Oracle, BMC, Sun, and HP (as well, of course, as RSA) – an impressive array of partnerships indeed.

In some of these cases, its partners have their own flavor of the v-GO range, adding a few specialist niceties, but all have largely the same functional scope – being so mature, SSO is somewhat commoditized as a product area.

Nonetheless, from that position, Passlogix now has an enviable reach into the customer bases of a number of major vendors – a fact recognized by RSA such that, rather than their primary relationship comprising Passlogix’ supply of v-GO into RSA’s suite, Passlogix will now become a certified RSA SecurID reseller, and plans to natively integrate support for RSA SecurID authentication technology into the v-GO sign-on platform.

The integrated solution will be available directly from Passlogix, and from Passlogix’ OEM and channel partners, thereby increasing RSA’s opportunities for further penetration into the massive market for strong, two-factor authentication solutions. Strong authentication complements SSO, as it provides the necessary additional level of security (beyond solely passwords) to assure that the convenience and efficiency benefits of SSO are better protected.

You don’t have to be a huge, powerful vendor to hold some sway in a large, mature market. Passlogix has stuck to what it’s good at over the last few years, and used its excellent technology to forge successful, high-status partnerships. Its potential to benefit from these is even greater, given the deal with RSA.

Source: OpinionWire by Butler Group (www.butlergroup.com)