BIO-key Introduces ID Director for SAML, Enabling Simple, Secure and Efficient Biometric Single Sign-On to Hundreds of Applications

RSA 2019 - SAN FRANCISCO and WALL, N.J., March 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (NASDAQ: BKYI), an innovative provider of biometric authentication and security solutions, today announced the general availability of ID Director for SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language), which provides streamlined, cost-effective integration of fingerprint authentication for SAML-enabled applications by making BIO-key authentication available as an on-premise or hosted Identity Provider (IDP) in a SAML 2.0 framework. 

ID Director for SAML enables enterprise customers to incorporate the unmatched simplicity, security, and operational elegance of BIO-key’s biometric technology as a Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) solution for single sign-on to hundreds of SAML-enabled cloud services and leading Identity and Access Management (IAM) platforms. Using ID Director for SAML, password-less, biometric single sign-on authentication can be configured in minutes with point-and-click ease – no coding required.

ID Director for SAML’s use of BIO-key’s patented WEB-key biometric platform enables an effortless-yet-secure user experience, raising security to the highest tier by including “who you are” as a central authentication factor. ID Director for SAML greatly expands the reach and value of BIO-key’s award-winning biometric platform into the IT landscape.

SAML has become a ubiquitous standard, enabling identity providers’ authentication services to be shared across multiple service providers (known in SAML as “SPs”) - relying applications and IAM platforms - using XML (Extensible Markup Language) standard protocols. An explosion of cloud-hosted Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications, such as Salesforce, SAP, GoToMeeting, Google's G Suite, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), is driving demand for stronger security and an improved, more efficient user experience at a reasonable cost. Customers of Okta, Oracle Identity Cloud Service, CA SSO (single sign-on) and IBM Security Access Manager access management platforms have also requested enterprise biometric solutions for their multi-factor authentication processes. In expanding the support of it ID Director platform to SAML, BIO-key is now able to provide powerful yet easy-to-use biometric multi-factor authentication for a wide range of SaaS cloud applications and IAM platforms.

Existing SAML 2.0 compliant service providers will benefit from a better user authentication experience and will be invited to refer their customers to use BIO-key ID Director for SAML to enable their applications with NIST-tested biometric multi-factor authentication.

“Mainstream multi-factor authentication identity providers support only traditional factors such as phone push, USB tokens and smart cards. Where a biometric is offered, it is in the limited context of TouchID for approving a phone push authentication,” stated Jim Sullivan, BIO-key Senior V.P. of Strategy and Compliance. “While technically meeting goals of stronger authentication, these approaches are cumbersome for end-users and also create challenges for enterprises with roving workforces, such as call centers, healthcare, retail and manufacturing. Our customers seek simplified, cost-effective central authentication services that accommodate both roving and single-device users without having to issue and manage tokens or pay personal data plan costs for users to use a personal device for work. The fact that SAML is ubiquitous makes getting more value from a BIO-key investment much more simple.”

At this week’s in San Francisco, Microsoft will be demonstrating BIO-key’s line of fingerprint scanners at their Windows Hello for Business demonstration area (Booth #6059). All BIO-key fingerprint devices and those from over 30 other manufacturers work interchangeably within BIO-key’s ID Director for SAML framework, enabling enterprises to utilize these scanners for authentication with both Windows Hello for Business and SAML.

About BIO-key International, Inc. ()

BIO-key is revolutionizing authentication with that enable convenient and secure access to information and high-stakes transactions. We offer alternatives to passwords, PINs, tokens, and cards to make it easy for enterprises and consumers to secure their devices as well as information in the cloud. Our premium offer market-leading quality, performance and price. BIO-key also brings the power and ease of use of biometric technology to its of biometric and Bluetooth enabled padlocks – providing even more ways to BIO-key your world!

BIO-key Safe Harbor Statement

All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). The words "estimate," "project," "intends," "expects," "anticipates," "believes" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Act. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those included within or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, our ability to develop new products and evolve existing ones, customer and market acceptance of biometric solutions generally and our specific offerings, our ability to expand sales within existing customer relationships, our ability to raise additional capital, and our ability to attract and retain key personnel. For a more complete description of these and other risk factors that may affect the future performance of BIO-key International, Inc., see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date made.

Investor & Media Contacts

William Jones, Tanya Kamatu

Catalyst Global

212-924-9800