A number of customers -- including U.S. federal government agencies -- have been instrumental in helping to define the requirements of the Raritan solution. As a result, the new solution works with widely deployed smart cards, including special government smart cards, called Common Access Cards (CACs) -- a key factor in complying with U.S. Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12). HSPD-12 mandates the implementation of a common identification standard for federal employees and contractors to gain access to federally controlled facilities and information technology resources.

Raritans solution integrates an SCM Microsystems smart card reader into a newly enhanced user station -- a major component of Raritans Paragon II KVM 4.3 system. The Paragon II KVM switch -- which is used extensively by virtually all public and private sectors to simplify data center management -- provides anytime, non-blocked access to data center servers and other IT equipment from the user station. The new built-in card reader helps enhance an organizations security approach, increase staff productivity, and reduce administrative costs.

For additional security measures, Raritans all-in-one solution does not store or cache card data, requires re-authentication when changing targets, and allows access of servers by only one user at a time.

Paragon Smart Card Reader in the U.S. Department of Defense

According to Colin Philben, Information Technology Manager in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs)/Tricare Management Activity/E-Commerce Group, Raritans Paragon Smart Card Reader solution will help his organization meet U.S. Homeland Security HSPD-12 requirements for accessing government data centers.

Mr. Philben is responsible for implementing the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) within his organizations network by 2008, as required by the Department of Defense (DoD). "We discovered quickly that this was no small task," said Mr. Philben. "We needed to quickly find a solution to efficiently adhere to the DoDs PKI requirements when accessing servers via KVM. Our search was futile, we feared that we would be forced to install Common Access Card (CAC) readers on every server, or worse abandon any sort of KVM and have to rely on the infamous crash cart."

Already using Raritans Paragon II KVM switches to manage his data centers, Mr. Philben contacted Raritan about adding the needed functionality to the Paragon II platform. Raritan understood the issue and answered with the new Enhanced User Station. In order to comply with the DoDs stringent security requirements, Raritan consulted with Defense Information Systems Assurance (DISA) to ensure that all the requirements of the Security Technical Implementation Guidelines were met.

"The development of this product will allow the United States Federal Government to more effectively comply with PKI at the server level," said Mr. Philben. "By leveraging our existing Paragon II architecture, a substantial cost savings to the government will be generated as existing systems are upgraded to comply with the PKI requirement. Total cost of ownership savings will be reflected in the support and administrative cost associated with implementing and maintaining the PKI infrastructure on all Federal networks. With this product we are mitigating substantial risks to the Federal Government."

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