Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity

    Yubico Extends Two-Factor Authentication to CERN

    By
    Sean Michael Kerner
    -
    February 13, 2014
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      The need for stronger forms of authentication that are more robust than simply having a username and password is critical in the modern world. That’s where two-factor authentication comes in—adding a second item that is unique and randomly generated in order to secure authentication.

      There are multiple vendors and technologies at play in the two-factor authentication marketplace, one of them being Yubico. Yubico’s YubiKey two-factor technology uses a combination of open-source technology and proprietary hardware.

      It’s a technology that is getting noticed too. Yubico CEO and founder Stina Ehrensvard told eWEEK that CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is now among the adopters of the YubiKey technology. CERN is using YubiKey as a two-factor authentication method to securely log into its single-sign-on portal and critical services, she said.

      “CERN chose our solution because it’s really easy to use and we provide components that are open-source, and they are very open-source savvy,” Ehrensvard said.

      Technology

      From a technology perspective, the YubiKey system involves multiple components. One component is the hardware piece, which is the physical YubiKey USB device.

      “When you plug the YubiKey USB into a computer, it is recognized like any standard USB device,” Ehrensvard explained. “There is a small touch button, and when it is pressed, a one-time password is sent through the interface.”

      With other two-factor authentication mechanisms, Ehrensvard said, users typically have to manually input a six- to eight-digit code. The YubiKey automates that process, making it easier and faster for users. Ehrensvard added that CERN is just one of YubiKey’s clients, alongside other IT industry giants such as Google and Facebook.

      As to why YubiKey has found adoption with CERN and other technically-savvy organizations, Ehrensvard said it has a lot to do with the fact that organizations can control their own secrets.

      “With CERN, they program their own encryption secrets on the back end,” she said.

      The YubiKey hardware itself is proprietary, but the back-end server components are all open-source, Ehrensvard explained. YubiKey also supports the oAUTH standard, so it can fit into other authentication systems.

      “We enable our customers to build their own solution with the free open-source tools that we provide,” Ehrensvard said.

      Currently Yubico does not have its own “enterprise-class” software for the back end. Ehrensvard explained that most of the technical companies that Yubico works with are happy with that model. That said, she admitted that there are some organizations that have approached Yubico saying they like the key, but don’t want to roll their own open-source solution.

      “We work with several partners that have enterprise-class software,” Ehrensvard said. “We also invite our partners to build enterprise-class solutions with our product.”

      While there is no shortage of solutions in the market to solving the challenge of authentication, Ehrensvard doesn’t see any one particular vendor as being her primary competition.

      “Our biggest competitor today is the username and password,” she said. “I would say that everything that educates the market on the need for two-factor authentication is good for Yubico.”

      Sean Michael Kerner is a senior editor at eWEEK and InternetNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TechJournalist.

      Sean Michael Kerner
      Sean Michael Kerner is an Internet consultant, strategist, and contributor to several leading IT business web sites.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×