Case Study: Unisys Takes Its Own Authentication Medicine

Unisys is a large and diversified systems integrator with operations worldwide. In recent years, the firm has seen its global workforce become increasingly mobile. At the same time, techniques to defeat passwords have become more sophisticated, eroding the security that passwords once provided. Moreover, as a security systems integrator, Unisys felt it was important not only to be secure itself, but to also demonstrate to clients that it believed in its own products and services. To address this challenge, the company embarked on a project to provide every employee with a smart card containing unified physical and logical access credentials. This is a single card that would streamline Unisys employees' access to all of the company's networks and facilities they are authorized to use, rather than separate credentials for access to networks, applications, and facilities. Unisys expects to realize cost savings and both security and productivity gains, and intends to apply the lessons it learned during implementation of the smart card project for the benefit of its clients.