Imprivata Targets Verticals With Single Sign-On

Company:

Headquarters: Lexington, Mass.

Technology Sector: Security

Key Product: Imprivata OneSign

Year Founded: 2002

Number of Channel Partners: 200 worldwide

Ideal Channel Partner: Midmarket-focused solution providers

Why You Should Care: Imprivata's OneSign appliance provides user authentication and security for single sign-on. The product enables compliance reporting across multiple locations, and is used in industries including financial services, health care and state and local governments.

The Lowdown: Imprivata's OneSign appliance cuts out the cumbersome process of trying to remember, change and update computer passwords. While employees are sure to appreciate the convenience factor, the appliance also provides security that is sufficient for regulated industries.

According to Eric Blatte, director of channel sales and programs, the financial sector -- banks, credit unions and insurance companies -- has long been a major focus for the company, but with the economic downturn, the health care industry is fast becoming the company's biggest market.

"With stimulus money coming in, spending is strictly regulated, and we see it trickling down into different market sectors, especially health care and state and local governments," he said.

Imprivata OneSign is hardware device that end-users can install or maintain by themselves.

The OneSign platform also has different license modules that resellers can use to target different markets. For example, OneSign Authentication Management replaces Windows and remote access VPN passwords with a range of authentication methods, including integrated management for one-time password tokens, finger biometrics and proximity cards. User authentication management can be accessed online or offline.

Another module, OneSign Single Sign-On, controls password management, security and user access issues. Using Single Sign-On, all applications -- legacy, client/server and Web -- can be installed without custom scripting, changes to existing directories or changes for end-users.

Why would companies go with Imprivata instead of an offering from a larger vendor, such as Oracle's Passlogix? One selling point is the lower price, which is more attractive to the midmarket. Another winning factor is that Imprivata is the only company that offers such services in one appliance, Blatte said.

Blatte stresses that Imprivata stands firmly behind its partners and that the company is 100 percent channel driven. The company offers training and certification, apprentice programs, marketing and sales support and dealer registration.