Intel, VeriSign To Beef Up Security In Portables

Intel VeriSign

The deal, slated to be announced at the Intel Developer Forum this week, calls for VeriSign to customize its digital certificates and Personal Trust Software to be used on Banias, a mobile processor with integrated wireless and power-saving features for portables.

John Weinschenk, vice president of VeriSign's Enterprise Services Group, said the technology will be used to store information about authorized users and platforms onto a small chip that resides on the portable's motherboard.

"You will be able to use this credential to do single sign-on to remote locations, desktop encryption, peer-to-peer computing" and other tasks that demand security, he said.

The technology is particularly important as more employees rely on mobile device to work outside of the office. "One you take [users outside, you are opening them up to a whole new set of risks," Weinschenk said.

Solution providers also will benefit from the technology because they will be able to offer systems with added security features already integrated, he said. "We are hearing from customers [about a huge need for solutions that have added trust built in," he said.