Communicator Hub ID

Communicator Inc Enables Identity Management Service with SAML Standard

Security Assertions Markup Language Capability Enables Faster Implementation of Single Sign-on

Denver, CO, USA. October 09, 2002.

Communicator Inc, a leading provider of secure electronic communication services to Fortune 1000 companies, announced today that it has enabled its digital identity management service, Communicator Hub ID, to leverage the Security Assertions Markup Language (SAML) standard. This will allow companies that use SAML-enabled access and authorization products to join Hub ID's single sign-on service faster. Communicator Inc also announced that it has joined the Organization for Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS), the body that oversees the SAML specifications.

"Companies need a way to exchange user identity information across enterprises in order to connect their employees with customers, suppliers and partners," said Serge Shinkar, product manager of Hub ID for Communicator Inc. "User directory information is proprietary and private within each company. The solution is to work with an independent third party like Communicator Inc that consolidates multiple directories into a single federated view, securely reconciles identity authentication information of each user and provides single sign-on access."

Communicator Inc pioneered a federated directory structure within Hub ID to enable single sign-on among various enterprises. This structure enables companies to maintain complete control over their customer, partner, supplier and employee lists even as authentication information is shared.

SAML: Moving Towards Greater Interoperability and Shorter Implementation Cycles

SAML is an XML standard for exchanging security credentials between online business partners, regardless of the authorization product used by either partner. Communicator Hub ID will augment its proprietary Cooked URL (CURL) protocol for exchanging authentication credentials with SAML, thereby eliminating a key barrier to cross-enterprise single sign-on. The standard enables companies that use SAML-enabled access and authentication products to be up and running with Hub ID faster.

"SAML will make it easier and faster for our member companies to achieve single sign-on through Hub ID," said Staunton Peck, president of SecuritiesHub, an online financial community that links securities dealers with institutional investors around the globe. "When authentication information moves from one financial institution to another, there are numerous business rules and policies that must be implemented to securely exchange that information. While SAML makes that process easier, we still need a company like Communicator Inc to ensure that Jonathan Doe from one company is the same person as John A. Doe at another company."

Industry Affiliations

Communicator Inc is a strong supporter of developing standards for identity management. In addition to joining OASIS, it is a sponsor member of the Liberty Alliance and is closely monitoring development of the emerging Service Provisioning Markup Language (SPML) specification. Communicator Inc plans to be an early supporter of SPML when it is released.

Availability and Pricing

Communicator Hub ID enables enterprises to securely extend and manage their corporate identities beyond the enterprise while enabling identity-related services such as single sign-on, account provisioning, self-help systems, permissioned information and presence awareness. Hub ID integrates with a wide variety of environments and enables companies to leverage their existing technology investments and architecture. It is a flexible and quick-to-deploy solution with a variety of options ranging from easy to use APIs to simple and user-friendly administrative screens.

Communicator Hub ID has been solving the business problem of single sign-on since 1999 and is currently in use in more than 2,000 companies worldwide. Pricing for the service begins at $100 per user, per year, with a sliding scale based on volume. For more information contact Communicator Inc at (914) 872-2810, sales@communicatorinc.com, or www.communicatorinc.com/hubid.

About Communicator Inc

Communicator Inc connects people within and across organizations with its Communicator Hub suite of secure electronic communications services. The Communicator Hub identity management, content aggregation and messaging services help build strong relationships between companies and their core customers by improving efficiency, reducing costs and protecting client relationships, content and brands. Communicator Inc is a privately held company headquartered in White Plains, New York. For more information about Communicator Inc visit www.communicatorinc.com.

Contact

Communicator Inc
Serge Shinkar
Tel: +1 914/872-2784
Email: serge.shinkar@cihub.com

[Source: http://www.communicatorinc.com/News_2002_10_09_PR_SAML.html]

Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive. See: "Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML)."

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This will allow companies that use SAML-enabled access and authorization products to join Hub ID's single sign-on service faster. Communicator Inc also announced that it has joined the Organization for Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS), the body that oversees the SAML specifications. "Companies need a way to exchange user identity information across enterprises in order to connect their employees with customers, suppliers and partners," said Serge Shinkar, product manager of Hub ID for Communicator Inc. "User directory information is proprietary and private within each company. The solution is to work with an independent third party like Communicator Inc that consolidates multiple directories into a single federated view, securely reconciles identity authentication information of each user and provides single sign-on access." Communicator Inc pioneered a federated directory structure within Hub ID to enable single sign-on among various enterprises. This structure enables companies to maintain complete control over their customer, partner, supplier and employee lists even as authentication information is shared. SAML: Moving Towards Greater Interoperability and Shorter Implementation Cycles SAML is an XML standard for exchanging security credentials between online business partners, regardless of the authorization product used by either partner. Communicator Hub ID will augment its proprietary Cooked URL (CURL) protocol for exchanging authentication credentials with SAML, thereby eliminating a key barrier to cross-enterprise single sign-on. The standard enables companies that use SAML-enabled access and authentication products to be up and running with Hub ID faster. "SAML will make it easier and faster for our member companies to achieve single sign-on through Hub ID," said Staunton Peck, president of SecuritiesHub, an online financial community that links securities dealers with institutional investors around the globe. "When authentication information moves from one financial institution to another, there are numerous business rules and policies that must be implemented to securely exchange that information. While SAML makes that process easier, we still need a company like Communicator Inc to ensure that Jonathan Doe from one company is the same person as John A. Doe at another company." Industry Affiliations Communicator Inc is a strong supporter of developing standards for identity management. In addition to joining OASIS, it is a sponsor member of the Liberty Alliance and is closely monitoring development of the emerging Service Provisioning Markup Language (SPML) specification. Communicator Inc plans to be an early supporter of SPML when it is released. Availability and Pricing Communicator Hub ID enables enterprises to securely extend and manage their corporate identities beyond the enterprise while enabling identity-related services such as single sign-on, account provisioning, self-help systems, permissioned information and presence awareness. Hub ID integrates with a wide variety of environments and enables companies to leverage their existing technology investments and architecture. It is a flexible and quick-to-deploy solution with a variety of options ranging from easy to use APIs to simple and user-friendly administrative screens. Communicator Hub ID has been solving the business problem of single sign-on since 1999 and is currently in use in more than 2,000 companies worldwide. Pricing for the service begins at $100 per user, per year, with a sliding scale based on volume. For more information contact Communicator Inc at (914) 872-2810, sales@communicatorinc.com, or www.communicatorinc.com/hubid. About Communicator Inc Communicator Inc connects people within and across organizations with its Communicator Hub suite of secure electronic communications services. The Communicator Hub identity management, content aggregation and messaging services help build strong relationships between companies and their core customers by improving efficiency, reducing costs and protecting client relationships, content and brands. Communicator Inc is a privately held company headquartered in White Plains, New York. For more information about Communicator Inc visit www.communicatorinc.com. Contact Communicator Inc Serge Shinkar Tel: +1 914/872-2784 Email: serge.shinkar@cihub.com [Source: http://www.communicatorinc.com/News_2002_10_09_PR_SAML.html] Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive. See: "Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML)."