Tata Communications enters agreement with SafeNet Inc. to launch multi-factor authentication managed service in the cloud

First-of-its kind for India – cloud-based identity and access management service 

Mumbai – March 4th 2014– Tata Communicationsa leading provider of A New World of Communications™, has entered into a partnership with SafeNet Inc., a global leader in data protection, to provide cloud-based multi-factor authentication as a managed service – globally. A first-of-its-kind service in India, the cloud-based delivery model enables businesses to implement an additional security layer that verifies the legitimacy of a transaction and secures access to corporate networks.

The rise of enterprise trends, such as bring your own device (BYOD), increased use of cloud-based services and network-based application deployment, makes added user authentication measures vital – especially within industries such as e-commerce and banking. Tata Communications’ cloud-based multi-factor authentication offers both hard and soft token authentication, creating a layered defence system, which makes it more difficult for unauthorised personnel to access a computer system or network.

Srinivasan CR, Vice President, Global Product Management, Data Centre Services, Tata Communications says, “Identity and access management are anchors for security. However, traditional multi-factor authentication services require on-premise hardware investment, maintenance and the right skills for management, which together act as a deterrent for deployment. Our multi-factor authentication service gives customers easy access to a customisable cloud-based model, which is hosted in Tata Communications highly connected global data centres. The increase in the number of powerful end-user devices, coupled with intelligent and networked applications, makes secure access a vital ingredient to anytime, anywhere access for employees, partners and customers.”

Prakash Panjwani, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Data Protection Solutions, SafeNet, says, “Rising threats, risks, and vulnerabilities as well as changing business requirements, emphasise the need for a strong authentication approach. Our partnership with Tata Communications will allow businesses to feel secure about their cloud and mobility initiatives.  It will enable an extra layer of safekeeping that is imperative when adopting a holistic security infrastructure while keeping the cost of implementation down. Customers will benefit from a strong, integrated platform that will help them identify and implement more secure solutions for protecting their most valuable information.”

Multi-factor authentication is delivered via tokens that generate a constantly changing key code that is used in addition to the usual static password. The token provides a supplementary layer of security as only authorised users are provided with these tokens. Based on the user preference, the tokens can be installed on computers or mobile devices. Tata Communications supports this process with a 24×7 helpdesk.

About Tata Communications

Tata Communications Limited (CIN no: L64200MH1986PLC039266) along with its subsidiaries (Tata Communications) is a leading global provider of A New World of Communications™. With a leadership position in emerging markets, Tata Communications leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global and pan-India network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national enterprises, service providers and Indian consumers.

The Tata Communications global network includes one of the most advanced and largest submarine cable networks and a Tier-1 IP network with connectivity to over 240 countries and territories across 400 PoPs, as well as nearly 1 million square feet of data centre and collocation space worldwide.

Tata Communications’ depth and breadth of reach in emerging markets includes leadership in Indian enterprise data services and leadership in global international voice. Tata Communications Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India.

https://www.tatacommunications.com

Forward-looking and cautionary statements

Certain words and statements in this release concerning Tata Communications and its prospects, and other statements, including those relating to Tata Communications’ expected financial position, business strategy, the future development of Tata Communications’ operations, and the general economy in India, are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including financial, regulatory and environmental, as well as those relating to industry growth and trend projections, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Tata Communications, or industry results, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, among others, failure to increase the volume of traffic on Tata Communications’ network; failure to develop new products and services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; failure to successfully complete commercial testing of new technology and information systems to support new products and services, including voice transmission services; failure to stabilize or reduce the rate of price compression on certain of the company’s communications services; failure to integrate strategic acquisitions and changes in government policies or regulations of India and, in particular, changes relating to the administration of Tata Communications’ industry; and, in general, the economic, business and credit conditions in India. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, many of which are not in Tata Communications’ control, include, but are not limited to, those risk factors discussed in Tata Communications Limited’s Annual Reports. The Annual Reports of Tata Communications Limited are available at www.tatacommunications.com. Tata Communications is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements.