BOCA RATON, Fla, -- Howard University has selected Siemens to provide an integrated package of security management solutions that includes state-of-the art identity and access management systems, as well as physical control and monitoring technologies, announced Siemens Communications, Inc., and Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.
The integrated security solution, from Siemens, will provide linkage between physical and IT access controls. Siemens is also supporting the converged IT/security system with a comprehensive service package that includes 24/7 maintenance of hardware and software systems as well as system operator training and support.
"The ability to automatically create, manage and suspend user access information is critical in multi-user environments such as hospitals, learning institutions, government agencies and other high-traffic enterprises," said Benjamin Wells, director of Security Solutions at Siemens Communications, Inc. "The strategy behind the convergence of IT and security technologies is to drive down costs while dramatically improving security."
Siemens' integrated security solution for physical, identity and access management includes:
-- HiPath SIcurity smart cards that control security privileges for buildings, rooms, IT infrastructures and critical applications. Smart cards may also function as cashless payment cards for students and staff.
-- Building control and monitoring with Siemens SiPass Access Control Management system. The system makes it possible for the university to control and monitor all campus buildings from a single workstation. The total security system includes digital video recorders, closed circuit television monitors, emergency-phone equipped duress stations and "smart card" readers at critical access points throughout the campus.
-- Easy management and provisioning - and de-provisioning - of user access privileges with the Siemens DirX(r) portfolio, a meta-directory database solution. Campus administrators now only need to set up individual user profiles once and the DirX solution will provision user information and access rights throughout multiple systems.
"There is considerable value in deploying a converged security solution for logical and physical access," said Datamonitor Security Analyst Tim Gower. "Through its in-house smart card and security expertise, Siemens is clearly established as a leader in unified identity and access management solutions."
