BlackBerry fit for eBanking: certgate and SIZ broaden mobile banking security for corporate customers

Nuremberg, September 4th 2009: – certgate, the Nuremberg based specialist for mobile and communication security, in cooperation with the informatics centre of the (mutual) savings bank organization SIZ now extends secure mobile business transactions to BlackBerry devices. certgate SmartCard microSD with its built-in cryptographic chip enables Distributed Electronic Signature (DES) with EBICS through a secure SSL connection. The technology had been introduced for Windows Mobile based devices earlier in 2008.
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„certgate SmartCard microSD completes our EBICS product line with an additional solution“, Thomas Krebs, CEO of the SIZ GmbH, annotates. „Mobile yet with the same high security standards that our customers have become familiar with in our established ISO chipcard based systems.”

EBICS transactions with electronic signature over secure SSL connection “on the road”: certgate SmartCard microSD, well-known for their EBICS support on PDAs and smartphones, now brings this technology onto BlackBerry devices. As a result, more decision makers frequently traveling for business can now authorize urgent financial transactions in a secure fashion away from their desks.

“Due to the high security requirements, debiting, transactions, and bond and share orders often needed to wait while executives were traveling”, Dr. Paschalis Papagrigoriou, CEO of certgate, explains. “The capability of authorizing these transactions in a secure way will accelerate business processes and make them more efficient.” certgate SmartCard microSD is compatible with most devices with a microSD, miniSD and SD slot.

Technical Details

The personal key needed for a secure electronic signature is stored on certgate SmartCard microSD. The EBICS remote server connection is SSL-encrypted. Users download all orders ready for signing through a secure connection with their mobile devices. They then select a transaction to be signed, create a valid electronic signature and return the encrypted document. The bank’s EBICS server indicates to the authorized user the number of required signatures and how many have been given.

EBICS and Electronic Signature

EBICS (Electronic Banking Internet Communication Standard) is a standard in German banking business supporting internet-based communication for electronic banking. EBICS transactions provide the basis for transfer of encrypted orders to the bank-specific target system. Transferred data must be signed by one or more authorized individuals according to a pre-defined signature category. certgate SmartCard microSD PKI is perfectly suited for use as a signature card with EBICS and meets the high standards of the German Signature Law (SigG).

certgate GmbH

certgate GmbH is a Nuremberg based high-tech enterprise which was founded by Dr. Paschalis Papgrigoriou in 2004. The innovative company specializes in developing and marketing products and solutions which enhance the safety and user-friendliness of mobile communication devices. certgate has developed the first microSD card worldwide featuring full smartcard functionality, and obtained patent protection for its technical lead in the field of mobile IT security.

Due to its powerful cryptographic functions, certgate microSD SmartCard permits generation, storage, and safe handling of certificates and personal safety keys. Consequently, it also supports encrypted data storage, safe mobile banking according to HBCI and EBICS standards, and the authentication of safe VPN connectivity from a mobile device. In close cooperation with implementation partners, certgate is also working on customized security solutions for smartphones, PDAs and other mobile devices, based on its certgate SmartCard micro SD. www.certgate.com

SIZ

SIZ was originally established as a central IT competence centre for the German savings bank organisation. Today, SIZ offers innovative IT products and consulting services to customers in the financial domain and a range of other industrial sectors. In addition to individual consulting services, our portfolio includes the provision of complete IT solutions and their implementation at the customer site. Core competencies are online and electronic banking, (smart) card technologies, business partner integration and security technologies. www.siz.de

Press contact certgate:

certgate GmbH
Jeannot Joffroy
Merianstrasse 26
90409 Nuremberg

Fon +49.911.9 35 23 32
Fax +49.911.9 35 23 52
press@certgate.biz

Contact certgate PR-Agency:

faltmann PR
Sabine Faltmann
Kackertstraße 4
52072 Aachen

Fon +49.241.89468-22
Fax +49.241.89468-44
certgate@faltmann-pr.de

This release was published on openPR.