RSA 2007: Smart Card support for integrating Mac OS X in Active Directory environments

Centrify Corporation today announced Centrify DirectControl for Mac OS X, SmartCard Login Option, which enables Mac OS X users to join Microsoft Active Directory environments that require two-factor authentication via smart cards. The first smart card standard to be supported is Department of Defense Common Access Cards (CAC), used pervasively throughout the DoD and related agencies to authenticate both military personnel and contractors to systems around the world. DirectControl runs natively on both PowerPC- and Intel-based Macs.

“Providing smart card support for the Mac reflects Centrify’s commitment to maintaining parity for non-Microsoft systems by integrating them into the identity management, access control and authentication capabilities of Microsoft Active Directory,” said Jim Chappell, Vice President of Field Operations at Centrify. “The millions of smart card users in the Federal government benefit from having the leading provider of Mac-Active Directory integration deliver smart card support.”

“The unique combination of rock solid UNIX stability, security and ease-of-use is driving increased adoption of Mac OS X by Federal employees,” said Ron Okamoto, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. “We’re thrilled that Centrify has taken advantage of the interoperability of Mac OS X to deliver a two-factor smart card authentication solution.”

Centrify DirectControl for Mac OS X is priced at $60 per workstation. The SmartCard Login Option is priced at $30 per workstation. The DirectControl for Mac OS X, SmartCard Login Option will be generally available in early March 2007.