CA gives support to Obama's online secure-ID plan

Software maker CA Technologies has announced its support for an initiative by President Obama to create an online “identity ecosystem”. 

CA, based in Islandia, said the White House plan, known as the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace, would “improve the privacy, security and convenience of sensitive online transactions.”

By the way, CA says, it has software that could help. 

In a news release Friday, CA mentioned a few products in its identity and access management solutions division: SiteMinder, Arcot WebFort and Arcot RiskFort. 

The White House has outlined its views in a paper titled National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace.

Online privacy advocates have expressed cautious support for the plan. One group, EPIC, the Electronic Information Privacy Center, has taken a detailed look at the White House plan, which would be designed and put in place by private companies.

EPIC's executive director, Marc Rotenberg, said in a statement, "The President endorsed 'Privacy Enhancing Technologies' for online credentials. That is historic. . . But online identity is complex problem and the risk of 'cyber-identity theft' with consolidated identity systems is very real. The U.S. will need to do more to protect online privacy."

CA said it is participating with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Commerce Department in coming up with ideas and solutions. 

"Knowing and trusting the identities involved in a transaction – whether it's business-to-consumer, business-to-business or government-to-citizen – is critical to securing online commerce and business enablement," Mike Denning, general manager of CA’s security division, said in a statement. 

"We are proud to support such an important White House effort by providing the solutions that help authenticate an individual and verify that a person is who they claim to be."