Citi becomes the first bank to cross-certify with the CertiPath information-sharing bridge, giving the bank a new ability to deliver identity credentialing services to companies seeking to do business with the aerospace and defense (A&D) industry.
Citi’s Global Transaction Services – the unit that has worked with CertiPath– offers integrated cash management, trade, and securities and fund services to multinational corporations, financial institutions and public sector organizations around the world.
CertiPath, the identity management and secure information sharing authority for A&D, was established to address one of the biggest challenges in business today: for partners and customers to electronically share critical information with a degree of trust, confidence and security.
CertiPath’s information-sharing bridge makes it possible for organizations to do business across the street and around the world electronically with credentials that are trusted – based on uniform requirements for medium- and high-assurance certification for identity issuance.
Citi’s Managed Identity Services enables Citi clients to use digital identities and signature technologies to effectively and securely engage in digital commerce. Citi’s offerings provide the requisite security and assurance framework to confidently transact business. As part of the solution, Citi issues digital identities that can be used in a number of ways including authenticating end users to applications, encrypting and locking down data, and replacing “wet ink” with digital signatures without compromising legal enforceability.
As a CertiPath Certified Credential Provider (3CP), Citi’s Global Transaction Services unit has invested in extensive policy, procedure and infrastructure development to meet the rigorous standards for identity management required by the global A&D industry and the U.S. Federal Government. Citi currently provides digital identities to corporate clients for performing financial and pharmaceutical transactions through its Managed Identity Services business.
With this new capability, Citi’s clients will have the ability to conduct electronic business with the U.S.’s A&D organizations and U.S. Federal Agencies already on the CertiPath Bridge. These military-grade credentials will enable Citi clients to streamline business processes by moving transactions online and to conduct business with the Federal government electronically. It will also significantly reduce cost and risk by eliminating the need for Citi clients to create their own certified credentials.
Citi clients join CertiPath’s growing community of organizations – including Boeing, EADS, Lockheed-Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon – that rely on trusted digital identities to secure document and e-mail exchanges, authenticate to applications or encrypt files and as well, to make physical access to facilities significantly more secure.
“Issuing and maintaining digital credentials is a very technologically sophisticated process, and Citi is making it much easier for clients to do business in an increasingly complex business environment,” says Gary E. Greenwald, chief innovation officer for Global Transaction Services, Citi. “Cross certification with the CertiPath bridge allows us to supply the credentials needed to do business in this industry. It’s a huge milestone for us as we expand one of our competencies.”
“While the need for secure, trusted digital credentials is growing across all industries, the stakes are perhaps highest in A&D, where unauthorized access to military and operational information could be detrimental to national security and public safety,” says Jeff Nigriny, president of CertiPath. “We are very pleased to have Citi join us. Its global reach will help us ensure that companies can do business in this environment – securely, confidently and economically.”
L.D.