White Papers for Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)

Bridging the great divide: The Convergence of Physical and Logical Security

Imprivata

What do a padlock key and an application password have in common? In one sense, almost nothing. After all, one is a 4,000-year-old hardware device and the other is a modern-day software-based technology tool. But they serve an identical purpose: they both allow only authorized access – one to physical assets and one to logical assets. Despite their common purpose, physical access and logical access technologies exist in parallel worlds. Physical access technologies, such as building security systems and employee access cards, are controlled by the corporate security department. Application passwords and firewalls are the domain of the IT department. Each group’s respective networks, technology paths, and user interfaces are completely separate.
That situation is beginning to change. Physical and logical security technologies are beginning to converge,
creating new opportunities for organizations to:
• Strengthen and gain greater control over total security;
• Add a practical and affordable second authentication factor;
• Better enforce both physical and logical security policies;
• Better coordinate security resources in critical and emergency situations; and
• Achieve compliance with regulations, such as the U.S. Homeland Security Presidential Directive -12 (HSPD-12)
This paper addresses how converged physical and logical security works, the benefits it provides, and what it
will mean for organizations of all kinds.

View the White Paper

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