Interpec to Resell Valid Tech’s Biometric Authentication System

May 13, 2008 Alex Woodie

Interpec, a developer of i OS-based quality assurance software used by pharmaceutical, chemical, food, and beverage manufacturers around the world, has licensed Valid Technologies i OS-based VSSA biometric authentication system to help its customers in the pharmaceutical industry comply with the digital signature requirements of FDA 21 CFR 11, the companies announced last week.

Valid Tech, which is based in Boca Raton, Florida, develops and sells a biometric authentication system called Valid Secure System Authentication (VSSA) that’s designed to be the backbone of an enterprise-wide strong authentication system. By using VSSA running on an IBM i OS-based Power Systems Server (formerly System i, i5, iSeries, and AS/400) and industry standard USB fingerprint scanners, organizations can fortify the security of their critical applications and data while simultaneously reducing (or eliminating) reliance on passwords and decreasing the help desk burden. To use VSSA, program calls must be added directly into the source code of the target application.

Interpec has integrated VSSA into two applications, its flagship INQAS quality assurance program, which runs a combination of i and Windows operating systems (OSes), and its lab management system, LIMS. Companies deploying these products can start using VSSA immediately to augment their password controls, Interpec says.

The FDA’s 21 CFR part 11 requirements led Interpec to Valid’s strong authentication systems, says Antonio Ferraiuoli, president of Interpec, which is based in New Jersey. “The increased focus on electronic records and electronic signature has placed an additional burden on customers to assure compliance with FDA 21 CFR 11,” he says. “Until now customers have not had a solution for strong user authentication to prevent non-authorized use of passwords. Our new alliance with Valid Technologies gives us advanced capabilities to deploy the leading fingerprint biometric user authentication tool.”

In addition to supporting its customers’ VSSA roll-outs, Interpec will help its customers extend VSSA’s controls to include other legacy applications running across multiple operating systems, the company says.