Heidelberg increases IT security standards

(November 20, 2003)

"Token" increases IT security / Customers benefit from more efficient service provision / Costs cut by inexpensive Internet connections

Secure data transmission is a key competitive factor for Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) which has operations in around 170 countries and employs more than 6000 service staff. Service engineers and staff working out of office need to have constant access to information and data via the company's corporate network and must also be able to update this data. The Internet is an inexpensive, fast transmission medium that can be accessed everywhere. But it does represent a security risk. In order to meet its high security requirements, Heidelberg worked alongside Integralis GmbH, a company based in Heilbronn, to set up the "Managed Authentication" project. The solution behind the project guarantees 100% secure authentication of all users who access Heidelberg's internal network via the Internet while on the road.

The users gain access to the corporate network using a "token", a device which constantly generates new numerical codes that represent the password. These encrypted numerical codes only remain valid for a few seconds. This dramatically increases data security when accessing the internal network. Company expertise and, in particular, customer data are therefore effectively protected from unauthorized access by third parties.

"It is not just Heidelberg, but also our customers who will profit from these innovations in IT security. Using the token significantly increases service efficiency because, in the future, service technicians will be able to benefit from secure and fast connections even when on site at the customer", says Walter Stählin, Senior Vice President Market Network Operations at Heidelberg upon receiving the first token.

"All Heidelberg laptop users will now have secure access to company and customer data via inexpensive and fast Internet connections. There is no longer any need for slow, expensive and analog telephone connections. We expect the investment to have paid for itself after only a year", states Michael Neff, CIO at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.

As Europe's leading security system integrator, Integralis is a high-performance partner for Heidelberg. For the last two years in a row, Integralis has been named the best service provider for information and communication technology in the state of Baden Württemberg. This shows that Heidelberg has placed the responsibility for its IT security in the hands of an innovative, reliable and strong specialist partner", emphasizes Georg Magg, Board Member of Articon-Integralis AG

Picture: Walter Stählin (middle), Senior Vice President Market Network Operations applies the first token whose use will dramatically increase data security at Heidelberg, reduce process costs and increase the efficiency of communication processes. Georg Magg (right), Board Member of Articon-Integralis AG, and Michael Neff (left), CIO at Heidelberg give some support.

About Heidelberg:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, employs a workforce of around 23,700 in more than 170 countries and is the world's leading solution provider for the print media industry. The company offers a range of products for the printing process, extending from prepress to postpress. The Heidelberg Group develops and manufactures software, electronic prepress products, sheetfed offset presses, web offset presses, digital presses and finishing systems. The company has by far the largest service and sales network in the sector. 20 international production sites and 250 sales branches provide first class support to 240,000 customers worldwide. Heidelberg generates 85% of its sales through its own sales companies and around 87% of its sales abroad. In fiscal year 2002/2003, Heidelberg achieved sales of Euro 4.1 billion.

About Integralis
In terms of sales and geographical presence, Integralis is the leading supplier of IT and e-business security solutions in Europe. The company provides solutions for national and international customers that ensure secure communication and e-business transactions via private and public computer networks. Integralis offers a comprehensive range of security products and services. It advises and assists companies in the planning and implementation of IT security solutions using strategic IT consultancy, risk analysis, system integration, training, packaged services and managed services. Integralis specializes in customized, flexible and integrated solution concepts using state of the art technologie on the market. Integralis has an international network of offices covering Germany, the UK, France, the USA and Switzerland. Among its existing customers are authorities and numerous well-known companies including two thirds of the companies listed on the DAX30 and half of the companies listed on the FTSE 100. Integralis is a subsidiary of Articon-Integralis AG, a company listed on Frankfurt's Neuer Markt and the leading supplier of IT security solutions in Europe with a workforce worldwide of 350. The total sales of the Articon-Integralis Group were Euro 210.5 million in 2002. Further information about Integralis can be found by visiting www.integralis.de

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