System Addresses HIPAA Security Requirements and Improves Clinician Workflow

Minneapolis, Minn. and WALL, N.J., Oct 21 / -- Sig-Tec Corporation, a leader in identity and access management software solutions, and partner BIO-key International Inc., a leader in finger-based biometric identification and wireless public safety solutions, announced today the successful deployment of Sig-Tec’s AppStarter Single Sign On and SPD for Strong Authentication to Central Minnesota Neurosciences (CMN) addressing their HIPAA security requirements and improving clinician workflow.

“A year ago, … our Doctors, Nurses, Clinicians and IT staff  were getting very frustrated with the amount of usernames and passwords they had to manage. As an organization we were struggling to meet IT security requirements and knew something had to be done.  We recognized that implementing robust password security measures hinders our staff’s performance and often defeats our objective to deliver a  clinical workflow solution that is  fast and easy. With the Sig-Tec’s single sign on and strong authentication software we were able to achieve all of our goals quickly and cost effectively making the organization and the end users very happy.”
Ron Thiessen
Director of Operations, Central Minnesota Neurosciences

CMN selected Sig-Tec’s Single Private Desktop (SPD) and AppStarter SSO software products for their IdAM initiatives.  SPD was selected to provide strong authentication using Silex S1 biometric fingerprint reader for network and desktop access. BIO-key’s patented VST® identification software is an integral part of these software solutions for capturing the biometric credentials at enrollment and for quickly and accurately establishing the identity of personnel. VST stores each user’s fingerprint as a mathematical template and the user’s fingerprint image isn’t maintained on any computer or in any database – further protecting security as well as privacy. AppStarter was selected for automated password management for fast and easy application access to make for a simplified clinician workflow and improved patient care.

With Sig-Tec’s solution in place the end-user simply puts their finger on the biometric fingerprint reader for access into both the network and enabled applications at any workstation throughout the environment making things fast and  simple for the end users and secure for the organization.

“Sig-Tec is excited to be delivering solutions to the healthcare community, that are easy to install, configure, use, and maintain addressing Healthcares growing IT security demands, and clinician workflow needs.  Our CTO, Robert Hoghaug, has put an enormous level of importance, since the very beginning, to listen to the healthcare community, both clinical and IT,  in designing  solutions that address improving patient care, while still meeting their short and long term business strategies for security and workflow”   

John McGuire

National Sales Manager, Sig-Tec Corporation 

The resulting solution brings strong authentication and password management delivering full compliance with HIPAA and internal policies regarding patient privacy. With the complete deployed solution, the following benefits were obtained: 

•  Elimination of complex  passwords for both local and remote network access
• Elimination of cumbersome passwords for their EMR, PACS and other clinical applications
• Over 90% reduction in support calls related to password reset  
• Extensive detailed audit trails for full identity and access management reporting
• Risk free expansion for workstations – future expansion can incorporate different authentication devices (including imbedded devices on laptops and tablets)
• Risk  free expansion of applications – Sig-Tec’s AppStarter can be configured to manage passwords for any software application

After one year, CMN has expanded their Sig-Tec software deployment beyond their initial scope to include additional Sig-Tec modules for the entire organization .According to Thiessen,” Sig-Tec did a wonderful job working with us to integrate their software solution into our existing infrastructure very quickly. The quality of their project management, led by Paul Kobs, and ongoing maintenance and customer support since integration has been unparalleled in my experience. “

About Sig-Tec
Sig-Tec is a software engineering company that has created a winning suite of Identity and Access Management solutions that raises the standard for performance in today’s IdAM market.  Sig-Tec’s philosophy in building software solutions acknowledges every customers expectations for a fundamental and reliable solution that is flexible, easy to implement, use and manage.  The foundational products of this suite are “AppStarter” Single Sign On and “SPD” for Strong Authentication.  These software solutions make addressing strong passwords and password management fast, simple, and inexpensive for any organization by easily installing in the existing infrastructure in days, not months.  Sig-Tec’s identity and access management software has been carefully developed with extensive research with Chief Medical Officers, Chief Information Officers, Chief Security Officers, Directors of IT security, network administrators, security analysts and many industry experts. For additional information on Sig-Tec please visit www.sig-tec.com or email sales@sig-tec.com.

About BIO-key
BIO-key International, Inc., headquartered in Wall, New Jersey, develops and delivers advanced identification solutions and information services to law enforcement departments, public safety agencies, government and private sector customers. BIO-key's mobile wireless technology provides first responders with critical, reliable, real-time data and images from local, state and national databases. BIO-key's high performance, scalable, cost-effective and easy-to-deploy biometric finger identification technology accurately identifies and authenticates users of wireless and enterprise data to improve security, convenience and privacy and to reduce identity theft. Over 750 police departments in North America use BIO-key solutions, making BIO-key the leading supplier of mobile and wireless solutions for law enforcement. (http://www.bio-key.com)

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