Hitachi adds identity management to security portfolio

Hitachi Ltd has acquired the majority ownership interest in M-Tech Information Technology Inc. The transaction adds M-Tech's identity management software and services to Hitachi's information security solutions portfolio. Effective April 2, M-Tech's name has been changed to Hitachi ID Systems Inc.

M-Tech enables its customers to strengthen their network security, lower operating costs and improve user productivity by implementing automation and self-service processes to more effectively manage user passwords and access rights. M-Tech's identity management products, including its P-Synch password management software and ID-Synch user provisioning software, have been deployed by around 700 organizations worldwide.

Hitachi ID intends to build on M-Tech's leadership in the identity management marketplace, and grow M-Tech's business globally by leveraging Hitachi's brand and market channels and by developing new opportunities in collaboration with other Hitachi Group companies worldwide. These opportunities may include joint offerings and other initiatives with Hitachi's biometric, RFID, smart card and other security-related technologies.

"Hitachi is increasingly focusing on its software and solution businesses in systems management and information security to introduce solutions aimed at the achievement of a broad and secure information society," said Masato Saito, executive general manager, information and telecommunications systems group, Hitachi. "Hitachi has developed and commercialized advanced IT security technologies such as finger vein biometric authentication, which is already used for ATM authentication in about 80 percent of Japanese financial institutions that have adopted biometric authentication technologies for this purpose."

"We are pleased to join the information technology group of Hitachi. The combination of M-Tech's leading identity management software and Hitachi's global reach and authentication technology are sure to benefit our customers," said Gideon Shoham, CEO of M-Tech, now Hitachi ID. "We look forward to delivering the most advanced identity management software and services to the global marketplace, as part of the Hitachi group."