BIO-key International has secured a major partnership with California’s Education Technology Joint Powers Authority (Ed Tech JPA), extending its PortalGuard identity management platform to 195 K-12 schools and districts serving over 2.6 million students. The agreement notably features phone-free authentication methods, aligning with California’s upcoming restrictions on smartphone use in schools.
The partnership, formalized through a Joint Purchase Agreement following a competitive RFP process, gives member institutions streamlined access to BIO-key’s comprehensive identity and access management (IAM) solutions. This builds on BIO-key’s established presence in the education sector, where the company has been deploying security solutions for several years.
PortalGuard’s phone-less and token-less authentication capabilities are particularly relevant as California schools prepare for the Phone-Free Schools Act (AB-1326), which requires policies limiting smartphone use by July 2026. The platform offers 17 different authentication methods, including biometrics and challenge-response systems, allowing schools to maintain security without relying on personal mobile devices.
“We are excited to partner with Ed Tech JPA to provide their members access to PortalGuard’s proven IAM capabilities,” said Mark Cochran, President of BIO-key’s PortalGuard division. “For over 20 years, BIO-key has built a strong track record delivering enterprise-grade IAM security solutions to meet the unique ‘roving user’ needs of educational institutions nationwide.”
The Ed Tech JPA partnership represents a significant expansion of BIO-key’s strategic distribution network, which has grown through various partnerships since 2022. The platform has garnered industry recognition, including winning the 2022 Fortress Cyber Security Award for its authentication technology.
Sources: MarketScreener, Nasdaq, StockTitan
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March 14, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team
