ImageWare Authenticate Gets FirstNet Seal of Approval

ImageWare’s Authenticate solution is now available to first responders through the FirstNet App Catalog. FirstNet is a wireless broadband network set up to support America’s emergency responders and other public safety personnel, and exists as a private-public collaboration between the First Responder Network Authority and AT&T.

The FirstNet App Catalog, meanwhile, is a collection of more than 165 apps built for various emergency functions. Each app must clear rigorous third-party testing, and meet strict requirements for security and data privacy, amongst other things.

ImageWare Authenticate, meanwhile, is a mobile identity verification app that offers support for several biometric modalities, including face, voice, iris, and palm recognition. Once downloaded, the app can be used for both physical and logistical access control, taking advantage of a device’s built-in sensors for authentication.

The FirstNet Verified designation indicates that ImageWare Authenticate is compatible with other FirstNet services, and has met certain performance standards in that regard. ImageWare noted that a hands-free biometric authentication option like voice recognition can be particularly helpful to firefighters and other first responders who wear masks, gloves, and other heavy equipment while in the field.

ImageWare Authenticate performs all matches in the cloud, which means that users can register their biometrics on one device and then log in on another without needing to enroll a second time. The solution offers support for the OIDC and SAML standards, and is available to organizations with an annual Software-as-a-Service license.

“As the only biometrics-enabled security solution currently approved for inclusion in the FirstNet App Catalog, Imageware Authenticate provides a frictionless way for first responders to quickly access mission critical data and emergency operations center information,” said ImageWare Federal Markets Sales Director Gary Monetti.

“We only add applications to the FirstNet App Catalog that are highly secure, high quality, and relevant to public safety,” added FirstNet Program Product Marketing Assistant VP Scott Agnew. “We’re pleased that Imageware Authenticate is now Verified and available to FirstNet subscribers.”

ImageWare suggested that national first responders can use Authenticate to comply with President Biden’s recent executive order on cybersecurity, which forces all federal agencies to implement secure multi-factor authentication. The company appointed a new Advisory Board in May, and is hoping that FirstNet Verified status will advance its ongoing transformation efforts.

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July 27, 2021 – by Eric Weiss