What is Real Privacy Management (RPM), authentication software from 2Factor

Real Privacy Management (RPM) software that offers continuous, two-factor user authentication and data encryption based on a patented, real-time algorithm that limits the opportunity for intrasession hack attacks and threats.

Why it’s worth watching: Authenticating users has become a security best practice, but once is not enough. Methods such as public-key infrastructure (PKI) authenticate the user at first logon but leave the session open to hacker attacks thereafter. By performing continuous mutual authentication and encryption during every transmission between client and server, 2Factor reduces the potential for data theft and fraud by closing the window of opportunity for hackers.

How the company got its start: After working in cryptography for many years, founder and chief scientist Paul McGough saw the need for a simpler, more nimble and more effective alternative to PKI and other security technologies. The company claims RPM is based on provable mathematics, is as much as 100 times faster than PKI, and can be deployed quickly and easily in any type of software, chip or device.

Where the company got its name: A reference to two-factor security, where the first factor is “what you know” (typically a user name and password) and the second factor is “what you have” (typically some type of card or token).

Customers: The company says it’s in discussions with several major financial institutions, plus mobile phone operators, digital media companies, government agencies and large healthcare institutions — but won’t name names.

About 2Factor
Founded: 2006
Headquarters: Maumee, Ohio
Funding: $1.6 million in first-round financing
CEO: David Burns