ARX (Algorithmic Research)

Infobox_Company
company_name = ARX (Algorithmic Research)
company_
company_type = Private
foundation = 1987
location_city = San Francisco, California
location_country = USA
company_slogan = Digital Signatures Made Simple
key_people = Gadi Aharoni Ph.D., CEO Ilan Patashnik, COO Irit Stern, CFO
industry = Computer software
products = CoSign Digital Signatures PrivateServer HSM PrivateCard
homepage = [http://www.arx.com/ www.arx.com]
footnotes =

History

Founded in 1987 by Amos Fiat and Yossi Tulpan - students of Adi Shamir from the Weizmann Institute of Science. ARX is a provider of digital signature and data-security solutions. Since it was founded ARX has been developing various encryption products, digital signatures solutions, and authentication devices. All these products are based on cryptographic (encryption) technology. ARX focuses today on providing digital signature solutions for the enterprise and for web applications through a product called CoSign. Digital signatures replace the use of pen and paper signatures in the electronic paperless world. Digital Signatures provide proof of who signed a certain transaction (e.g., Microsoft Word file, Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, PDF form, Web form, etc.), when it was signed and guarantees the integrity of the document.

*1988: ARX releases CryptoCard, which is plugged into a PC and used for encryption, authentication, and digital signatures. ARX also releases the Crypto3270 product, which provides cryptographic services for the Mainframe computer environment. The first major customer for these products is the Israeli IRS (Tax Authorities) for securing the connection between accountancy firms and the IRS Mainframe computer.
*1989: ARX develops the first RSA smartcard operating system on the market for a conditional-access system of Canal+ (a large French pay-TV company). Later version of this work would become that PrivateCard product.
*1991: Deployment of the Canal+ system. ARX is later also involved in the switch from the analog to the digital conditional access system. Well over 30M smartcards that contain the ARX technology have been distributed over the years as part of this system.
*1992: ARX releases a PC disk-encryption product called Diskrete. The sources and Intellectual Property are later sold to Samsung.
*1993: ARX develops a patented keyboard-attached smartcard reader called CryptoSafe, selling large quantities to financial and other customers in Asia Pacific and Europe.
*1994: ARX releases a cryptographic toolkit called CryptoKit, providing a high-level cryptographic API for smartcards, and software-only key files. CryptoKit will become the cryptographic infrastructure for all of ARX products and projects.
*1995: ARX releases an HSM appliance called PrivateServer. PrivateServer is a network-attached device that is able to securely store a large number of secret keys and provide encryption, digital signature, hash, and other cryptographic operations to hosts that are connected to it on the network.
*1995: ARX releases a secure remote access VPN solution called CryptoLAN.
*1996: Orcast is spun-off from ARX and focuses on the developed of the conditional-access system for digital-television broadcasting.
*1997: ARX released PrivateWire, the first SSL VPN on the market.
*1997: ARX acquired by Cylink Corp., which was a Silicon valley based NASDAQ public company at the time, in an $83M transaction.
*1998: ARX release the MiniKey product, a smartcard USB token for the PC.
*2001: ARX goes through an MBO process from Cylink, thus becoming an independent, private, and profitable company. (Cylink was later acquired by Baltimore-based SafeNet, Inc.)
*2001: ARX decides to focus on digital signature solutions.
*2002: ARX develops CoSign, a digital signature solution for the enterprise and for Web applications.
*2003: ARX announces first CoSign sales.
*2005: ARX announces the opening of its U.S. headquarters in North California.
*2006: ARX sees CoSign sales in 5 continents (Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America), with North America holding the dominant share of the sales.

Products

CoSign Digital Signatures

CoSign is a digital signatures (standards-based electronic signature) solution. Signing & sealing electronic documents with digital signatures can expedite business processes, reduce costs, increase security and help organizations comply with regulations. CoSign electronic signatures are based on standard PKI technology, guaranteeing signer authenticity, data integrity and the non-repudiation of electronic documents.The CoSign digital signatures solution supports all major applications and file formats (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, PDF, TIFF, AutoCAD, InfoPath and others). [http://www.arx.com/products/cosign.php Product Page & More Info]

PrivateServer HSM

PrivateServer is ARX’s secure (FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Validated) network attached, Hardware Security Module (HSM) that provides a secure environment for conducting sensitive cryptographic operations, secure key storage and management of a large number of keys. [http://www.arx.com/products/privateserver.php Product Page & More Info]

Other Products

PrivateCard A PKI-based SmartCard for user authentication, digital signatures and encryption.MiniKey - A PKI-based USB token for user authentication, digital signatures and encryption.PrivateSafe - A PKI-based SmartCard reader. PrivateWire - A security toolbox, embedding several advanced security technologies within servers and clients, giving organizations a multi-layered security solution. [http://www.arx.com/products/product_other.php Product Page & More Info]

External links

* [http://www.arx.com/about/algorithmic-research.arx.php About ARX] : This link provides additional information about ARX.
* [http://www.arx.com/products/electronic-signatures-faq.php Electronic Signatures FAQ (non-commercial)] : What are digital signatures? How do they work? Who is implementing them and how? This FAQ addresses both the business and technology aspects of electronic signatures.