Secure online authentication "Made in Germany": Swissbit launches FIDO2 Authenticator

iShield FIDO2 USB-A / NFC Security Key protects access to apps and online services

Bronschhofen, Switzerland, February 17, 2022 – Swissbit has added a completely new product category to its portfolio of security solutions. With the iShield FIDO2, Swissbit, a specialist in industrial storage and security products, is the first authenticator for the FIDO2 open authentication standard. When logging in with the iShield FIDO2, extremely strong security is provided for access to web services and online accounts via asymmetric cryptography and hardware security keys, and it supports USB Type-A and NFC for mobile devices. The new authenticator is manufactured at the Swissbit plant in Berlin, so its workmanship and quality are of very high standards. Swissbit Berlin can also customize the product if required. The main audience for the Swissbit iShield FIDO2 are enterprises and IT departments as well as providers of online services and web services that want to offer their customers additional security features. As a globally adopted standard, FIDO enables multi-factor authentication, thereby preventing phishing attacks, and supports the Zero Trust architecture that has been mandatory for US authorities and others since the beginning of this year.

Swissbit iShield FIDO2 is housed in a rugged, industrial-grade waterproof plastic housing and is designed for a wide operating temperature range of -25°C to +70°C. The authenticator is compact (5 × 18.5 × 6 mm) with a USB-A interface and rear touch sensor, and supports NFC for convenient "one-touch" authentication with compatible mobile devices. In addition to incorporating the current WebAuthn and CTAP2 protocols of the FIDO2 standard, the authenticator also supports its predecessor, U2F authentication.

Therefore, iShield FIDO2 can effectively protect online accounts and web services from phishing, social engineering and account takeover attacks. Swissbit security keys support all FIDO2/WebAuthn-compatible and U2F-compatible websites and services, such as Google, Microsoft, Salesforce and Amazon Web Services, as well as Windows 10 password-free login. Supported platforms include Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, Chrome OS and Android, as well as Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Apple Safari browsers.

Users can access security options for websites, services, and accounts, choosing from password-less single-step authentication, two-step authentication (2FA), and multi-step authentication (MFA) to protect them.

Wide range of customers and applications

iShield FIDO2 is based on open standards, is future-proof and can be flexibly integrated into existing services and online systems. Companies can therefore use FIDO2 to protect their IT environment or individual applications, specifically against typical insecurity factors such as weak passwords.

Company employees can also take better advantage of the secure authenticator by using iShield FIDO2 as an all-in-one security key for their own mail and social media accounts.

High-quality verifiers – Made in Germany 

“Swissbit has always stood for reliable protection of data and devices,” says Silvio Muschter, CEO of Swissbit AG. “This now also applies to online accounts. iShield FIDO2 protects online accounts with the most stringent hardware-based authentication option. What’s special about it is that it offers additional security to customers of network service providers, file sharing platforms and customized solutions in the healthcare sector.” Muschter adds: “With the proven manufacturing capabilities of our Berlin plant, we can ensure production with the highest security standards. At the same time, the label ‘Made in Germany’ is a unique selling point for this product and indicates its high quality.”

how to buy

iShield FIDO2 is available through the following partners and online stores: Mouser Electronics and CRYPTAS.