Digital Security for protecting and enhancing digital interactions…

The digital revolution is transforming the way we go about our daily lives. The freedom to communicate, buy and travel, anytime and anywhere, has become an integral part of what people want and expect.

Our habits are changing as we discover more and more digital and wireless options since they let us do things faster, more enjoyably and more conveniently – helping us to be better informed, more efficient and more entertained with just a click.

Major companies with big workforces and complex operations are growing heavily dependent on large IT systems. Public authorities are turning to digital technology to better serve, inform, involve and protect their citizens. More and more individuals are using digital interactions to participate in an increasingly globalised world economy. For people in the developed world this is now a matter of course. And in the developing world they are fast catching up.

The figures speak for themselves. By the end of 2006 there were 1 billion Internet users, and nearly 3 billion mobile phone subscribers. More than 3 billion banking cards had been sold. And the numbers are growing all the time.

So the promise of the digital revolution is the freedom for users to do more and enjoy more in every aspect of their daily lives, at work or at home or in between. In short, it’s given people everywhere new opportunities.

But it’s also created new issues. The increasing complexity of new devices, interfaces and passwords can be a nuisance and a cost, both to end-users and organizations.

Equally, fears around identity and digital security, in the form of fraud, intrusion into data systems, phishing, identity theft, and so on, are holding people back from using new online services.

What’s at stake is people’s confidence in technology and the way they relate to these rapidly evolving digital interactions.

These digital security issues are so significant that they are preventing us from reaping the full benefits of digital technology. They demand solutions that make things safe and simple for users, enabling people and organizations to interact effectively and fruitfully.

Digital Security…significantly enhancing our business opportunities

Safe because we clearly need to create trust and safeguard privacy. That’s why digital security protects digital identity, assets, and transactions.

And simple because we need technologies that are intuitive and non-intrusive, making the user’s experience one of ease and confidence. That’s why digital security also enhances people’s experience of digital interactions, making them personal, convenient and enjoyable.

This dual objective, to protect and enhance digital interactions so they are safe and simple for the end-user, is key to what Gemalto does. And it’s exactly captured in our tagline - “security to be free”.

Gemalto’s aim is to address digital security issues and the opportunities of the digital age. Built upon the foundations of the two leading players in the smart card sector, Gemalto has unmatched experience in the innovation and fabrication of secure personal devices.

Our focus is on the needs of our customers – operators, banks, public authorities, enterprises, internet content providers and so on. Their business is to enable individuals to make the most of digital interactions. And it’s our business to help them do so.

As the scope of the digital world extends, and in order to provide our customers with digital security solutions that are more comprehensive and more targeted, we have chosen to widen the spread of our activities. As a result, smart cards have come to represent only part of what we do. Other secure personal devices (electronic passports, dongles, etc.) software and services are also gaining in importance and playing an increasingly prominent role in our business mix.

This expansion along the value chain is significantly widening our business horizons. If the traditional smart card market was worth about $5 billion, we estimate that digital security comprises opportunities worth over $25 billion.

So our solutions are becoming increasingly varied, but they all retain the same inherent qualities of security, convenience, and personalization. And our expertise in their development is enabling Gemalto to be a leader and to thrive in this rapidly expanding market.