Microsoft Acquires ID-Management Software VendorMicrosoft Acquires ID-Management Software Vendor

Microsoft Corp. on Monday said it has acquired privately held Alacris Inc., which makes smart-card management software.

Financial details were not disclosed, but the Redmond, Wash., software company said Alacris technology provides the software tools needed to simplify smart-card life-cycle management in Windows.

“Customers have told us that smart cards are becoming an increasingly important part of their authentication and authorization strategy,” Mike Nash, corporate vice president of the Security Technology Unit at Microsoft, said in a statement.

Windows currently provides a platform, comprised of Active Directory and Microsoft Certificate Services, for using smart cards and other authentication technologies on the desktop. Alacris’s core technology streamlines the provisioning of new smart cards and the configuration of existing smart cards, and provides Web-based policy-driven workflow management.

The availability of a beta version of Alacris’ technologies will be announced at a future date, Microsoft said.