Identity Engines

About Identity Engines

Identity Engines, established in 2004, specialized in scalable, identity-based solutions for securing enterprise networks. The company was a provider of network-based identity management solutions before being acquired. The firm's core business centered on its flagship product, the Ignition™ appliance, a secure network device designed to deliver comprehensive network identity management.

The Ignition platform provided robust identity services, including authentication, authorization, and auditing for distributed network devices, while allowing for centralized administration and policy management. This enhanced access control and ensured compliance with corporate governance and regulatory policies. A key function of the platform was its ability to dynamically adjust network security and access control in real-time based on user identity. It integrated with existing directories to eliminate the need for separate repositories for different network access types, simplifying the management of network access control. The system converted passive network switches into intelligent, identity-aware devices that could segregate users into different network partitions with varying access rights.

Identity Engines targeted enterprise clients, enabling them to manage access for an increasingly mobile and remote workforce. The business model focused on the sale of the Ignition appliance, which was designed for quick and seamless deployment into enterprise IT infrastructures. The platform supported widely-used protocols like RADIUS and 802.1X. In 2008, Nortel acquired Identity Engines to integrate its Network Access Control technology into Nortel's product portfolio. This acquisition was part of Nortel's strategy to bolster its security solutions for enterprise customers. Following Nortel's subsequent restructuring, Avaya acquired these assets, and the Identity Engines platform became part of Avaya's offerings.