Company to provide publically trusted digital certificates for users of the North American Energy Standard Board's Electric Industry Web registry.

GlobalSign Inc, a Certification Authority and specialist in SSL Partner Programs, today announced that it has become an Authorized Certificate Authority (ACA) for the North American Energy Standard Board (NAESB).

The company articulates that to become an authorized Certification Authority, a Certificate Authority must meet the NAESB Wholesale Electric Quadrant (WEQ)-12 PKI Standards, which includes various security requirements and specifications. It actively participates in the continued enhancement and modernization of the WEQ-12 standard in order to assure the Whole Sale Electric industry and relying parties a minimum security standard that addresses today's threats. The company's NAESB compliant certificates are now available to subscribers of the Electric Industry Registry (EIR) application. EIR replaces Open Access Same Time Information Systems (OASIS), for the electric power industry.

According to it, the requirement of digital certificates for EIR registrants is part of a larger transition, which includes a new web-based Electric Industry Registration system developed by Open Access Technology, Inc. (OATI). The OATI Web registry will replace the current registry operated by Transmission System Information Networks. This new Web registry will include enhancements for allowing NASEB members to perform EIR functions as well as the security requirements of requiring all EIR users to enroll for a digital certificate.

The company says that new and previously registered registrants using the OASIS legacy system (formerly known as Transmission System Information Networks) will be required to enroll for a digital certificate from an Authorized Certification Authority. Registrants interested in applying for a GlobalSign Digital Certificate may learn more at http://www.globalsign.com/digital-certificates-for-naesb/ and during the month of April can receive a two-year certificate for the price of a 1 year certificate as part of an enrollment promotion.

"We are proud to become an authorized Certificate Authority as part of NAESB's PKI standards for the use of their EIR among other WEQ-12 governed applications," said Lila Kee, Chief Product Officer, GMO GlobalSign, Inc. "Adding digital certificate technology for online transactions and authentication will play an important role for supporting energy markets and system functions and protecting national critical infrastructure."

"We are delighted to welcome GlobalSign as a Certificate Authority for the NAESB Certification Program," said Rae McQuade, President and Executive Director of NAESB. She added, "GlobalSign's experience in the PKI Industry will present great value to our NAESB members and to the energy market as a whole. Their willingness to act as CAs and provide their expertise as NAESB standards are drafted, gives the organization a great foundation upon which to build necessary cyber security work products. We are very grateful for their contributions."