The new affiliate - Identrus Japan - will aim to build on the momentum established by existing users, Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and UFJ. It will focus on PKI systems management and technical integration of the Internet security platform for banks and their customers, in addition to serving as Identrus' primary distributor and support provider in the region.

Andrew McLauchlan, executive chairman of Identrus, says: "Identrus Japan will enable participating Identrus banks in Japan to focus on the development and deployment of secure e-business applications without the need to act as their own certificate authority, greatly reducing costs and overall complexity of the solution."

Isao Ogishi, chief executive officer, Identrus Japan, says the new company will work to free banks from the infrastructure management associated with issuing digital certificates so they can focus on customer needs instead.