Cryptomathic is a leading provider of security solutions to businesses across a wide range of industry sectors, including finance, smart card, digital rights management and government, delivering systems for e-banking, PKI initiatives, card personalization, ePassport, card issuing, and advanced key management. It has been awarded Gold Certified Partner status for its extensive software development capabilities.

Peter Landrock, executive chairman of Cryptomathic, comments: "With over 20 years' experience, Cryptomathic delivers best-of-breed security software and services. We continually aim to improve our solutions and strive to achieve the highest industry recognition. We are, therefore, extremely pleased to have attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program. It allows us to clearly promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our customers, and through the benefits provided, enables Cryptomathic to further enhance its offerings."

"Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities," said Allison Watson, corporate vice president of the Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corp. "They need to trust in a company that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies. Today, Microsoft recognizes Cryptomathic as a new Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction using Mfaction using Microsoft products and technology."

As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Partner status, Cryptomathic had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner's capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each Competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry. Within select Competencies, there are Specializations that focus on specific solution areas that recognize deeper expertise within that Competency. Serving as a specialized path to earning those Competencies, Specializations give direct access to the tools and resources that support that specific area of focus.

The ISV/Software Solutions Competency recognizes the skill and focus partners bring to a particular solution set. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners that have obtained this competency have a successful record of developing and marketing packed software based on Microsoft technologies.

"Solutions competencies are an important way for Microsoft to better enable ISVs to meet customer needs," said Sanjay Parthasarathy, corporate vice president of the Developer and Platform Evangelism Group at Microsoft Corp. "They allow ISVs to keep and win customers through their deep knowledge of solutions-based Microsoft platform technologies. Microsoft has a long history of working closely with ISV partners to help them deliver compelling solutions and applications to our mutual customers, and the Microsoft Competencies are an important step in continuing to enhance vital relationships with ISVs worldwide."