RSA - the security arm of EMC - has admitted to having a number of its servers hacked, as data on its two-factor authentication product SecurID was compromised.
The firm warned the data could be used to "reduce the effectiveness of a current two-factor authentication implementation as part of a broader attack," and RSA urged customers to take immediate remedial action.
RSA executive chairman Art Coviello said the firm's security systems had been targeted by an "extremely sophisticated cyber attack."
It is believed the attack was in the Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) category, which may indicate a well-funded group of individuals were responsible.
APTs involve significant intelligence research and the use of numerous techniques to hack targets. They need serious investment to be carried out.
RSA is now in the process of informing customers about the dangers and how to strengthen SecurID implementations.
"We have no evidence that customer security related to other RSA products has been similarly impacted," Coviello said in an open letter to customers.
"We are also confident that no other EMC products were impacted by this attack. It is important to note that we do not believe that either customer or employee personally identifiable information was compromised as a result of this incident."
In an advice note to customers, RSA listed a number of recommendations for customers to follow, with the first point being to increase focus on security for social media applications and the use of them by anyone with access to critical networks.
RSA has a wide range of customers, ranging from high profile private companies to government bodies.
A sad day'
The breach will be damaging for RSA and it could take some time for the EMC division to recover, said SecurEnvoy co-founder Steve Watts.
Watts said it was a "sad day" to see a company with the reputation of RSA being hit by such a significant attack.
"Anyone with an RSA token doesn't know if they're going to be compromised. The industry is a bit concerned," Watts told IT PRO.
"This isn't just a bit of a marketing booboo, this is a major strategic issue. The problem is that it will take quite a long time to get over it."
If RSA has to initiate a recall of a large chunk of its tokens, then this would lump the firm with a costly logistical nightmare, Watts added.
"Is it going to be as extreme as changing every token that is sent out into the marketplace? Is it as far as to send out replacement tokens for every user? That's just beyond measure," Watts added.
Earlier this week, Jim Fulton, vice president at DigitalPersona, told IT PRO many companies were struggling with token deployments as it was.
"I've heard people say that if they could, they'd throw them underneath a lorry and crush them because they hate them so much," Fulton said.
