public-private partnerships

Card Overload

Government directives can help private sector determine which access control cards best fit their needs

Government directives were designed to help enhance security, increase government efficiency, reduce identity fraud and protect personal privacy by establishing a government-wide standard for secure and reliable forms of identification issued by the federal government to its personnel.

You can use these directives to help those in the private sector to be better informed. With computer hackers stealing millions of electronic records every year, many Fortune 1,000 companies are trying to secure their networks through the use of public key infrastructure. As such, many are turning to HSPD-12.

The Federal Government

As a result of Sept. 11, 2001, in August 2004, President George W. Bush issued HSPD-12, which established the policy for common identification standards for all federal employees and contractors who require routine or regular scheduled access to federal facilities.

The directive developed a common identification standard that ensures people are who they say they are, so government facilities and sensitive information stored in networks and within physical facilities remain protected. To achieve a higher protection level, HSPD-12 requires agencies to issue smart-card technologies to all federal employees and contractors for access to buildings, facilities and computer networks. In addition, HSPD-12 directed the development of federal information processing standards to define systems to achieve a common identification credential. In accordance with HSPD-12, the FIPS 201 standard, the personal identity verification of federal employees and contractors, establishes the technical requirements for the identity credential that is issued based on sound criteria for verifying a person's identity. It ensures the credential is strongly resistant to identity fraud, tampering, counterfeiting and terrorist exploitation and can be rapidly authenticated electronically.

Following this presidential directive, standards have arisen to drive major changes in card technologies. For example, FIPS 201 defines the PIV and platform interoperability. FIPS 140 defines the requirements and standards for cryptographic modules, which include both hardware and software components for security. Finally, NIST 800-116 defines the use of PIV cards within a physical access control system. From these standards have come other programs, like TWIC, CAC (Department of Defense), FRAC (first responders) and PIV-I (interoperable) for government subcontractors and PIV-C (PIV compatible) for private companies that want to use the card as an employee badge.

A new type of card was developed to support both contactless physical access and contact logical access, commonly referred to as a dual interface card. Both interfaces, contact and contactless, are connected to the same processor chip, providing common security and cost efficiency. For physical access control, the cards can support MIFARE or DESFire emulation and, with the addition of a Prox inlay, also can support legacy proximity technologies.

While MIFARE and DESFire are not used within a PIV deployment, the open and interoperable architecture of the technologies aligns perfectly with the non-proprietary strategy behind HSPD-12.

Public key infrastructure is a set of policies, processes, server platforms, software and workstations used for the purpose of administering certificates and public-private key pairs, including the ability to issue, maintain and revoke public key certificates As a result of HSPD-12, the government has launched major PIV programs to comply with this directive, including TWIC, Department of Veterans Affairs Personal Identity Verification system and GSA USAccess. It also includes two forms of ID: physical access and computer access using the PIN within the card.

The General Services Administration's Office of Governmentwide Policy has been appointed as the Federal PKI Management Authority to manage the design and development, and implement and operate the Production FPKIA.

Homeland Security-trusted Traveler Program

The purpose of the card is to verify your identity by matching the information stored in the card with the information you provided during your enrollment process.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued specific guidance on the implementation and application of physical access control with PIV cards. This guidance is known as SP800-116 and requires the specific use of the strong authentication and other features of the PIV credential for every access control system. The requirements of SP800-116 represent the use of advanced credential and individual identity authentication that is outside of the scope of most existing access control readers and require PKI processing that transcends the operational capabilities of most PACS infrastructure.

A few companies have developed products specifically to meet and exceed the requirements of FIPS201 and SP800-116 and now offer a complete solution in compliance with these standards and directives.

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.