Smart Card Alliance Adds New Certification Program

The Smart Card Alliance recently announced an additional smart card certification program for government identity and security professionals, the Certified Smart Card Industry Professional/Government (CSCIP/G) designation. The Alliance also announced its first two CSCIP/G exams, which will be held on June 29 and November 19 in Washington, D.C.

“The use of smart card technology has become a mainstay in the U.S. federal government, securing identities in programs like the FIPS 201 PIV card for all government employees, the DoD’s Common Access Card, the Transportation Worker Identification Credential and the First Responder Authentication Credential,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. “We recognized that there is a pressing need for more detailed training about the government smart card market than the present CSCIP program provided. In response, we developed this intensive curriculum to train government professionals, contractors and security industry experts on the role of smart cards in future rollouts of the government standards for identity management and security technology.”

Part of the Alliance’s Leadership, Education and Advancement Program (LEAP), CSCIP/G is an extension of the Certified Smart Card Industry Professional (CSCIP) designation. The body of industry knowledge covered by the CSCIP/G certification includes the same fundamentals as the CSCIP certification, and adds in-depth content about U.S. government identity credentialing programs and technologies.

Leading smart card industry professionals have developed the series of educational modules forming the CSCIP/G certification body of knowledge. These educational modules prepare applicants for the CSCIP/G exam administered by the Smart Card Alliance. The CSCIP/G certification exam will cover:

  • Smart card fundamentals.
  • Smart card security features.
  • Smart card application and data management.
  • Smart card usage models.
  • FIPS 201 and common identity, security and privacy requirements.
  • PIV card, physical attributes, data elements, logical credentials and cryptographic specifications.
  • PIV card issuance and lifecycle.
  • FIPS 201 and biometrics.
  • Assurance levels.
  • Use cases for physical and logical access.
  • Federal PKI infrastructure.

Information about the CSCIP/G training materials is now available on the Smart Card Alliance Web site. Instructor-led training courses will be held in Washington, D.C. on June 28 and November 16 prior to the CSCIP/G. For more information, visit the Smart Card Alliance LEAP Web site at http://www.smartcardalliance.org/pages/activities-leap.

Featured

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. 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.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.