SCM Microsystems expands its product portfolio with introduction of three products. The new products are addressing the need for stronger and more convenient security solutions and access control applications.

PAT1461, the first new device in the series from SCM, is a physical access control terminal which supports the growing focus on contactless technology. PAT1461 makes secure contactless transactions more efficient by supporting the Sony’s FeliCa technology. ▸

CSC announced the launch of the Common Access Card Enabled - Remote Access Solution (CE-RAS), a secure connectivity product that enables employees to access government networks from non-government computers, regardless of location.

With the solution, employees can meet increased work requirements during surge periods and continue working during emergency situations that would normally prevent them from reaching their customary workplaces. This secure telework solution is a government-approved product that meets security standards and permits the use of non-government equipment to connect to government networks. ▸

After the recent violation of patients medical records, the Patients Association in the UK is campaigning for a medical smart card deployment.

The patients are concerned about their safety and the confidentiality of their records after hearing that their medical records are being put online without their consent, according to the British Medical Association. Additionally it is claimed that the database system is easily open to hacking.

The smart card would work a portable medical record that compiles all a patient’s information onto a single device. ▸

A new authentication manager for Microsoft Windows will now enable any identification device to be used for login. Passlogix Inc.’s v-GO Universal Authentication Manager (v-GO UAM) is said to not only speed up user’s network access and operations, but also cut costs of the back-end authentication infrastructure by more than 85% per user. Corporate markets who used to pay $100 per user may pay as little as $15.

The v-GO UAM will accept all forms of identification including door access badges, government-issued citizen identity cards, standalone or built-in laptop biometrics, one time passwords via mobile phones, and question and answer sequences. ▸

ActivIdentity Corp., a provider of in strong authentication and credential management, announced that it has launched a PIV-Interoperable initiative to enable non-federal organizations to issue employee identity cards that are technically interoperable with U.S. government PIV systems, and issued in a manner that allows government and relying parties to trust the cards.

To address the newly defined PIV-I card standards, ActivIdentity has modified its ActivID Card Management System that is being used in conjunction with its ActivClient security software. Customers looking to deploy the ActivIdentity PIV-I credential management solution can also leverage the ActivIdentity PIV+ applet that enables PKI-based access control as well as one-time-password-based authentication on a single PIV-interoperable identity card. The ActivIdentity PIV+ applet together with the ActivID Card Management System and ActivClient are part of the government-approved product list. ▸

U.S. senators are planning to meet with President Obama this week to propose a new type of ID card that would use biometrics to confirm eligibility to work in the U.S., according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R- S.C.) are pushing the card that would use biometrics to confirm worker eligibility. Schumer has suggested adding biometrics to the E-Verify system last summer. Now he is suggesting using either fingerprint or palm vein biometrics with the system. ▸

Countries are deploying advanced ID technologies so citizens can access services

by Zack Martin, Editor, AVISIAN Publications

National identity cards are a fact of life for citizens of some countries but elsewhere the credentials are the focus of ire.

Citizens of countries that don’t have national IDs fear it will lead to a police state and a loss of personal freedoms. But the countries that have had them in place don’t necessarily have those problems. More and more countries are deploying national IDs and are using smart cards and other advanced technologies. In some instances the cards are also being used to drive multiple applications.

The idea of a national ID card in the U.S. has always been a non-starter. Even though many admit the Social security number and driver licenses are de facto national IDs, when there are discussions of making changes to those documents the potential evils of national ID programs rise to the surface. Some experts say this may be changing, however, as efforts are underway to better identify U.S. citizens online and within health care environments. ▸