One-year timetable for HSPD-12 card issuance begins
Oct. 27 marked the deadline for federal agencies to begin issuing new biometrics-based smart cards to its employees and contractors for access to federal buildings and information systems nationwide.
The measure is part of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which calls for a mandatory, government-wide standard for secure and reliable forms of identification to enhance government security and efficiency, reduce identity fraud and protect personal privacy.
Government agencies have until Oct. 27, 2008, to provide the cards to all employees. The implementation of the PIV system involves a significant degree of organizational change across federal agencies.
To assist in the implementation and deployment of these new forms of identification, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) spearheaded the development of an overarching standard, the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201, Personal Identity Verification of Federal Employees and Contractors.
According to NIST, the standards are likely to undergo revision as the PIV system is fully implemented and put into use. To enable interoperability between federal organizations so that cards issued by one agency can be used to gain to access to another, NIST has released PIV Card to Reader Interoperability Guidelines to ensure compatibility between cards and readers from different vendors.
Last spring, NIST conducted a PIV test of products from 44 companies, producing a report that outlines the products currently available as viable solutions for meeting HSPD-12.
NIST has identified several areas of focus for additional guidelines necessary to support the continued roll-out of the system. Future projects will include the development of standards to ensure appropriate levels of security for all relevant applications, to support the electronic transmittal and storage of biometric data, and to protect the personal privacy of PIV system subscribers.
Be sure to check out the cover story in the October issue of GOVERNMENT SECURITY for more on the HSPD-12 deadlines