Smart Card Alliance Government and Industry Members Form Physical Access Council

Smart Card Alliance Government and Industry Members Form Physical Access Council

Princeton Junction, NJ, March 2, 2005–Smart card government and industry leaders are forming a new Physical Access Council, created by the Smart Card Alliance as organizations worldwide implement new access control systems to improve security and more accurately verify the identity of individuals seeking access to physical facilities.

“The Alliance task forces have done significant work in the areas of physical and logical access security in recent years. Now we’re launching a group that will work on focused activities and topics important to the physical access industry so that we can speed smart card adoption in this important market,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. “Our members are already responding enthusiastically, with more than 40 individuals participating in our first Council meeting last month.”

The Physical Access Council is managed by a combined government/industry steering committee. Current steering committee members are: AMAG Technology, a leading manufacturer of card and biometric-based security management systems; Axalto, a global leader in microprocessor smart cards; Integrated Engineering, a contactless smart card solutions provider; Northrop Grumman Corporation, a trusted IT leader and premier provider of advanced IT solutions, engineering and business services for government and commercial clients; MAXIMUS, a program management, operations and systems integration and services provider to the government; Philips, one of the world’s top electronics companies in security systems; SCM Microsystems, a provider of smart card reader technology; and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The Physical Access Council steering committee is headed by Chair Bob Merkert, SCM Microsystems; Vice Chair Dwayne Pfeiffer, Northrop Grumman Corporation; and Secretary Steve Rogers, Integrated Engineering.

“This council allows those with similar interests in physical access control to work together in an open forum under the guidance and support of the Smart Card Alliance,” said Merkert. “Our goal is to increase adoption of smart cards for physical access and address the key issues that end user organizations have in deploying new physical access system technology. We will achieve this by focusing on specific industry issues–such as the impact that FIPS 201, SP800-73 and SP800-76 will have on U.S. government physical access requirements, and the integration of physical and logical access control.”

The Physical Access Council includes participants from across the smart card and physical access control system industry, including end users; smart card chip, card, software and reader vendors; physical access control systems vendors; and integration service providers. Physical Access Council participation is open to any Smart Card Alliance member who wishes to contribute to the Council projects.

The Physical Access Council’s next meeting will be held at the Smart Card Alliance 4th Annual Smart Cards in eGovernment Conference and Exhibition on March 9th through 11th, 2005 at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Alliance Technology and Industry Councils

The Physical Access Council is the first of several new Smart Card Alliance Technology and Industry Councils, a new type of focused group within the overall structure of the Alliance. These councils have been created to foster increased industry collaboration within a specified industry or market segment and produce tangible results, speeding smart card adoption and industry growth.

About the Smart Card Alliance

The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to accelerate the acceptance of smart card technology. Through specific projects such as education programs, market research, advocacy, industry relations and open forums, the Alliance keeps its members connected to industry leaders and innovative thought. The Alliance is the single industry voice for smart cards, leading industry discussion on the impact and value of smart cards in the U.S. For more information please visit https://www.securetechalliance.org.