PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J., FEBRUARY 15, 2012–The Smart Card Alliance today announced its return to ISC West for 2012 with a new workshop, a smart card security technology pavilion, and a certification training course and exam for the Smart Card Certified Industry Professional/Government (CSCIP/G) designation. ISC West will be held March 27-30 at the Sands Expo Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada; the conference program will take place March 27-29 and the expo will take place March 28-30.

“We welcome the Smart Card Alliance, a leading member-driven security organization, to this year’s ISC West conference,” said, Ed Several, SVP and general manager of ISC Events. “Our growing attendee base will surely view the Alliance’s expertise in smart card technology and security as a great addition to ISC West’s comprehensive educational program and product showcase.”

“As the sole sponsor of ISC West, SIA is pleased to have the Smart Card Alliance actively participate in our leading industry event that promises great opportunities for attendees,” said Don Erickson, CEO of the Security Industry Association (SIA). “ISC West is a unique event that allows us to showcase the technology innovation and expertise of our members. The Alliance’s support for ISC West provides a great platform for SIA and the Alliance to reach our shared goals of providing the timeliest educational resources, and promoting collaboration within the security industry.”

Secure Identity Credentialing Workshop

The Smart Card Alliance Educational Institute workshop, “Standards-Based Secure Identity Credentials: Leveraging the Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Specifications for Commercial Credentialing Programs,” will be held on March 27th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. in Sands Room 104. Registration is available on the workshop webpage at /secureid.

Presentations will provide commercial enterprises with an understanding of the PIV , PIV-I and CIV credentials, as well as the physical and logical access applications that can be used with a converged credentialing program. Workshop topics will include:

• The foundations of smart card technology and the PIV-I and CIV specifications
• How to use a converged PIV-I or CIV credential for physical and logical access
• The changes needed to migrate to this standards-based approach
• Approaches for using identity credentials with mobile devices
• Case studies from commercial organizations who have implemented identity credentialing programs based on the standards

“We built this workshop agenda after receiving many requests for educational information on how to implement identity credentials based on the PIV-I and/or CIV specifications,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. “Attendees will come away with a thorough knowledge of the benefits, best practices and technical requirements for establishing a secure, reliable, electronically verifiable identity program based on broadly-deployed standards.”

The workshop will be led by the Smart Card Alliance Access Control Council, formerly the Physical Access Council. The new name reflects the Council’s broadened goal to accelerate the widespread acceptance, use, and application of smart card technology for both physical and logical access control.

Smart Card Security Pavilion, Booth 16143

ISC West attendees should also add a visit to the Smart Card Security Pavilion at booth 16143 to their itineraries. Within the Pavilion, the Smart Card Alliance has organized and brought together up to ten leading-edge smart card companies in one place to showcase PIV, PIV-I, and CIV capable security technology for commercial and government IT and physical security. Organizations demonstrating this year include DSA, Intercede, XTec, SecureKey, and Quantum Secure.

If you are interested in demonstrating your technology at the Pavilion, contact Bill Rutledge at bill@cnxtd.com or +1 212-866-2169.

CSCIP/G Prep Course and Exam

Individuals looking for advanced training in smart card technology, security and application management, and usage models for identity management and access control for government and commercial physical and IT security are invited to attend a special CSCIP/G training course on Thursday, March 29th from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and take the CSCIP/G exam on Friday, March 30th from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. The location of the training course and exam will be announced soon.

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 core smart card technology fundamentals as the CSCIP certification, and adds in-depth content about U.S. government PIV credentialing programs and technologies. Registration and advanced preparation for the training course and exam are required prior to attending this ISC West session. Potential certification candidates need to meet the program’s minimum qualifications and comply with the training course prerequisites prior to taking the comprehensive certification exam.

About ISC Events

ISC Events are part of Reed Exhibitions’ 13 physical, safety and IT security events on five continents: Asia; Africa; Europe; N. America; S. America. The ISC portfolio consists of ISC West, an annual event, held in Las Vegas, NV, USA showcasing the newest products, technologies and solutions to a global audience of security professionals; ISC Solutions, offering the regional Northeast security marketplace with an educational and exhibition platform in New York; ISC Brasil, an annual event in São Paulo, showcasing physical security technologies and products for the South America marketplace, Expo Seguridad-Mexico powered by ISC, an annual event in Mexico City featuring physical security technologies and products for the Latin American marketplace and a portfolio of One2one Security Summits, high-level, exclusive meetings between buyers and sellers to solve specific security needs.

About SIA

The Security Industry Association (http://www.siaonline.org) is the leading trade group for businesses in the electronic and physical security market. SIA protects and advances its members’ interests by advocating pro-industry policies and legislation on Capitol Hill and throughout the 50 states; producing cutting-edge global market research; creating open industry standards that enable integration; advancing industry professionalism through education and training; opening global market opportunities; and providing sole sponsorship of the ISC Events, the world’s largest security trade shows and conferences.

About the Smart Card Alliance

The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to stimulate the understanding, adoption, use and widespread application 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. and Latin America. For more information, please visit http://www.securetechalliance.org.