Interoperability is an access problem
Any access-control system probably will have to work with a wide variety of applications, some of them off-the-shelf, some homegrown, some up-to-date and some legacies. This will require a lot of integration and in all likelihood some modification of whatever software you buy to manage access.
These issues put a premium on interoperability and customer support from vendors. Agencies are looking to industry for guidance in implementing systems that will leverage new HSPD-12 PIV cards.
The industry is responding to these demands with the HSPD-12 Interoperability Consortium. The consortium held its first meeting in June with an initial roster of nine vendors offering PKI, physical access, ID management and auditing solutions.
The group's goals are to develop and test an end-to-end interoperable system and establish an interoperability testing lab. The lab will be hosted by SafeNet to test preconfigured, end-to-end multivendor turnkey solutions.
Founding members, and their specialties, are:
SafeNetwww.safenet-inc.comSmart cards, authentication and encryption systems
Consul Risk Management Inc.www.consul.comSecurity audit and compliance
CoreStreet Ltd.www.corestreet.comIntegration and identity management software
Entrust Inc.www.entrust.comCertificate authority, shared-services provider and encryption tools
Forum Systems Inc.www.forumsys.comSecured systems architecture
Precise Biometrics Inc.www.precisebiometrics.comBiometric tools
Probaris Technologies Inc.www.probaris.comSecured business process solutions
Intercede Group PLCwww.intercede.comSmart card management
Omnikey GmbH>www.omnikey.comSmart-card readers.
About the Author
William Jackson is a senior writer for GCN.