Focus: Smart cards

Nov 1, 2000 12:00 PM, Marjorie Salembier

Combining logical access and physical access applications on a single ID badge makes a lot of sense from a system standpoint as well as from an end-user standpoint. Increasingly, large corporations as well as organizations with multiple sites are turning to one-card solution.

Few cards offer these features of smart cards, including large memory read-and-write functions and secure data exchange capabilities. Smart cards enhance the entire security solution. This one card enables the user to manage digital certificates and to build access rights on one single device, leveraging existing security infrastructure and improving the daily life of the cardholder.

Using a single ID badge one may enter through a door, pay at a vending machine and log on to any PCs, encrypt e-mail and securely access the network. By early 2001 it is estimated that more than 35 million Americans will be remote users: smart cards are the ideal portable and secure device for an employee. Global corporations are leaning toward a simple uniform access control system, one that combines logical and physical access rights on a standard card.

Twins cards (contactless smart card that carries a contact chip) enable the badge holder to benefit from the proximity technology and from the contact applications. This dual technology solution opens the door to a multitude of possible services, ranging from parking to time and attendance, to payment and identity.

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2012 Penton Media Inc.

This month in Access Control

• Targeting The Customer
• Electronic Pedigrees
• One Hero Among Many
• Who? What? When? Where? Why?
• More from September's issue