Smart Card Access Control Technology

Identity is quickly becoming both a key asset and liability as the global marketplace becomes more accessible through technological innovation. Whether regarding personal or professional business, people leverage their identity to conduct transactions, access privileges, and obtain information. To access these rights, we use credentials to prove our identity. Credentials in turn become the concern of all entities through which transactions, privilege granting, and information occur.

These entities include governments, law enforcement agencies, businesses, associations and individuals, who have the added responsibility of enhancing security, reducing identity theft, and protecting personal privacy. Therefore, in order to conduct business and create the right circumstances for a safe and secure environment, these entities must be able to validate an identity by answering these questions: is the credential authentic and is the person holding that credential uniquely tied to and authorized to use that credential? Often these credentials come in the form of smart card access control technology.

A smart card is a plastic device, about the size of a credit card that has a built-in computer chip that is typically used to store personal information, hold digital cash or prove identity.