FB pixel

NIST asks for comment on credential security standard

Categories Biometrics News  |  Uncategorized
 

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released the second-round draft version of its updated security standard for identity credentials in the Personal Identity Verification cards (PIV cards) that all federal employees and contractors must use. NIST is requesting comments from the public on the document, which is intended to be the last draft before the final version is published.

The document is the next step toward updating Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201, which was published in February 2005. Among its requirements are that all PIV cards contain an integrated circuit chip for storing electronic information, a personal identification number and protected biometric data—a printed photograph and two electronically stored fingerprints.

According to NIST computer security researcher Hildegard Ferraiolo, the update was anticipated from the start: “The original FIPS 201 indicates the standard should be reviewed after five years to see if changes need to be made. After implementing the standard, federal departments and agencies learned a number of lessons that, combined with technological changes over the years, made an update worthwhile.”

Ferraiolo says the update will not require anyone to replace their current PIV card, but will make the new cards, based on the revised specification, more flexible and effective. Among the numerous improvements in the revised draft are the abilities to:

  • Update a card’s credentials remotely without the need to appear in person at the issuer site, a change that should create significant cost savings.
  • Create additional credential for use on mobile devices such as smart phones.
  • Offer additional capabilities, such as secure messaging and on-card fingerprint comparison, to provide more flexibility in selecting the appropriate level of security for federal applications that use the PIV card for authentication.

Article Topics

 |   |   |   | 

Latest Biometrics News

 

Humanity Protocol CEO talks Moongate acquisition, expansion into ticketing

Humanity Protocol has acquired Moongate, marking a move into the ticketing and access market. For Terence Kwok, CEO of the…

 

Half a million shoplifters can’t be right

By Professor Fraser Sampson, former UK Biometrics & Surveillance Camera Commissioner When Napoleon said that we were a nation of shopkeepers,…

 

Fight misinformation with IDV for tiered anonymity on social media, paper argues

Social media and its effects on our society is an ongoing conversation. Some governments are considering banning social media for…

 

Hackathon spotlights role of Philippines national ID in effective service delivery

Institutions that are yet to integrate their services with the Philippines national ID Authentication platform have been called upon to…

 

Sri Lanka promotes outcome-based procurement for a robust digital economy

A significant transformation in Sri Lanka’s public procurement system, is paramount in the journey to advance Sri Lanka’s digital economy,…

 

Private, effective age verification is possible: Australia age assurance technology trial

“Age assurance can be done in Australia and can be private, robust and effective.” This is the key finding of…

Biometric Market Analysis

Most Viewed This Week

Featured Company

Biometrics Insight, Opinion

Digital ID In-Depth

Biometrics White Papers

Biometrics Events