HID Global launches government solution for secure data on iOS devices

Security identity solutions company HID Global announced a solution this week for government agencies wanting sensitive data secure on Apple iOS devices.

The solution combines recently announced products including ActivClient Mobile Software Development Kit (SDK) for iOS and Tactivo sleeves from Precise Biometrics for the iPhone and iPad.

This pairing of products enables government agencies to use their Common Access Card (CAC) or Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards to secure communications and access to sensitive information by encrypting it through standard Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) encryption methods.

“The massive popularity of iOS devices has completely changed the way organizations of all types, including government, approach how these devices access information,” said Thomas Marschall, Precise Biometrics President & CEO. “Our solution with HID Global takes a pragmatic approach to the problem, ensuring that the CAC and PIV cards already in use can now secure the mobile devices government employees are already using.”

The HID Global press release explains: “For government agencies interested in deploying a more integrated solution, HID Global offers a solution leveraging ‘derived credentials’, a concept recently introduced in the FIPS 201-2 PIV standard, which is currently in draft form. The integrated approach taken by HID Global applies the ‘derived credential’ to a secure microSD card, a secure element with the same cryptographic services as the CAC or PIV smart card. This microSD format can be connected to iPhones with a sleeve. This approach brings both significantly increased convenience and security to the iPhone BYOD scenarios.”

The iPhone and iPad have been a game-changer in the Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) phenomenon, changing the way government employees access their corporate email and other resources.

“It is incredibly important for us to bridge the gap from the cards in use today to the mobile devices of the future,” said Julian Lovelock, vice president of product marketing, Identity Assurance, with HID Global. “As the market shifts from workstations to smartphones and tablets, there is an increased use of these devices to access corporate emails and resources. By incorporating our iOS SDK with sleeves like those from Precise Biometrics, we ensure a smooth transition for government agencies and their employees.”

Article Topics

Apple  |  data protection  |  government  |  government purchasing  |  HID  |  identity management  |  mobile phones  |  Precise Biometrics  |  security  |  Tactivo