Belkin gets FIPS 201 certification for card reader

Belkin Enterprise, a leading manufacturer of electronic peripherals and devices for consumer, business and government markets has recently announced that its USB Smart Card and Common Access Card Reader is now Federal Information Processing Standard Publication 201 (FIPS 201) compliant.

Designed to support smart cards meeting ISO7816 standards, the new Belkin Smart Card Reader has been made to assure high security for government applications. Its unibody enclosure works to eliminate entry points and prevents physical electronic tampering. All firmware is in ROM (read only memory) to assure no risk of alteration.

“We built our new smart card reader from the ground up, specifically to meet strict government security requirements,” Carlos Del Toro, senior global product manager for Belkin said. “Achieving FIPS 201 compliance is a tribute to our development approach and the unique features that deliver iron-clad security and reliability to our government customers.”

FIPS 201 is a United States federal government standard that specifies Personal Identity Verification (PIV) requirements for federal employees and contractors to achieve appropriate security assurance for multiple applications. The standard was designed to ensure that the identity of those who seek physical access to federally controlled government facilities, and electronic access to government information systems, is efficiently verified.

Smart Cards and the infrastructures concerning their implementation is a growing topic in the community as more governments adopt the technology. A recent Biometric Research Note suggests systematic processes are needed to implement government eID programs, as new challenges arise regarding issuance, usability and accuracy.

Article Topics

access control  |  biometric cards  |  e-ID  |  electronic identity cards  |  government  |  PIV cards  |  security