U.S. Dept. of Defense Finance & Accounting Service Selects SCM Microsystems Reader Technology

The technology is being implemented as part of the Department of Defenses (DoD) Common Access Card program (CAC), which SCM has previously supported with 1.5 million readers. This deployment extends RMWs position as a leading provider of CAC-certified smart card solutions. RMW has supplied more than half a million smart cards and middleware seat licenses to the DoD to support CAC requirements. One of the most advanced smart ID card programs in the U.S., the CAC smart card serves as the standard identification and physical access credential for military personnel. It is also used for secure authentication and network access. The card is issued to active duty military, selected reservists and National Guard, DoD civilian employees and selected DoD contractors. As of September 2003, DoD had issued 3.8 million smart cards on the way to four million, a goal that they expect to achieve by the end of this calendar year. DoD has deployed an issuance infrastructure in 900 plus sites in more than 15 countries around the world, and is rolling out more than one million card readers and the associated middleware. Future plans include: using the CAC cards for signing and encrypting email; expanding the number of portals capable of doing Web-based e-business using PKI authentication tools; adding a biometric to the cards to provide three-factor authentication; and expanding the use of the cards for physical access by adding a contactless chip. Several agencies are implementing smart card credentialing projects, including the Departments of Interior, Treasury, Homeland Security, Defense and State; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); GSA; and the Transportation Security Administration. RMW Enterprises will use Class 1 Secure Card Readers that support both PCMCIA and USB interfaces. All SCM readers are compliant with PC/SC standards to allow full smart card handling capabilities of Microsoft Windows.