Dreifus Achieves Industrys First FIPS Security Certification for Smart Card Applet Suite

This marks the first time any applet suite compliant with the latest Government Smart Card -- Interoperability Specification (GSC-IS), version 2.1, received this level of security certification. With the new applets DAL targets organizations interested in reaching higher levels of security for IT systems access or identity credentials in both the government and private sectors. DAL C3 applets enable tamper-resistant storage and controlled access to any information stored on a smart card or smart token. Typically used for identity credentials, this includes unique identification and biometric information that can be used to verify an individual and prevent unauthorized access to physical or logical assets. DAL developed the C3 Applet Suite around open industry standards: supporting Java Card, GlobalPlatform and the GSC-IS v2.1. This standards- based approach enables the implementation of C3 applets across multiple smart card platforms and ID systems, providing choices to issuers and eliminating the fear of being locked in to a single source. DALs C3 applets are already in use in several projects including the Registered Traveler program and the Transportation Workers ID Credential (TWIC). The combination of GSC-IS v2.1 and FIPS 140-2 Level 3 compliance positions DAL and its partners for a number of other high profile U.S. federal government ID card deployments that could potentially involve millions of smart cards or smart tokens. This includes the federal employee common access card initiative, which was given a huge boost when Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 mandated this program for all federal departments and agencies.