US-German biometrics firm Viisage reports that it has received a new order for $1.7m to continue to support the production of secure, smart credentials as part of the Common Access Card (CAC) program for the United States Department of Defense (DoD).
The CAC program, which has more than four million users across the DoD, is regarded as among the largest and most advanced use of smart cards, the firm reports. This order follows the initial order for the CAC program announced in May 2004.
Viisage received the order through Telos Corporation, one of the support contractors to the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), the organisation inside DoD responsible for the CAC program. The contract calls for additional consumables and services for the ongoing production of the CAC secure identification cards throughout the agency’s Real-time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS). First implemented in 2004, this solution employs a counterfeit-resistant card printing system, it is claimed, including pigment ink technology, which resists fading of images and barcodes, even under the most severe conditions, the makers say. With over 4.4 million cards in circulation, the CAC program smart card technology maintains critical identity information to grant individuals varying privileges. DoD uniformed duty employees, qualified reserve personnel, DoD civilians, and authorised contractors use these standard identification cards to gain physical access to secure areas and logical access to the DoD’s computer networks. The card also serves as the authentication token for the DoD’s computerized public key infrastructure. The future DMDC roadmap for the program includes expanded use of biometrics and movement toward a contactless smart card.
What they say
Bernard Bailey, Viisage president and CEO, said: “This additional order for the CAC program demonstrates the value we have delivered to our partner Telos and the DoD over the past year. We are delighted that both relationships continue to grow and thrive. The use of smart cards in the DoD demonstrates how managing identity using advanced technologies provides both security and operational efficiencies. As such, the CAC program provides other countries and organisations seeking similar solutions with a successful model to follow."
