Smart Card Solutions
by Tanja van Dijk

Within the physical electronic security arena a diverse range of contact-less card technologies are available.

Customers who are in the process of choosing a smart card technology for their needs should consider:

  • Open smart card technology
  • Secure communication
  • Broad functional use of the card
  • Future proof technology
  • State-of-the-Art technology accepted Industry wide

Open smart card technology
By selecting contact-less smart card technology based on internationally accepted open standards, instead of proprietary technologies, users are free to pursue solutions that offer leading edge technology and deliver long-term value. Customers gain cost savings from competition that is based on a common set of standards instituted within the industry as well as technological merit between manufacturers. Technology based on open standards provides interoperability and the freedom that comes from independence from proprietary equipment, suppliers and manufacturers. The global market leader in open standard contact-less smart card technology is the ISO 14443 based Mifare® smart card technology. Over 80% of the contact-less smart card applications worldwide are based on this technology, developed by Philips Electronics NV.

Secure communication
To highly sensitive areas like airports, seaports and governmental installations the need for convenient but reliable security is in high demand. Designed to meet the increasing demands for high speed, triple-Data Encryption Standard (DES) secured contact-less smart card solutions. Mifare® DESFire is an ideal solution for end users, service providers and system integrators looking to implement convenient, multi-functional, smart card based systems for highly secure identification. Mifare® DESFire technology provides a unique combination of flexible memory structure, state-of-the-art encryption and impressive data transaction rates making it the ideal solution for fast secure contact-less smart card applications.

Within the Homeland Security Program Mifare® DESFire is the contact-less device standard for the United States Governments Common Access Card (CAC) program. This program requires Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) authentication tokens, physical access, and / or logical access to IT infrastructure.

Broad functional use of the card
In choosing a supplier for smart card equipment a customer should focus on a broad smart card product range in the supplier’s portfolio. With smart card technology solutions from IE Keyprocessor, companies can introduce one card to their employees for use in multiple applications. The same smart card used for highly secure physical access control can be used for logical access, identification, Biometrics authentication, transportation, and even vending machine transactions.  

Future proof technology
A future proof system is based on a choice for open technology now and a company dedicated to ongoing development of leading edge smart card technology. Choosing a technology partner who can quickly meet changing future requirements is essential.

State of the Art technology accepted Industry wide
Smart card technology based on industry wide accepted standards is a wise choice. The advantage of widely accepted standards is that the offered technology is not only available in a tide application area but in many different applications. Philips’ smart card solutions, like Mifare® (Classic, DESFire, ProX) and smartMX are accepted and used industry wide. Some application areas of ISO14443 standardized technologies include:

  • Physical security (Access control, Biometrics, Identification…)
  • Logical security (Encryption, PKI Certificates, etc.)
  • Border control (Passport and Visas)
  • Electronic Purse
  • Payment, VISA and MasterCard standardize on ISO14443 for contact-less paying
  • Public transport
  • Parking
  • Time and Attendance
  • Loyalty Programs (Frequent Flyer)
  • ICAO supports ISO14443
  • Etc.