March 28, 2007
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
Contact Information
Bob Gillette
(703) 245-4140
rgillette@cri-solutions.com
McLean, VA — For the last two years, federal agencies have invested significant resources into the design, development, and prototyping of PIV-II credentials in response to Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12). HSPD-12 mandated a common identification credential for logical and physical access to federal facilities and information systems. The result is a “smart card” that authenticates each holder as an individual who has proven his or her identity and trustworthiness. The smart card is a strong key to protect important government facilities, networks, and personnel. A key without a corresponding lock, however, is of little value. Until the corresponding Logical Access Systems and Physical Access Control Systems (PACS) are deployed, the promise of HSPD-12 cannot be achieved.
Over the next two years, smart cards will be issued to all federal employees and contractors. The actual use of these cards faces tough challenges. In a recent survey of federal security personnel, fifty-six percent of respondent agencies indicated that they had seven or more PACS and fifty-eight percent indicated that there had been no decision made on whether or not to standardize these systems. Most agencies, however, do not have a PACS that controls access to their facilities, even many sensitive facilities. Many agencies that do have a PACS have systems that are not compliant with the HSPD-12 infrastructure.
In most agencies, employees still gain access by simply flashing their ID to security staff. This gap also applies to the absence of adequate protection for many computer applications that warrant the logical access controls of PIV cards. The approaching challenge is the need to integrate these divergent PACS into a single identity and access solution.
Communications Resource, Inc. (CRI) is at the forefront of the HSPD-12 program. We are the only certified 8(a) firm on GSA’s Schedule SIN 132-62 for approved HSPD-12 systems integrators. We are one of the premier systems integrators with nationwide experience in the design, installation and maintenance of integrated electronic PACS. Our clients include the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Social Security Administration, US Bureau of the Census, National Institute of Technologies (NIST), Department of Homeland Security, and GSA. We are an approved Value Added Reseller of a variety of PACS manufacturers including Lenel Systems International, AMAG and MDI. More importantly, we fully understand the technical aspects of integrating logical and physical access systems. Our team has provided PIV-I/II process analyses to the NIST and USDA – a vital step in ensuring adherence to HSPD-12.
CRI’s combination of extensive physical security experience and our qualification as an HSPD-12 integrator provides customers with a total solution for meeting the upcoming PACS challenge.
For additional information, please contact Bob Gillette at 703-245-4140 or rgillette@cri-solutions.com.
Please visit us at www.cri-solutions.com
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