atsec Adds Accreditation for Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Testing to Service Portfolio

    /24-7PressRelease/ - October 11, 2006 - The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) administers the Personal Identity Verification Program (NPIVP) through testing facilities accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP). The NPIVP website is found at http://csrc.nist.gov/npivp/

In August 2004, the Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 12 established requirements for identification and authentication of federal employees and contractors accessing federal facilities and information systems. FIPS 201: Personal Identity Verification of Federal Employees and Contractors was developed to satisfy the requirements of HSPD 12 and establishes the interoperability specifications for PIV cards and systems. As a result of the directive and publication of the standard, executive departments and agencies are required to implement the standard for identification issued to federal employees and contractors in gaining physical access to controlled facilities and logical access to controlled information systems.

Fiona Pattinson, laboratory manager for atsec's cryptographic module testing lab notes, "As a leader in the business of standards-based IT security testing and evaluation, atsec is very pleased to have achieved accreditation of our PIV testing facility. We look forward to helping NIST achieve the goal of ensuring that PIV card applications and middleware meet the specifications of NIST SP 800-73-1."

atsec is already an accredited laboratory (Laboratory code 200658) under the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) for cryptographic module testing and for Common Criteria testing. atsec also operates a fully accredited laboratory for Common Criteria testing under the German national scheme (BSI).

atsec information security is an independent, standards-based IT (information technology) security consulting and evaluation services company that combines a business-oriented approach to information security with in-depth technical knowledge and global experience. atsec was founded in Munich (Germany) in January 2000 and has extensive international operations with offices in Germany, the U.S., Sweden, and China. atsec leverages its security, process, and standards expertise to provide a wide range of IT security services. atsec works with leading global companies such as IBM, HP, Oracle, Cray, and SGI. For more information, please visit www.atsec.com.

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