TWIC Access Credentials Under Fire

By: Brian Rhodes, Published on Oct 20, 2014

One of the biggest credential formats in the US is barely hanging on. With over 3 million TWIC cards issued, it is one of the most common ID carried by federal employees and private contractors alike to enter sensitive security areas like seaports.

However, after hundreds of millions have been spent, politicians and security managers alike are asking "Is this worth it?" A new Congressional inquiry will likely spell the end of TWIC. In this note we look at the issue and how it impacts the access control market.

*** ** *** ******* credential ******* ** *** US ** ****** ******* on. **** **** * million**** ***********, ** ** *** of *** **** ****** ID ******* ** ******* employees *** ******* *********** alike ** ***** ********* security ***** **** ********.

*******, ***** ******** ** millions **** **** *****, politicians *** ******** ******** alike *** ****** "** this ***** **?" * new ************* ******* **** likely ***** *** *** of ****. ** **** note ** **** ** the ***** *** *** it ******* *** ****** control ******.

[***************]

**********

***** ********* ** ****, 'Transportation ****** ************** **********' program ***** ** ***** a ****** ********* ** workers ******** ** *** US ******** ********, ********* the ** ***** ***** and **** ********* *********. To ****, **** * million ***** **** **** issued ** ***** *******.

*** **** ** **** is ***************: *********** *********** background ****** *** ************* at ***** ** ******** facility, ********** ** *** is ****** *** ******. Especially ** *** ******** sector, ********* ** ********* cargos *** ********* ******* by ************ *** *** trucking ********, *** ******** mariners **** ****** ** areas ******** ** ***** vessels. ******** ******** **** access ** ***** ***** is ********** ** ******* to *********** ***** *** even ******** ********.

Prior *********

*******, **** *** ***** development *** ********** ****** since *** **** *********. Early ************ ** ******* the ******** ******** ** mixed *************** **** ***** did *** ******** **** in ******** *** ******* access ******* *******. **** of *** ******** *********** of **** **** *** loudest *******, ********* ** countless ********** ****:

**** ****, *** ***** interoperability ******** **** **,*** bad ***** [**** ** longer *********], ** **** readers, ** ************* ************ the ******** **** ****** out, *** **** ******** what *** **** ******** or ** ****** *** than ******.

*** **** ******** ****** systems, ********* **** ** work **** **** ***** is ****** *** ****, as *** ****** ************ have ********** ******* [**** no ****** *********] ***** introduction. **** **** ********** still *** *** ******** credentials *** ****** *** identity, ******* *** ***** intent ** *** *******.

Too ******

*** ****** **** ********** most ************** *** ********* have ***** **** ** the ******* ***** ******** to ********* **. ** date, *** ******* *** cost ** ********* $*** million, *** ********* *** initial *********. **** ******* in * **** ** about $*** **** ********** currently ******, *** ***** federal ********* ** *** pay *** *****, **** in *** ******* ****** are ******* **** ******* application *** ******* ****.

***********, ***** ******* ** TWIC ***** ** *** fully ****. *** *******, the ********* ************* ******* has **** ******* **** delays *** ** *** active [**** ** ****** available], ******* **** **** high-security ********** *** ***** relying ** ****** *********** to ****** ******** ********.

Reform ******

** ********* **** ****** a **** (******) *********** **** *** calling *** * ******** to ****** ****** ****** or ******** ***** *** *******. 

****** ****'* ********** **** other ******* ********** ******** like****-***-*,*** ******** ** ******* TWIC ** *** **** available ****** ** ******* the ***** ** ****** credentialing ** ********* **********.

*** ***** ******* ******* described ** *** **** are ***** ******** ***, and ***** ********* ***** the ******* *** ******** by *** *** ** next ************* *******.

Market ******

***** ****** *** *** be *********, **** **** deployments *** *********** **** change. *** ****** ** off-the-shelf '**** *******' ********** with ********** ****** ********* will ** ***, ** vendors **** ******** ** commit *********** ***** ****** development ** ****.

** *** ********, ***** scrutiny ** ******* ** TWIC, ***** ******* ********** solutions **** (****-***)***-** ******* **** ********.

Comments (1)

Rodney Thayer

10/23/14 01:00pm

TWIC is a legacy government smartcard solution that doesn't work. It's in the long line of those, along with DoD CAC. If you want to worry about the US Federal market look at FIPS 201-2. (which is not called PIV-II CAC)

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