We often confuse the concept of identity with the card that carries it, but in reality, “identity” can reside on a mobile phone, a USB stick, or some other medium. The move toward virtualized credentials is expanding the concept of “identity” beyond traditional I.D. cards to include many different credential form factors. This new way of thinking is driving fundamental changes in how we deliver and manage secure identity.
Over the last 20 years, 125 kHz RFID proximity (or Prox) cards and readers have become a de facto standard for physical access control. They offer customers the optimum in cost and convenience, but are not as secure as contactless smart cards, which began emerging in the early 2000s. Contactless solutions enhance security through data encryption and mutual authentication, and also support multiple applications such as biometric authentication, cashless vending and PC log on security.