SCM’s thumb-sized reader wins GSA approval

 

SCM Microsystems has announced that its thumb-sized SCR3500 SmartFold Personal Identity Verification (PIV)/Common Access Card (CAC) smart card reader has been approved by the General Service Administration (GSA) for use by US government agencies and employees.

The SCR3500 SmartFold is designed for on-the-go government employees that have notebooks without integrated card readers. It measures 48 x 20 x 12 millimetres when folded and is a portable contact smart card reader that will fit on employees’ key rings and in their pockets. SCM says: “Since it is so easy to carry around, government employees can conduct sensitive business anywhere, at any time, with full security. The reader is simply unfolded and inserted into a free USB port of a notebook. Then, employees can insert their PIV/CAC card into the reader to enable secure access to government systems and data.

The SCR3500 SmartFold is now on the GSA Approved Products List (APL) at http://fips201ep.cio.gov/apl.php, which means the reader is compliant with all Federal Information Processing Standards 201 (FIPS 201) and PIV/CAC card requirements, and is ready for purchase by government agencies and/or their purchasing agents.

“Government agencies need to comply with FIPS 201 PIV requirements for strong security and privacy, but not to the detriment of their day-to-day productivity,” says Manfred Mueller, chief executive officer of SCM Microsystems. “We designed the SCR3500 SmartFold to actually increase productivity. Its size and portability ensure easy and convenient use regardless of location, with the full security vital for government activities.”