The New PIV Credential – Logical and physical access on a single card
Because security is paramount in today’s world, the U.S. government issued the Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12) to set policy for a common, reliable, and secure identification standard for federal employees and contractors. The HSPD-12 directive requires that all agencies issue interoperable credentials to all federal employees and contractors by October 2008. In response to HSPD-12, the GSA MSO has created a new PIV credential to meet these critical requirements.
The USAccess credential meets FIPS 201-1 and NIST Special Publication 800-104 card topology (i.e. the credential's visual appearance), including:
- Multiple credential security features, such as microprinting, laser engraving, and optical variable ink to help reduce counterfeiting
- Long life, multi-layer PET/PVC credential body construction
- Clear, laminate overlay to help protect the credentials from normal wear and tear. (NOTE: An agency can personalize laminate with special security features or holograms for an additional cost.)
PIV Credential Components
Each PIV credential contains the following components:
Integrated circuit chip (ICC) that stores 64KB of data including:
- Four PKI digital certificates (PIV authentication, card authentication, digital signature and encryption)
- Two interoperable fingerprint templates
- Digital photo
- Cardholder Unique Identifier (CHUID) including organization affiliation, agency affiliation, department affiliation, and expiration date.
Optional Bar Codes to store key personal or other information (available in future releases), including:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Personnel category
- Benefits information
- Organizational affiliation
Magnetic Stripe
- Three track magnetic stripe.
- High-coercivity type (nominal 4,000 oersteds)
- Will be not be encoded by GSA
PIV Credential Appearance
In order to provide a standard, easily recognized government-wide credential, all USAccess generated credentials feature common visual elements that are printed in the same location on each card. These common elements include mandatory information such as the issuing agency’s seal, the agency’s return address, a picture of the credential holder, as well as the credential holder’s physical characteristics (height, eye color, hair color, etc.) These common elements are placed according to NIST guidelines, and are printed in the same location on the credential, regardless of the issuing agency.
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Front View
USAccess Issued PIV Credential
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Back View
USAccess Issued PIV Credential
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PIV Credential Production
Once enrolled in the USAccess program, the participating agency will need to provide the following elements in order to prepare for credential production:
- An agency seal - It should be in color and of high quality (.JPG image, 20x20 mm, minimum 300 dpi recommended.) The seal will be placed on the front of the credential (see Zone 11 on sample credential image.) For more information, review the FIPS PUB 201-1 for more details.
- Agency return address - A return address is necessary to put on the back of the credential so that it may be dropped into a mail box and returned to the issuing agency should the credential be lost.