Inkjet & Digital Printing
Konica Minolta and ActivIdentity Co-Develop PIV-Compliant Card System for bizhub MFPs
Tuesday 09. June 2009 - Innovative System Increases Security and Document Control for U.S. Department of Defense
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leading provider of advanced imaging and networking technologies for the desktop to the print shop, and ActivIdentityTM Corporation (NASDAQ: ACTI), a global leader in strong authentication and credential management, today announced that they have co-developed a Personal Identification Verification (PIV)-Compliant Card System that increases security and document control for customers using multifunctional products (MFPs – print, copy, fax, and scan all in one system).
The ActivIdentity ActivClientTM security software is now available to U.S. Department of Defense customers – as well as customers of other government agencies – using Konica Minolta multifunctional products. The PIV-Compliant Card System can be used in conjunction with the Common Access Card (CAC) as well as the next generation CAC, a PIV-Compliant Identification Card.
“We have been able to leverage the knowledge, experience and expertise of ActivIdentity and their ActivClient security software to provide Department of Defense customers a comprehensive PIV-Compliant Card solution that best manages their MFP environment and workflow,” said Chris Bilello, director of business development, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. “The Konica Minolta PIV-Compliant solution provides an entire application layer that we developed to reside and run within select bizhub MFPs, and the results are very impressive. As a result of our strategic partnership with ActivIdentity, our U.S. Department of Defense customers can count on Konica Minolta to meet their strictest security requirements.”
The Konica Minolta PIV-Compliant Card is being leveraged by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) in the form of a smart card that is issued as standard identification for active-duty military personnel, reserve personnel, civilian employees, non-DoD other government employees, and state employees of the National Guard and eligible contractor personnel. The PIV-Compliant Card is used as a general identification card as well as for authentication to enable access to DoD computers, networks, and certain DoD facilities. It also serves as an identification card under the Geneva Conventions. The PIV-Compliant Card enables encrypting and cryptographically signing Email, facilitating the use of public key information (PKI) authentication tools, and establishes an authoritative process for the use of identity credentials.
“We were excited to work with Konica Minolta to meet the demands of the DoD by co-developing a PIV-Compliant Card System that meets the most technically aggressive requirements for user access and authentication on the bizhub MFPs,” said Simon Wakely, vice president of business development at ActivIdentity. “Konica Minolta has been a great partner and was able to quickly meet the request for access to Konica Minolta MFPs to be connected to the DoD network.”
The Konica Minolta PIV-Compliant solution meets the Federal government’s two-factor authentication requirements, and is designed to interface with a standard off-the-shelf PIV-Compliant reader, which is compatible with a wide variety of CACs or PIV-Cards and is easily upgradeable due to the joint development with ActivIdentity.