Access control and ID management solutions specialist HID Global has offered its perspectives on some of the key trends likely to impact Government identity programmes over the next five years.
It would seem the overarching drivers are the dramatic shift from traditional national identity documents to eIDs, and the growing requirement to defend against mass counterfeiting and tampering attempts while at the same time assuring privacy, efficiency and ease of authentication.
By 2015 around 85% of all credentials issued annually will be eIDs. Countries issuing them will exceed those still using traditional IDs by four to one. That’s according to a recent report by Acuity Market Intelligence.
These statistics underscore HID Global’s own findings based on over 20 years’ experience in major Government-to-citizen ID projects, including 28 e-passport and 49 eID programmes that range from national, foreign resident and worker ID through to healthcare and vehicle registration programmes.
“Among the most important factors that will shape the industry as it moves to near-universal eID adoption are the twin imperatives for providers and partners to offer effective defences against large-scale forgery attempts and adopt a holistic approach to projects,” explained Craig Sandness, vice-president of sales with HID Global’s Government ID Solutions division.
Supporting multi-functional solutions
Sandness stated that the multi-functional credential is becoming the norm, which means that counterfeit and fraud prevention, end-to-end implementation and integration expertise are now at the forefront of Government ID requirements.
“This is vital in order to eliminate issues with technology interoperability, post-issuance updates or programme longevity,” he said, which would otherwise lead to cost overruns.
As an organisation, HID Global is experiencing accelerated demand for highly secure and layered, hybrid solutions such as the German National Identity card and the multi-tasking Carabinieri card used by Italy’s national police force.
These solutions perform multiple tasks including access control, proof of identity, healthcare and tax ID as well as taking care of Government fee payments.
Multi-functional credentials also leverage a combination of different technologies including contact or contactless chips, RFID antennae, biometrics and optically variable devices to deliver the requisite levels of functionality and security.
“Meeting the needs of national ID programme decision-makers is more challenging than ever before,” added Sandness. “No two programmes are alike. Each Government project is highly customised, but each must be secure, durable, resilient, compliant, counterfeit resistant and tamper-proof. With the additional need for future-proofing and integration with national systems, it’s fair to say the industry must continue to innovate on all fronts in order to deliver new programmes to specification, on time and on budget.”
Realities of credential usage
The pragmatics of everyday usage continue to shape national eID programmes.
Approximately 90% of all ID cards worldwide are checked by the human eye rather than electronic readers, which are deployed in only a fraction of all inspection points.
Visual security therefore remains an essential element for valid authentication.
“At high traffic land borders,” noted Sandness, “in cases of power failure, in emergencies or – as in the case of the Angola national ID card where lack of infrastructure means there is no network connection – strong visual security features remain essential features of a robust Government ID credentialing programme.”
HID believes the next five years will see a new focus on industry Best Practice, as exemplified by programmes such as the award-winning new generation US Green Card. A hybrid card featuring RFID antennae to accelerate border crossings, Optical Security Media providing “the world’s most visual security features” to accommodate real world inspection scenarios and highly secure issuance and authentication systems, its digital security has never been compromised.
In conclusion, Sandness said: “As the ID industry moves towards global adoption of eIDs, we can expect to see a greater focus on concept-to-delivery services, Best Practices and the use of layered technologies on single credentials.”