A discussion of Federal Identity, Credential, and Access Management (FICAM) and advanced access control hardware and software designed to meet the latest FICAM requirements.
The U.S. federal government faces a growing number of security challenges, including unauthorized access to sensitive information, targeted fraud schemes, and identity theft. With the ever-increasing threat of cyberattacks that specifically target governmental operations, it is essential that those managing security within the federal government take every precaution to protect their data and assets. Implementation of a Federal Identity, Credential, and Access Management (FICAM) system, a requirement for governmental security operations, is one way to do this.
FICAM is a government-wide initiative focused on improving the security of federal information systems and data, providing a framework for managing identities, credentials, and access to information systems. One of the key impacts of implementing FICAM is that it elevates the security of an organization’s access control systems. By implementing a FICAM-compliant access control system, governmental entities can be certain that only authorized individuals will be provided access to sensitive data and facilities.
FICAM-compliant access control systems rely on FIPS-201-issued smart card credentials such as a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) or Common Access Cards (CAC). These credentials include encryption mechanisms such as Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificates and have a rigorous enrollment process to vet the credentialed individual’s identity prior to issuance. This approach of using smart card credentials provides a higher level of security than traditional access control systems that merely use convenience readers; convenience readers typically rely on unsecure technology such as low frequency 125khz proximity to transmit unencrypted card data.
In addition to improving security, FICAM can also help governmental entities reduce their overall security costs. By implementing a FICAM-compliant access control system, entities can utilize their government-issued credential (PIV/CAC) as their access card, thereby eliminating costly site badges, card printers, and enrollment peripherals.
Customizable architecture for new and existing systems
The LenelS2™ OnGuard® physical access control system is a FICAM-compliant solution that Convergint offers. With industry-leading experts, Convergint’s federal team of certified system engineer ICAM PACS and certified smart card industry professionals support agencies in the planning, designing, deployment, and servicing of FIPS 201-compliant ID programs.
The OnGuard solution uses a variety of technologies, including biometrics, RFID, and smart cards, to verify the identity of users before granting them access to facilities, buildings, and rooms. This helps to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information and assets. It can be used to track and monitor user activity, which can help to identify potential threats and prevent fraud. For example, OnGuard can be used to track who has accessed a particular door or room, when they accessed it, and how long they were there. This information can be used to identify suspicious activity, such as someone who is accessing a sensitive area without authorization.
Overall, LenelS2’s OnGuard solution provides many benefits for the federal government, including increased security, improved efficiency, reduced fraud, and enhanced compliance.
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Upgrading to high assurance access control readers is a wise investment in the security of government organizations. High assurance access control readers can help to prevent unauthorized access to facilities and data. They can also help to reduce costs in the long run.
Convergint, partnered with LenelS2, has the expertise needed to deploy a compliant, scalable access control system to keep government agencies safe, secure, and operating smoothly. Click the button below to contact Convergint’s federal team of security experts to learn more, or email the team directly at [email protected].
Effective security and safety is a multi-layered approach involving people, processes, and technologies. Convergint-provided products and services are only one part of this multi-layered approach, will not detect or prevent all threats or solve every risk, and should not be your sole method of security or safety. Please see the “IMPORTANT PRODUCT SAFETY AND SERVICE INFORMATION” documentation, available at convergint.com/terms, prior to using a Convergint-installed system.
