What is a Smart Card?

A physical card that has an embedded chip that acts as a security token. The card is typically the same size as a driver's licence or credit card and can be made of metal or plastic. Hardware security keys can also function as Smart Cards with simplified installation.

How does smart card authentication work?

Authentication requires two things: the smart card itself and a PIN code entered by the user.

With smart cards, there are two different ways to authenticate yourself in a system, there are either contact or contactless smart card readers. With contact cards, the integrated chip is inserted into the reader and provides physical contact to transfer data.

With contactless cards, the smart card is held close to the reader, does not need to be touched, and communicates its credentials through NFC.

You may have also heard smart cards called CAC cards (common access card) or PIV cards (personal identity verification).

CAC cards are used by military or active service personnel, the Department of Defence or selected contractors for standard identification entries in buildings and systems. PIV-Smart Card is the US government standard for Smart Card authentication.

Why should I use a Smart Card over other forms of multi-factor authentication?

There are many advantages, although it's always good to weigh the pros and cons of each option before making a decision on what might be best for you!

Smart cards are considered a very high form of security due to the secrets being physically on the card. Without the physical card and the knowledge of the pin attached to the card, it makes it very difficult to hack into. Additionally, duplicate or clone a Smart Card due to the nature of the chip and the contents of the card.

Smart Cards can also be used as a form of data storage. The chips do this so you can add or update information and keep it on the card.

Are there any disadvantages to using a Smart Card?

Easy to lose

Due to the card being a physical thing people have to remember and keep track of, this means the cards can easily get lost or stolen.

Expensive implementation

The initial investment in smart cards can be expensive for an organisation. In addition to purchasing the cards, the infrastructure needs to be set up to support them and get card readers.

Lack of mobility

IT administrators need to install smart cards for every device that an employee may need to access. This can make it difficult for remote companies or jobs to access their systems.

How do I get started?

To capitalise on the opportunities, it's important that you think about security at a higher level. Good IT security is more than just difficult passwords and secure logins. At itm8 we are experts in IT security, and for more than a decade, we have helped Danish companies achieve higher security.

There are several ways to achieve higher IT security. Our concepts always have high security built in

The modern workplace is a term used to describe companies that keep up with technological developments for the benefit of employees and the bottom line. The modern workplace from Microsoft and is a cloud-based service concept that includes all or selected parts of your IT solution and can be integrated with classic IT systems if necessary.

itm8 helps your organisation get a handle on data security and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and comply with minimum requirements for the annual risk assessment. Our security agreement can ensure that you have an overview of which data and systems are particularly at risk and that sensitive data does not find its way from your systems into the wrong hands.

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