NIST releases ID standard
Its requirements will become the basis for mandatory ID cards for federal workers.
"Personal Identity Verification for Federal Employees and Contractors"
National Institute of Standards and Technology officials have issued a draft standard for electronically verifying the identities of federal employees and contractors.
NIST officials worked quickly to develop the draft standard in response to Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12, issued Aug. 27. NIST officials released the draft standard Nov. 8.
Its architecture and technical requirements will become the basis for mandatory identification cards issued to all federal employees and contractors. The identification cards will be required for access to federal buildings and electronic access to federal networks and information systems.
Use of the standard will become mandatory eight months after NIST officials complete it.
Now available for public comment, the draft standard also incorporates other standards for interoperability with identification cards, electronic card readers, communications systems and access control systems.
Comments may be submitted by e-mail to DraftFips201@nist.gov with the phrase "Comments on Public Draft FIPS 201" in the subject line.