Secure IDsNIST releases second draft of PIV cards security standard for comment

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released the second-round draft version of its updated security standard for identity credentials in the Personal Identity Verification cards (PIV cards) that all federal employees and contractors must use. NIST is requesting comments from the public on the document, titled Personal Identity Verification of Federal Employees and Contractors, which is intended to be the last draft before the final version is published.

NIST says that the document is the next step toward updating Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201, which was published in February 2005. Among its requirements are that all PIV cards contain an integrated circuit chip for storing electronic information, a personal identification number and protected biometric data — a printed photograph and two electronically stored fingerprints.

According to NIST computer security researcher Hildegard Ferraiolo, the update was anticipated from the start. “The original FIPS 201 indicates the standard should be reviewed after five years to see if changes need to be made,” says Ferraiolo. “After implementing the standard, federal departments and agencies learned a number of lessons that, combined with technological changes over the years, made an update worthwhile.”

Ferraiolo says the update will not require anyone to replace their current PIV card, but will make the new cards, based on the revised specification, more flexible and effective. Among the numerous improvements in the revised draft are the abilities to:

• Update a card’s credentials remotely without the need to appear in person at the issuer site, a change that should create significant cost savings.
• Create additional credential(s) for use on mobile devices such as smart phones.
• Offer additional capabilities, such as secure messaging and on-card fingerprint comparison, to provide more flexibility in selecting the appropriate level of security for federal applications that use the PIV card for authentication.

NIST says that comments on the revised draft of FIPS 201 will be incorporated and targeted to be published as the final version, to be entitled FIPS 201-2.

NIST also is requesting comments on a related FIPS support publication, the Biometric Data Specification for Personal Identity Verification (NIST Special Publication 800-76-2). The draft update to SP 800-76-2 amends the 2007 biometric data specifications to include new card options:  Agencies will be able to use iris recognition as a biometric, on-card fingerprint comparison instead of a 6-digit personal identification number for card activation. The draft also extends and refines the biometric sensor and performance specifications for improved security.

Comments on both documents should be submitted by email to piv_comments@nist.gov, and must be received by 10 August 2012.

Note that NIST also is holding a free public workshop to discuss the revised draft on 25 July 2012. Online registration is required. The workshop will be webcast as well.