SmartCard Readers Key Terms

Understanding terminology linked to smartcard readers

Smartcard readers continue to grow in popularity, and the technology of smartcards and their readers continues to evolve. Whether you buy, sell, manufacture or use smartcard readers, you've got to understand the features and specifications or certifications to make informed decisions regarding smartcard readers.
From organizations that develop standards that steer the manufacture of smartcard readers to understanding the technology and types of smartcards compatible with specific smartcard readers, it pays to keep up with the terminology.

 

EMV certification

Smartcard readers used with the new financial smartcards issued by American Express, Visa and Citibank (MasterCard) require EMV certification. The acronym refers to Europay MasterCard Visa. This group banded together and first developed its specifications for smartcard readers to speed up global interoperability between financial smartcards and terminals or smartcard readers in 1995.
Try: Get more familiar with the latest EMV 4.2 Specifications at the EMVCo website.

PC/SC

Smartcard reader literature often makes reference to a reader's PC/SC compliance. The letters stand for personal computer/smart card. The PC/SC Workgroup, formed in 1996 to improve existing smartcard integration specifications, subsequently included smartcard readers and smartcards integration with personal computers to allow multiple applications to share smartcard devices. Specifications include cryptographic functionality and secure storage, smartcard reader and PC programming interfaces and application development high-level interface.
Try: Visit the PC/SC Workgroup for more information on PC-compatible smartcard readers.

ISO 7816 smartcards

The smartcard industry works continually on standardization of smart cards and smartcard systems. ISO-7816 refers to the International Standards Organization's established standards for identification cards that are integrated circuit cards with contacts. It covers manufacturing parameters, physical and electrical characteristics, location of contact points, communication protocols, data storage and more.
Try: Learn more about ISO 7816 smartcard standards at SmartCardSupply.com.

PCMCIA cards

Many laptop computers come with a PCMCIA slot for a PCMCIA card/smartcard reader containing a smartcard inside. PCMCIA actually serves as the acronym for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, a non-profit trade association and standards body. At one time, PC cards were known only as PCMCIA cards, but the industry trend now leans toward referring to the cards as PC cards and the association as PCMCIA. Sometimes, however, you'll still see the acronym used to refer to PC cards.
Try: See an example of a smartcard reader/PC card produced by SCM Microsystems at the Windows website.

CAC card

Workers assigned to U.S. Department of Defense installations and facilities insert CAC cards into smartcard readers to digitally sign documents, enter buildings, gain access to computers and more. First introduced within the DOD in 2000, credit-card sized Common Access Cards (CAC cards) incorporate barcoding, a magnetic strip and an embedded integrated circuitry chip. Information stored on the cards includes identification, demographics, benefits, physical security and card management.
Try: Read more about CAC cards and smartcard readers that support them at ActivIdentity Corporation.

PKI

Many smartcard readers support PKI applications. PKI stands for Public Key Infrastructure, and it supports mutual authentication between smartcards and smartcard readers, providing secure, portable key storage and non-repudiation for sensitive applications such as online banking, e-commerce and even stock trading. The architecture's four main components include the certificate authority that issues and verifies digital certificates, the registration authority that verifies certificate authority before issuing digital certificates, one or more directories to hold certificates and a certificate management system.
Try: Join TechRepublic for free and download the white paper that focuses on the history and evolution of PKI.

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