Cogent’s fingerprint algorithmic gets GSA approval for FIPS 201 PIV

The 26 October 2006 deadline for implementing FIPS 201 PIV is arriving, and more companies are submitting their solutions to the General Services Administration (GSA) for approval so they can be used in the new system. The latest to receive the GSA approval is South Pasadena, California-based Cogent Systems (NASDAQ: COGT), which has received the agency’s approval for its fingerprint algorithmic technologies. The technologies can now be used in conjunction with the Personal Identity Verification (PIV) smart cards to be issued to U.S. federal government employees and contractors beginning 27 October 2006. Cogent says that its fingerprint algorithmic technologies were the first to receive GSA approval for use in intimate combination with the PIV smart card issuance and operation infrastructures. In addition to its approved algorithms, Cogent has a comprehensive suite of PIV biometric solutions available and has submitted additional products for GSA approval to be used in this program.

The Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) requires all federal government employees and contractors to be issued an interoperable PIV smart card from federal government agencies capable of granting secure access to designated buildings and information technology infrastructures. The GSA, in coordination with NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology), is responsible for testing the PIV components and infrastructure and approving vendors to supply the technology to support the federal PIV smart card program. Cogent’s fingerprint template generator and fingerprint template matcher were the first fingerprint algorithms approved by the GSA Federal Information Processing Standard 201 (FIPS 201) Evaluation Program to be used for the PIV smart card issuance and identity validation processes.