12 Oct 2010

HID's TIP technology turns access control readers, NFC-equipped mobile phones into trusted identity nodes
HID Global, the trusted leader in solutions for the delivery of secure identity, announced at the ASIS 2010 conference that it has engaged with strategic developers to license the company's Trusted Identity Platform (TIP). The initiative extends technology licenses to qualified development partners to enable the building of trusted nodes for the TIP infrastructure.

HID Global's TIP is a scalable, on-demand, secure identity delivery system that validates, registers and provides lifecycle management support for certified TIP nodes, be they door access readers, laptops, card printers, near field communications (NFC)-equipped mobile phones or other end points suitable for secure transactions. The company is in discussions with a variety of partners who will combine contactless smart card solutions, NFC products and other widely deployed technologies to create products that use the TIP infrastructure in applications ranging from user authentication to cashless vending and PC log-on security.

"TIP is a simple but protected system that we believe represents the future of access control for the deployment of secure identity," said Dr. Tam Hulusi, Senior Vice President at HID Global. "Since introducing TIP in March, we have created a comprehensive developer's programme and are now working with software and hardware partners to cultivate a broad ecosystem of TIP-enabled products. Users will be able to validate and register these products as trusted nodes that can securely receive applications, products and services at any time, which will significantly extend the value proposition for users of HID's secure identity products."

"TIP is a simple but protected system that we believe represents the future of access control for the deployment of secure identity"



In an early example of TIP product development, HID Global announced in July that it was working with INSIDE Contactless to bring market-leading iCLASS™ identity credentials to near-field communications (NFC) mobile phones. Credentials for these NFC mobile phones will be securely delivered via HID Global's TIP system.

How TIP works

HID Global's TIP technology turns access control readers, laptops, NFC-equipped mobile phones and other products into trusted identity nodes that can be securely provisioned regardless of where they are in the world, and how they are connected. The TIP vault issues secure identity objects (SIOs) to each TIP-enabled node, managing them under the control of a cryptographic key-management security policy. The SIOs are sent to the TIP nodes using a secure messaging protocol, and each node includes an interpreter mechanism to process the SIO. The TIP architecture is fully scalable, its transmission protocol and encryption models are standards-based, and it can support multiple usage models including cloud-based applications that require service delivery across the Internet without compromising security.

HID Global's TIP partner initiative is an extension of its Genuine HID™ value proposition, which is based on delivering the product breadth, lifetime warranty, and delivery and response capabilities necessary for customers to optimise security investments over time as they provision their solutions beyond readers and cards across a growing range of platforms. Genuine HID also includes the company's wide array of Identity on Demand services, which simplify and streamline the deployment of personalised identity credentials in organisations of any size, anywhere, eliminating capital investments on card production equipment, supplies and labour.