Another U.S. Government Agency Expands Physical Access Control Modernization Program with Deployment of Identiv’s Hirsch Platform

By Mark Allen

The agency set a goal to achieve compliance with Federal Information Technology (IT) security standards as directed by Federal Information Security Management Act/National Institute of Standards and Technology (FISMA/NIST) and Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12).

In order to comply with all federal standards and directives, the agency has identified dozens of high priority sites that encompass new installations across nationwide locations using high-security card readers for their over 100,000 users. The enterprise-wide project deploys an architecture that is fully compatible and integrated with the agency’s Enterprise Architecture (EA). The new physical access control system (PACS) will utilize the most current Identiv government-approved products, including Identiv’s Hirsch Government Federal Identity, Credential, and Access Management (FICAM) Solution, Hirsch Velocity Software, and Hirsch Mx-Series Controllers. The agency has already successfully implemented Identiv’s Hirsch Velocity-based FICAM architecture at one of its largest priority sites. This major milestone makes the agency one of the first early adopters of a complete, end-to-end FICAM solution.

“By deploying integrated Hirsch access control, the agency is ensuring the highest-security, highest-reliability PACS solution available on the market today is protecting its facilities,” said Mark Allen, Identiv General Manager, Physical Access. “With nearly four decades working in the government space, we understand the unique requirements that government agencies have managing the access of people — employees, contractors, and the visiting public — into and throughout facilities with varying security levels.”

In today’s physical access world, many FICAM solutions are expensive, slow, and increasingly difficult to set up. Identiv’s architectural approach to FICAM and the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201 Topology Categories addresses current PACS Infrastructure, Validation System, and Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Readers. It is faster and less expensive than the competition. Identiv’s award-winning, General Services Administration (GSA) Approved Products List (APL)-certified, end-to-end Hirsch Government FICAM Solution was developed to implement a simple, affordable FICAM-compliant solution with optimal performance.

Hirsch Velocity Software’s security management system provides the security and functionality expected from high-end systems with the ease-of-use found in entry level packages. Velocity is an integrated platform that manages access control and security operations across thousands of different facilities, from single highly secure rooms to multi-building, multi-location campuses, with the most stringent security compliance. Users can control doors, gates, turnstiles, elevators, and other equipment, monitor employees and visitors as they move around a facility, prevent unwanted access, maintain compliance, and provide a robust audit trail.

Award-winning Hirsch Mx Controllers provide scalable, networked communication and are available in two, four, or eight supervised door models. The modular design and scalable architecture enables an installation to start small and grow large, from a single controller system to a larger, multi-site enterprise. The Mx Controller is fully firmware, function, and communication protocol compatible with the rest of Identiv’s product line and is designed to seamlessly integrate with Hirsch systems so that existing credentials, readers, and databases can be retained.

“Any of the thousands of doors or portals our systems control in the government space can be easily upgraded to FICAM compliance without the cost and hassle of a forklift upgrade, as we leverage virtually all existing Hirsch system infrastructure,” added Mr. Allen. “Need to replace non-compliant systems? You’ll still find our solution extremely cost-effective and quick to deploy. We don’t rely on third-party hardware or software for certificate processing or Enterprise Physical Access Control System (EPACS) solutions.”

To learn more about Identiv’s government-grade Hirsch physical access portfolio, call +1 888.809.8880, contact sales@identiv.com, or visit identiv.com/products/physical-access/hirsch-government-ficam-solution.