Princeton Junction, N.J.-based Smart Card Alliance announced it is changing to the Secure Technology Alliance and expanding its charter to include a broader range of security and privacy-enhancing technologies.
“The Alliance’s focus has always been on engaging in industry-wide discussion and providing best practices and educational resources for designing and building secure payments, identification, access and mobile applications and systems,” Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Secure Technology Alliance, said.
“As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and mobile, the technology used in smart cards is being used more widely in mobile devices, wearables and internet-connected devices. The clear next step for this organization is to expand and engage in activities across the full spectrum of these new applications as the Secure Technology Alliance.”
Smart card technology remains a priority for the Secure Technology Alliance. Meanwhile, the scope of technologies the organization focuses on now widens to include embedded chip technology and related hardware and software that enable privacy and data protection for end users and industry stakeholders in payments, cybersecurity, mobile, healthcare, identity and access, transportation and Internet of Things applications.
“The Alliance has members from all of these industries actively participating in the organization, making it uniquely equipped to provide education and actionable guidance, foster industry collaboration, and encourage adoption of secure technology,” Vanderhoof added.
With industry dialogue and education continuing as top priorities for the organization, existing industry council activities, conferences, and education and training programs initiated by the Smart Card Alliance continue and evolve. These programs incorporate additional security technologies and applications, such as those used for IoT and mobility applications.
Secure Technology Alliance activities include:
- Influencing standards and best practices that are relevant to the understanding, adoption and widespread application of secure solutions, including smart cards, embedded chip technology, and related hardware and software.
- Serving as an educational resource to its members and industry stakeholders implementing secure solutions.
- Providing a forum for cutting-edge discussions and projects on issues surrounding the implementation of secure solutions.
- Maintaining a voice in public policy that affects adoption and implementation of smart card, embedded chip and other security technologies.
- Supporting the adoption and implementation of smart cards and smart card technology.
An elected Board of Directors, which plays a fundamental role in guiding the expansion of the organization’s mission, governs the Secure Technology Alliance.
