Tascent closes $18.5 million in funding; Entrust Datacard releases updated credential software; Gemalto releases cloud-based encryption application; HID offers long-range UHF option for parking garages; Galaxy Control Systems earns FIPS 201 certification; MorphoTrust achieves ISO certification for card production.

Hotels chains are exploring the use of NFC and Bluetooth Low Energy for guest access. Using these different technologies can offer hoteliers different benefits, including additional security, multi-application support and form-factor independence.

The idea of using a single credential for both physical and logical access is an idea as old as smart cards. It makes sense, the card used to open the door in the morning should be the same one used to access a computer, secure networks and authenticate to applications. But this concept of identity convergence has seen only modest acceptance outside of the federal government with its deployment of PIV credentials.

Identiv PACs reader GSA approved; HID unveils PIN token; SALTO and Zaplox partner for hotel BLE deployments; WorldSpace adds PIV authentication; DOD orders more smart card readers.

Gemalto announced the SafeNet Luna SA 6, a hardware security module built for service providers to offer crypto processing, key management and key storage in the cloud; Carillon Information Security Inc. announced that it now provides validation services for companies and government agencies looking for X.509 certificate path discovery and validation solutions; MorphoTrak announced that Teresa Wu has joined the company as director of Strategic Marketing and Government Relations; LEGIC announced that Cardag Deutschland GmbH would be a partner to its ID Network.

Evgeny Chereshnev, the global head of social media for IT security company Kaspersky Lab, was trying to figure out how individual’s can have better control over their personal information and decided on an experiment. It started with him implanting an NFC chip in his hand and trading in his work badge and he’s hoping it will to continue with more applications. Chereshnev spoke with Re:ID’s Gina Jordan about the experiment.

New security standards for securing the grid provide opportunities for vendors, but according to some industry advisers, that’s only if they can make sense of the specification. Security and regulatory adviser Patrick Miller voiced his concerns that the new Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are somewhat unclear and might […]

The Israel Diamond Exchange has deployed FST Biometrics secure access solution at the entry point of its new polishing house; Telaeris adds biometric identification to its handheld line of products; Crossmatch announced enhanced functionality of its DigitalPersona Altus strong, multi-factor authentication solution.

The Cromwell is a boutique hotel owned by one the legacy players on the Las Vegas Strip. The Caesars’ property wants to appeal to the tech-savvy guest and offer a personalized and convenient experience featuring Bluetooth for access to rooms.

Oberthur Technologies announced its latest generation of PIV cards, ID-One PIV on Cosmo V8; Carillon Federal Services Inc. and Telos Identity Management Solutions LLC are collaborating on high assurance PIV-I credentials; Brivo announced that the company has been wholly acquired for $50 million by Dean Drako; GlobalPlatform has published an upgrade to its Card Specification v2.2 to protect the data exchange between a secure element and a trusted execution environment on a mobile device.