The Business Case for ID Issuance with Government Bodies

Although Departments like DoD, due to economy of scale, have the capacity to personalize ID cards to its employees, smaller government departments and agencies such as Treasury, Labor, Education, FDIC etc would be well placed to consider the competitive advantages of partnering with the private sector to handle fully personalized ID issuance. In short, is it worth spending over $13.00 per card, as can be the case for an organization that chooses to undertake identity card issuance in-house when an equally secure private sector partner can achieve the same goals for far less?

Privacy Concerns of the Citizen

Government programs in either identity credentialing or identity issuance are at a stage where the public at large is beginning to take notice (TWIC, ePassport, Federal Standards for Driver’s Licenses).

With a clear direction towards the use of biometrics and contactless technology, government will need to express much more clearly how they will safeguard the identity of the American citizen from ID theft. Smart Card manufacturers have developed highly robust products and services that counter ID theft.

As such, it will be the private sector’s job to demonstrate what the technology means and for Government to illustrate how they are using it. Without proactively engaging the broader American public, stakeholders run the risk of critics derailing what are often programs that enhance liberty and security.

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