In the last several years, there has been a focus on the safety and security of airports, as the challenges these facilities face are ever evolving. Despite tight security in and around the gate areas, airport facilities are by their nature open to the public – a fact that poses a major hurdle when it comes to physical security.

Gallagher has been chosen to assist the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to secure a terminal cross-border facility on the west coast; the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced a multi-year contract with NEC Corporation that will see the company’s multi-modal solution deployed for law enforcement identity services; Intercede launches MyTAM, a service that enables organizations such as app developers, service providers, banks and media streaming companies to load apps into the Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) built into chipsets in Android devices.

The GSA is working with industry to clear up confusion around its Schedules Program and where FIPS 201 products can be found. This was the case for items and services on GSA’s Schedule 70 – IT products and services – and Schedule 84 – security systems, law enforcement and building controls related products and services. When it comes to products for FIPS 201 and physical access products could be found on both Schedules.

Mobile apps provide an opportunity for financial service providers to create a foundation for security and convenience. To capitalize on this, institutions need to ensure that they are making the most of the device capabilities by enabling strong, cryptographic, device-based authentication. The goal, however, is to hide the security complexity from the user to both increase compliance and eliminate authentication hassles.

Zwipe announced that HID Global’s iCLASS and 125kHz ProxCard users can now integrate the Zwipe Access biometric card; Evolis has added 27 new products to its accessory offerings; SecureAuth Corp. announced the addition of information security veteran Justin Dolly.

Implementing strong authentication practices in a physical access control context can provide employees and consumers with several benefits, primarily in improving security against cyber-attack threats and improving interoperability with other security systems and credentials.

Physical access control specifications for government buildings are complex. Making sure they’re deployed correctly is paramount and a set of classes from the Smart Card Alliance are designed to instruct engineers of what to do.

NEC Corp of America unveiled the NeoScan 45 a fingerprint scanner designed for public safety applications in the field; Integrated Biometrics announced that it’s ID fingerprint sensor has been integrated into the VAMPIRE tactical forensic device from Booz Allen Hamilton; the Smart Card Alliance announced its new board and seven-member executive committee; Identiv Inc. announced the launch of Identiv Labs, a group that aims to accelerate products into the connected world of the Internet of Things.