Common Access Card
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The Common Access Card (CAC) is a DoD smartcard issued to standard identification for active duty military personnel, selected reserve personnel, civilian employees, and eligible contractor personnel.
Overview
The CAC is used as a general identification card as well as for authentication to enable access to DoD computers, networks, and certain DoD facilities. The CAC enables encryting and crytographically signing email, facilitating the use of PKI authentication tools, and establishes an authoritative process for the use of identity credentials.Objectives
Enabling the cryptographical signing of all e-mail and electronic documents is a primary goal for the CAC program. Future plans include the addition of RFID chips to allow contactless identification for access to DoD facilities, as well as storing additional information.Implementation
As of July 2004, DoD has issued over 5.4 million smart cards. (This number includes reissues to accommodate changes in name, rank, or status and to replace lost or stolen cards.) As of the same date, approximately 3 million unterminated or active CACs are in circulation. DoD has deployed an issuance infrastructure at over 930 sites in more than 25 countries around the world and is rolling out more than 1 million card readers and associated middleware.Currently, it can be used for access into DoD computers and networks. It can be used in conjunction with a smartcard reader to gain access to a computer. Also, certain US military web sites, such as [Army Knowledge Online] (AKO), require a user to log-in using a CAC to perform certain functions that require stronger credential authentication than a traditional HTTP basic authentication.
See also
- Defense Manpower Data Ceter
- DoD
External links
- [Defense Manpower Data Center]
- [Smart Card Alliance: Department of Defense Common Access Card Profile] (PDF)
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