The last major ePassport tests were carried out in Prague in 2008. The focus this year will be on conformity with the new Supplemental Access Control (SAC) security standard. This mechanism has been defined as the new standard by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) with effect from 2015 and will ensure even higher protection in the access authorisation for passport data for the next ten to twenty years. This means that, from 2015 onwards, all electronic travel documents will be issued with this standard.
The interoperability test was specified and devised by secunet and offers the manufacturers of identity documents and the providers and integrators of inspection systems the opportunity to test their production and inspection procedures before the new mechanism comes into force. secunet was commissioned with the performance and management of the three-day test procedure by Science Media Partners, the event manager of SDW. More than 30 well-known passport manufacturers and document verification reader providers from around the world have registered to take part in the SDW InterOp tests.
secunet AG has been developing products and solutions for biometric procedures in the international e-ID environment for many years – including collaborations with the German Federal Office for Information Security – and is one of the consultants of ICAO. The globally recognised expertise of the German IT security provider is underscored by its supervision of international tests as well as large-scale projects such as EasyPASS automatic border control at Frankfurt Airport and full-scale implementation projects like the one at Prague Airport.
"We are very proud that the next interoperability test will take place as part of Security Document World. We selected secunet AG to perform the test because we knew we could rely on the company's extensive international experience and because of the high levels of security standards in the German market," said Mark Lockie, Director of SDW, explaining the decision to make secunet responsible for implementation of the test.
More information about the SDW InterOp tests and on how they can be observed by interested organizations can be seen on the SDW 2013 website - www.sdw2013.com/interop2013/
More information about all secunet biometrics and eID solutions:
