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Cherry smart card products from ZF Electronics provide secure system sign on to Police National Computer and Police National Database

20th August 2010

ZF Friedrichshafen AG

ES Admin

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The sensitivity of data held on the Police National Computer and the Police National Database makes preventing unauthorised access to these computer systems of paramount importance. ZF Electronics has announced that its Cherry smart card products have been selected by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) for rollout across the UK’s Police Forces, and will provide high levels of secure system access and superior product life in these demanding working environments.

Successfully evaluated during an initial test phase known as the Gateway High Security Programme at West Midlands Police, Cherry smart card readers, G83-6644 keyboards with integrated smart card reader and SR-5044 Express Card and SR-4044 PCMCIA card readers will be used to allow Police and authorized Police personnel to log on to the PNC and PND using secure PIN entry technology.

To save desktop space, computer users can use the Cherry G83-6644LUAGB SmartBoard for secure system log on, as it has a comfortable PC keyboard with an integrated class 2 smart card reader positioned in the top right-hand corner, making it ideal for authentication, PKI and single sign-on.

Standalone Smart Card readers approved for the NPIA portal are Cherry models ST-1044UB, ST-1044UD and ST-1210. ST-1044UB and ST-1044UD have a small footprint and can be operated with one hand when reading and writing on chip cards as their weight is sufficient to ensure that there is no movement on card entry and removal. The two different models cope with the differing demands of standard and heavier use - Model ST1044-UB suits most working environments, has standard fixed contacts and offers excellent price/performance, while for heavy usage, Cherry SmartTerminal ST-1044UD with landed contacts proves more cost-effective, boasting an operational life approximately double that of a standard fixed contact card reader. Landed contacts are held in a retracted position within the device when it is non-operational and spring forward to touch the card once it is fully inserted, which protects both the contacts themselves, and also prevents excessive wear on the card.

To provide a comprehensive and complete range of options compatible with existing Police computer equipment, additional smart card readers listed for the NPIA programme are the CherrySmartTerminal ST-1210, a PC/SC smart card reader with a USB interface, only slightly larger than a chip card itself (approximately 105 x 70 x 12mm), the Cherry SmartReader SR-5044, an ExpressCard™ chip card reader used mainly with laptops and also the Cherry SR-4044 PCMCIA card reader, again designed to provide secure network access from a laptop computer.