 |
 |
 |
 |
June 2006 • Volume 11 Number 6
|
 |
|
Member Profile: Unisys This month Smart Card Talk spoke with Bryan Ichikawa, Identification Solutions Architect, Unisys Corporation. Bryan provides subject matter expertise and program support for smart cards, identification technologies, and credentialing solutions for Federal and Global Public Sector initiatives at Unisys Corporation.Bryan was previously at Thomson Media, responsible for general management of the CardTech/SecurTech (CTST) and CardTech/SecurTech ID Conference and Exhibitions. Bryan has held positions as Executive Director of the Business Solutions Group for SPYRUS, Director of Marketing for Smart Cards at Certicom Corp, and has spent ten years at MCI Telecommunications in several executive and technology roles.He has worked extensively with the Smart Card Alliance over the past decade. He has held many active roles within the Alliance, including serving on the Board of Directors and being an instructor for the Educational Institute. He is a contributing author for "Smart Cards--Seizing Strategic Business Opportunities" and holds two patents for data security and user privacy in communications systems. 1. What are Unisys's main business profile and offerings? Unisys Corp. (NYSE: UIS) is a worldwide technology services and solutions company. Our consultants apply Unisys expertise in consulting, systems integration, outsourcing, infrastructure, and server technology to help our clients achieve secure business operations. We build more secure organizations by creating visibility into clients' business operations. Leveraging Unisys 3D Visible Enterprise, we make visible the impact of their decisions - ahead of investments, opportunities and risks. Unisys Security Services help organizations measurably improve their security position by creating the visibility they need to make security an integral part of your business operations. With 3D Visible Enterprise, organizations get a blueprint that helps them manage security risk - without taking away from performance. Services Advisory Services: With 3D Visible Enterprise, Unisys can help organizations see the cause-and-effect relationships in their business, boost performance, track goods and manage risk. Managed Services: Using Security Operation Centers located around the world, certified security personnel provide proactive, real-time, 24x7 monitoring of business networks. Identity & Access Services: 3D Visible Enterprise helps organizations see the information entry points they need to control, so that they can structure and manage access to their critical information resources. For more information, visit www.unisys.com. 2. What role does smart card technology play in supporting Unisys's business? Programs around the world increasingly look to smart card technology to provide additional security and assurance for protecting information. This information is generally in the form of credentialing and identification data, but can also be used in applications to access facilities, networks and applications. Programs that utilize smart cards on a national level often have tremendous back-end requirements; they are typically large scale integration initiatives that reach into core network and computing infrastructures as well as affect essential business policies and procedures. As Unisys is a premier large scale integrator, national smart-card-centric projects represent a strategic target for our core business. 3. What trends do you see developing in the market that Unisys hopes to capitalize on? The convergence of smart cards and biometrics for strong credentials is a trend that has already begun and we are witnessing tremendous growth for applications that leverage these technologies. Whether they be National ID cards, passports, border crossing cards, or Registered Traveler cards, to name a few, these types of programs are creating new markets that will exhibit tremendous growth in the immediate future. 4. What obstacles to growth do you see that must be overcome to capitalize on these opportunities? Interoperable standards and common policy are arguably the most significant obstacles for growth and wide-scale deployment. While standards exist for smart card technologies, interoperability is an essential element for success in programs of the future. For smart card programs to extend across domains, whether they are private or public sector, interoperability specifications must be established. Another essential element is policy. Comprehensive policy and procedures for use and security are critical if trust and assurance are to extend across business domains. 5. What do you see are the key factors driving smart card technology in the market? Security and portability are the driving factors. The familiar and comfortable form factor of the smart card allows it to be easily accepted by individuals for use in every day activities. The highly secure capabilities of the smart card allow it to be trusted in transactions performed by individuals. 6. How do you see your involvement in the Alliance helping Unisys become successful? The Smart Card Alliance is the premier global organization bringing both technologists and users together in one common forum to promote the use and acceptance of smart card technology. The Smart Card Alliance is the leadership venue for the smart card industry, and it is through participation in Alliance activities that Unisys can both learn and contribute towards the growth of the industry.
|
|
