9 Apr 2010

Norway Post gets smart with iCLASS

Norway Post is using HID’s iCLASS contactless smart cards in its new, state-of-the-art postal distribution center in Oslo. The center is one of the most advanced of its kind in Europe.

The successful relationship between HID Global and Norway Post stretches back to the year 2000, when the postal service was using magnetic stripe cards for access control. With its staff of 20,000, 220 postal offices, 100 local distribution centers and 14 postal terminal buildings, Norway Post decided it had to upgrade its security standards.

“With our many locations and employees, we realized we would not be able to change from one technology to another over night. We needed a solution that would allow us to make the transition gradually while constantly increasing the security levels”, said John Aslaksby, senior security advisor for Norway Post.

Norway Post required that its new security solution be compatible with its magnetic stripe format, in order to aid and simplify the migration. They also required their three main security suppliers could support and integrate with the new solution.

To keep its current magnetic stripe format, Norway Post worked closely with HID Global to find an HID Prox and iCLASS smart card format that could read its “old” magnetic stripe card format. Norway Post chose its own iCLASS Elite format with 78-bit authentication key, providing maximum security and convenience.

“We chose HID Global because they were flexible enough to respond to our specific requirements, while offering world-leading products that we know we can rely on”, said Kenneth Furesund, from Infratek, a Norway Post security integrator.

Today, all Norway Post employees use HID Global cards.

“The iCLASS Elite contactless smart cards have given us the flexibility to build upon and extend the functionality of our current security solution, while offering our staff additional applications and security”, said Aslaksby.

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