Athena Smartcard's IDProtect V6 Java Card? Achieves a Trio of Leading Security Certifications on a Single Smart Card Platform: Common Criteria EAL4+, FIPS 140-2 and ICP-Brazil

Athena Smartcard's IDProtect V6 Java Card(TM) Achieves a Trio of Leading Security Certifications on a Single Smart Card Platform: Common Criteria EAL4+, FIPS 140-2 and ICP-Brazil

TOKYO, July 20, 2012/PRNewswire/ --

    Athena Smartcard announced today that its IDProtect V6 Java Card(TM) cryptographic
smart card achieved a trio of worldwide security certifications by receiving the
International Common Criteria certification EAL +4, the US Government FIPS 140-2 Level 3
and ICP-Brazil approvals. Accreditation by three of the most respected global security
standards bodies verifies that the Athena smart card platform has completed a rigorous
independent testing process; which included evaluation of its research and development
processes and facilities on multiple sites, implementation, testing and production, and
that it conforms to standards sanctioned by the leading US, European and Brazilian
security standards organizations.

    Products based on the Athena IDProtect V6 Java Card(TM) include Digital Signature
(SSCD) applications based on the IAS-ECC specifications issued by GIXEL and conforming to
the European Citizen Card standard, PKI applications based on the Athena LASER and
IDProtect Client middleware and Digital Signature and Authentication conforming to the
Brazilian government requirements.

    Millions of units of Athena's IDProtect Java Card are already deployed in Government
and Enterprise projects worldwide and it is being utilized as a Secure Element in several
embedded devices which require a high level of security, as evaluated by the various
security organizations.

    Masaru Kosaka, Chairman and President at Athena, commented: "Being awarded the 3
leading global security certifications, Common Criteria EAL +4, FIPS 140-2 Level and ICP
Brazil, on a single smart card platform, is testament to the continuous hard work and
commitment that Athena puts into the security aspects related to the design and
development of its products and to meeting its customers' security needs, wherever they
are based. Having the product certified, by 3 different certification bodies, and
evaluated at 3 independent certification laboratories provides our customers with the high
level of confidence and trust that is needed in order to deploy modern large scale smart
card applications."

    About Athena Smartcard

    Athena's innovative and secure smart card operating systems, on-card applications,
middleware and reader technologies enable our partners to offer 'state of the art'
National ID, Digital Signature, eGov, ePassports, Transportation, Secure Elements and
advanced contact and contactless payment solutions by removing the development, support
and certification barriers associated with in-house R&D.

    Using close relationships with industry leading silicon vendors, card and inlay
manufacturers, and a permanent staff of industry leading engineers Athena offers highly
secure, flexible, and cost effective solutions.

    With offices in Asia, Europe and the Americas, and through a network of industry
leading firms, including card manufacturers in the world's fastest growing markets such as
Brazil, Asia, Russia, and Africa, Athena is ideally positioned to provide timely and
professional hand's on support, help facilitate the transition to secure chip
technologies, and allow our growing list of partners to stay competitive.

    More information about Athena is available from http://www.athena-scs.comIDProtect
and IDProtect Client are trademarks or registered trademarks of Athena Smartcard Solutions
or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their
respective owners.

    Contact: Jochi Fuchs at +1-408-786-1028

Source: Athena Smartcard