Smart Card Update
Remember, yesterday’s posting where I was talking about Smart Cards??? Well, today, we visit the same topic to a different extent, with regards to the actual technology itself, not about any type of market research. It is about two security vendors whom have come together to introduce a new kind of Smart Card technology called “Magnetic-Logic-Unit”.
Here we go: “Crocus Technology, a leading developer of magnetically enhanced semiconductors, and Morpho (Safran group), a leading supplier of identification, detection and e-document solutions, today announced an agreement to develop and commercialize the world's first smart card based on Crocus' Magnetic-Logic-Unit (MLU) technology . . . The secure microcontroller product will be compliant with the latest quality and security standards. Crocus' MLU, based on a revolutionary magnetics architecture, is a scalable evolution of its Thermally Assisted Switching™ (TAS) technology. MLU enables practical implementation of advanced logic and memory capabilities, a first for the industry. It is anticipated that the increased security, speed, reliability and cost efficiency offered by Crocus' MLU technology will provide significant advantages for Morpho's smart cards. Previous generations of smart card designs have been based on Flash memory technology, and this application of MLU is a first in the $20+ billion smart card and microcontroller semiconductor market segments . . . MLU technology offers significant advantages over competing memory technologies including low power usage, high speed, unlimited endurance (read and write cycles), inherent non-volatility, and provides a first-of-its-kind logic capability” (SOURCE: http://www.findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/9362/).
My Take
Well, first let it be known that one of the vendors involved here is known as “Morpho”. From a previous posting, I predicted that they have the potential to be the Microsoft of the Biometrics Industry. And the fact they have come into this partnership agreement, it only furthers their boons to reach this acclaimed title even more. Second, I am far from being an electrical engineer to understand all of this stuff.
So after searching on Wikipedia for a plain old English definition of exactly what MLU technology is, here is what I found: “This technology can be used to make ultra-secure functions such as smart cards, identity cards, SIM cards, and near-field communications (NFC) tamper-proof. The technology can operate at very high temperatures, making it useful in automotive and industrial electronics. MLU has the potential to replace a variety of other memory technologies such as SRAM, DRAM, NAND, NOR, and OTP.” (SOURCE: http://www.findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/9362/).
So, based upon this definition, one can just imagine the market possibilities with this new technology. It seems like that there will be a much greater level of security, and work in some of the heaviest industries (as can be seen in the definition), especially for Time and Attendance applications, where Smart Cards are being used a lot more now, not only 110% identify the employees clocking in and clocking out, but to avoid the costly problem of buddy punching. And from what it seems like, this MLU technology has the potential to replace the legacy and current Smart Card technologies.
Hmm, and even operate at high temperatures. That would be a great selling tool for market applications in geographic regions like the Middle East, where temperatures can well exceed 120 F (believe me, I have been there). But probably the biggest boon here is that this MLU technology is the first of its kind for the Smart Card industry. So, that is just another feather in the cap for Morpho. While this is all good news of course, one of my biggest concerns and fears is that as this technology continues to evolve and develop into the future, that research and development in to making these technologies even more secure is of first priority. Sure, market share, keeping up with the competition, and trying to capture new customer bases is very important for any business, but what is the good of it all, if the hackers can break through this technology, and launch a new, covert form of ID Theft???
Remember, the cat and mouse game just does not exist for Internet Security, it manifests itself where ever security issues are involved, even for the Smart Card Industry. Given that it is a huge market (and is going to continue to grow very rapidly), is $20+ Billion, nobody wants to get a bad name here. After all, lost revenue due to security breaches simply means lost business and lost customers. Smart Cards and Biometrics are the wave of the future, so let us insure that they do not fall along the way of the security threats and breaches associated with E-Commerce.