Smart Card Alliance Becomes Secure Technology Alliance, Expands Mission to Include Broader View of Security Technologies

PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J., March 08, 2017 -- The Smart Card Alliance, known for propelling the adoption of smart card technology as the global standard for payment, identity, access and mobile application security, announced today it is expanding its charter to include a broader range of security and privacy-enhancing technologies. To reflect this expanded mission, the Smart Card Alliance will be changing its name to the Secure Technology Alliance.

“The Alliance’s focus has always been on engaging in industry-wide discussion and providing best practices and educational resources for designing and building secure payments, identification, access and mobile applications and systems,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Secure Technology Alliance. “As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and mobile, the technology used in smart cards is being used more widely in mobile devices, wearables and internet-connected devices. The clear next step for this organization is to expand and engage in activities across the full spectrum of these new applications as the Secure Technology Alliance.”

Smart card technology will remain a priority for the Secure Technology Alliance, while the scope of technologies that the organization focuses on broadens to include embedded chip technology and related hardware and software that enable privacy and data protection for end users and industry stakeholders in payments, cybersecurity, mobile, healthcare, identity and access, transportation and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

“The Alliance has members from all of these industries actively participating in the organization, making it uniquely equipped to provide education and actionable guidance, foster industry collaboration, and encourage adoption of secure technology,” Vanderhoof added.

With industry dialogue and education continuing to be top priorities for the organization, existing industry council activities, conferences, and education and training programs initiated by the Smart Card Alliance will continue and evolve. These programs will incorporate additional security technologies and applications, such as those used for IoT and mobility applications, under the expanded scope of the Secure Technology Alliance.

Secure Technology Alliance activities will include:

• Influencing standards and best practices that are relevant to the understanding, adoption and widespread application of secure solutions, including smart cards, embedded chip technology, and related hardware and software
• Serving as an educational resource to its members and industry stakeholders implementing secure solutions
• Providing a forum for cutting-edge discussions and projects on issues surrounding the implementation of secure solutions
• Maintaining a voice in public policy that affects adoption and implementation of smart card, embedded chip and other security technologies
• Supporting the adoption and implementation of smart cards and smart card technology

The Secure Technology Alliance is governed by an elected Board of Directors that plays a fundamental role in guiding the expansion of the organization’s mission. The board is led by its Executive Committee, whose members are: 

• Chair: Brian Russell, Giesecke & Devrient
• Vice Chair: Jack Jania, Gemalto
• Treasurer: Brian Stein, CH2M
• Assistant Treasurer: Morgan Richard, XTec, Inc.
• Secretary: Thomas Lockwood, NextGenID
• Technology Vice Chair: Kelly Urban, First Data Corporation

For more information on the Secure Technology Alliance, view the Secure Technology Alliance FAQ and visit www.securetechalliance.org.

About the Secure Technology Alliance
The Secure Technology Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to stimulate the understanding, adoption and widespread application of secure solutions, including smart cards, embedded chip technology, and related hardware and software across a variety of markets including authentication, commerce and Internet of Things (IoT).

The Secure Technology Alliance, formerly known as the Smart Card Alliance, invests heavily in education on the appropriate uses of secure technologies to enable privacy and data protection. The Secure Technology Alliance delivers on its mission through training, research, publications, industry outreach and open forums for end users and industry stakeholders in payments, mobile, healthcare, identity and access, transportation, and the IoT in the U.S. and Latin America.

For more information, please visit www.securetechalliance.org.

CONTACT:
Megan Shamas
Montner Tech PR
203-226-9290
[email protected]