With the push to make credentialing and authentication of employees and contractors as easy and foolproof as possible, the Defense Manpower Data Center has inked an agreement with a nonprofit coalition to refine the work it has already done on a federated credentialing network.
The Federation for Identity and Cross-Credentialing Systems, known as FiXs, has many Defense contractors among its members, including EDS Corp., Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp.
Begun in 2003, FiXs was originally an extension of the credentialing organization that the Defense Department created to develop a way to electronically authenticate government and contract employees seeking access to Defense systems and facilities.
Because DOD—just like all agencies—must comply with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12, which calls for a common governmentwide ID system, the memo makes clear that the work done by DOD and FiXs will align with HSPD-12.
FiXs and DOD want to build an infrastructure to support credentialing systems in place at contractor facilities and those being created by Defense. This approach means there will be less tossing out of good work already done, point out both DMDC deputy director Mary Dixon and FiXs president Michael Mestrovich.
According to the agreement signed in January, five systems will form the nexus of the interoperable identity network: Defense Biometric ID System; Defense National Visitors Center system; Defense Cross-Credentialing ID System; DOD Sensitive and Classified Visit Request System; and FiXs Network, infrastructure and affiliated identity credentials.
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