The Physical Security Interoperability Alliance (PSIA) recently hosted a special event with six companies involved in the access control market, demonstrating the emerging Public Key Open Credential (PKOC) specification. 

The validation testing, held Aug. 16, was hosted at the Convergint facility in Centennial, Colo., and featured products from Elatec, Johnson Controls, Kastle Systems, Last Lock, rf IDEAS and SAFR Scan (RealNetworks). 

“The value of having in-person testing sessions is to prove that a specification, like PKOC, is actually interoperable,” said PSIA Executive Director David Bunzel. “It was an impressive demonstration, with each device successfully connecting and functioning in a matter of minutes.” 

The PKOC initiative provides a free, interoperable credential, which is likely to usher in a new era in the security market, according to PSIA. PKOC has specifications supporting both NFC cards and BLE for mobile credentials. 

“The ease with which we were able to use the SAFR Mobile App where our PKOC credential was created, on devices from the five reader/lock and enrollment devices was incredible,” said John Cassise, chief product officer, SAFR from RealNetworks. “I am also thoroughly impressed with how easily the other PKOC based card & mobile credentials are able to enroll in the SAFR Scan device without issue.” 

PKOC will be demonstrated at GSX in a couple of venues. Johnson Controls will be hosting a PKOC demonstration at its exhibit booth (#3433), which will include devices from the above companies as well as Idemia. 

“PKOC solves a 30-year industry challenge which has plagued our industry with complexity, cost and security issues,” said Jason M. Ouellette, head of technology and business innovation at Johnson Controls, security products, and Chairman of the PSIA. “Interest in PKOC has accelerated and showed the real value of PLAI and we are excited as PSIA members to demonstrate this in the context of interoperability across multiple physical access control systems, readers and biometric devices.” 

PSIA states with PKOC interoperability is simple, the credential is secure with PKI-level authentication and there is no cost for a PKOC-compatible credential. PKOC is now offered as BLE Mobile and NFC plastic card, proving asymmetric PKI level authentication can be portable to all transport modalities. 

Security industry professionals attending GSX can schedule an appointment to see PKOC demonstrated through Sept. 4. To learn more or inquire about scheduling an appointment, email Debbie Maguire. 

For more information on PKOC and its open card and mobile credentials, a white paper is available to download.