The newly launched interactive Visa CodeSure
debit card is to be piloted to investigate its success in secure
access to online UK government services.
Consult Hyperion, IT consultancy firm, has won
a competition run by the government-funded Technology Strategy
Board to run the ‘Sure Identity’ pilot programme in conjunction
with Visa Europe and information security advisory firm Codes and
Ciphers.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The project is set to test the assumption that
UK citizens will be able to securely and safely access government
online services using a debit card with inbuilt secure
authentication that can replace the use of password and logon
details.
“This is a fascinating project to be involved
in,” said David Birch, a director of Consult Hyperion.
“With the government’s clear goal of using
private sector identification and authentication services to make
it cost-effective, simple and practical for consumers to access
government services online, it is important to assess a range of
new technologies.
“There would be an obvious advantage in using
a technology that is designed for the mass market, and this is what
the proof-of-concept will explore.”
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataOne of the advantages proposed for the card is
the abolition of the KYC (Know Your Customer) checks the government
is obliged to carry out for access to secure services as the
CodeSure card will have identified the consumer automatically. This
is said to save the government a significant amount of time and as
such will allow it to enable more customers to enrol and access a
wider range of services.
The Visa CodeSure debit card has undergone
pilot programmes with banks around the world during the last year
and it was announced last month that Switzerland’s Cornèr Bank
would be the first to issue the card. It will begin its roll-out
over the coming months.
The card uses an eight digit alpha-numeric
display, a 12-button keypad and battery embedded in the card, which
is designed to last for three years
The process of validating an online
transaction using Visa’s CodeSure card commences when the
cardholder activities the authentication process by pressing the
‘Verified by Visa’ option button on the card’s keypad. When
prompted, the customer then inputs their PIN into the keypad
embedded in the card. A one-time passcode should appear on the
card’s display, which is then used by the cardholder to
authenticate the transaction.
“This project offers the opportunity for Visa
to effectively evaluate whether there is a place in bank-issued
technology like Visa CodeSure to be used for accessing services
such as transactions on the website of the UK government –
Directgov,” said Sandra Alzetta, SVP head of innovation at Visa
Europe.
