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| The Airport has automated key security policies with the SAFE software suite |
With the Quantum Secure SAFE for Airports solution, SFIA has simplified the management of their entire badging process by automating manual processes related to background checks, access credential issuance and access privilege assignment into their physical access control systems. By automating these processes, the airport has streamlined their security operations, improved their levels of customer service as well as ensured real-time compliance with current TSA security directives.
First opened in 1927, SFIA is a category X airport that handles over 40-million passengers each year, making it the tenth largest in the United States and one of the world's 30-busiest airports. In 2008, the SkyTrax World Airport Survey recognised SFIA as the Best International Airport in North America.
The Security Access Office at SFIA manages all aspects of badging and identity management within the airport, handling 18,000 identities and serving over 100 clients every day. With two disparate access control systems into which to provision access, the Security Access Office needed to be able to issue a badge that would work with magnetic stripe and proximity technology as well as match biometric information encoded on the card.
The Security Access Office was looking for a system that could work across multiple departments and systems within the airport, including Aviation Security, Airfield Operations, Security Operations Centre and Communications. This system needed to augment the enrolment process to allow these smartcard badges to be issued in a streamlined process that would not impact customer service.
With SAFE, the Airport has ensured real-time compliance with current TSA security directives |
After researching, SFIA selected the Quantum Secure SAFE for Airports solution: a scalable, custom-configurable COTS software suite that does not replace, but rather greatly enhances their existing systems to accomplish these tasks.
Now, as a new employee is enrolled for badging at SFIA, a process appropriate to the privileges required, guides the Security Access Office operator through the steps unique for each badge application. The applicant's biographic and biometric details are sent to AAAE's BASIC (Biometric Airport Security Identification Consortium) back-end system to gain security clearance.
What was formerly a paper-based identity proofing and application enrolment process has been transformed to electronic and rules-based processes for:
- Dynamically driven enrolment processes appropriate to each applicant
- Airport tenants and employers managing their respective identities through a simple Web-based interface
- Integration with computer-based training systems for real-time validation of training credentials
- Electronic, workflow-driven processes for assignment of metal keys and other access devices to identities
- Electronic management of background checks for STA, TSA No-Fly, CHRC and state Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Issuance of multi-technology, highly secure badges for use with multiple PACS and biometric access devices
- Provisioning of biographic and biometric information onto the badge contactless chip
- Integrated document management to centralise all paperwork
As a result of automating these key security processes, SFIA is drastically reducing data entry errors, optimising the management of TSA-regulated badging processes and simplifying its compliance needs. Additionally, SAFE is enabling the airport to offer its Authorised Signatories a Web-based portal to enable streamlined interaction with the companies it services, enabling those companies to manage their respective employees and related-area access on an as-needed basis.
"We enjoyed working closely with the entire team at the San Francisco International Airport on this very special deployment," said Ajay Jain, President and CEO of Quantum Secure. "The SAFE for Airports suite is ideal for airports of all sizes looking to streamline their badging operations, ensure compliance with the latest TSA regulations and future-proof their physical security infrastructure - all while realising incredible cost reductions."
