Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. (hereafter Toppan Printing; Head office: Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo; President & CEO: Naoki Adachi) has made the PKI (*1) compatible "SMARTICS-PKI" IC card compatible with Windows 7 and developed specific driver software. Windows 7 is the latest operating system from Microsoft. It has enhanced security functions and will be launched on October 22, 2009. From September 1, operations from the creation of PKI certificates to IC card issuance will be launched as the "SMARTICS-PKI Solution" targeting companies and organizations requiring both enhanced security and the reduction of management costs.
The SMARTICS-PKI Solution enables user authentication that is usually performed using a password or the like to be performed by electronic certification on the IC card. SMARTICS-PKI is the first IC card product in Japan to have acquired WHQL accreditation (*2) for Windows 7. Therefore, compatibility has been achieved with the new IC card security functions included in Windows 7.
To use this card with Windows 7, the card is simply inserted into a card reader connected to a PC and the driver software can be automatically downloaded from Windows Update and installed. The IC card can also be used with standard Windows 7 functions such as encryption and authentication for PC hard drives and removable media. This means that information security measures are possible at a minimal cost.

Overview of SMARTICS-PKI Solution using standard Windows functions Copyright 2009 TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.

Background
As use of the internet spreads widely, leaks of personal information and important confidential information from companies have become a significant problem. In particular, the increase in the volume and scope of leaked personal information is making the problem more serious. Leaks of personal information do not only require significant costs for subsequent responses, but also affect the trust companies enjoy in society and have become an issue that can influence the existence of companies. For these reasons, countermeasures are needed against extraction of important information via unauthorized access such as "identity theft" that can come from both inside and outside a company.
Since 2003, Toppan Printing has provided a PKI compatible IC card solution with which construction is possible only with Microsoft’s standard functions. It has been adopted by over 10 companies and organizations including local authorities and financial institutions.
Now Toppan Printing has led the industry in enabling compatibility with Windows 7, the new operating system that will be launched by Microsoft on October 22, 2009, and it will be possible to create a high security environment by fully exploiting the latest PKI solution.


Features of the card and software
- The necessary driver is downloaded automatically
The driver software needed to use SMARTICS-PKI is registered as a Windows Update and can be downloaded automatically.
- Encryption of hard disks and removable media
From Windows 7 the encryption of removable media has become possible, and IC cards can also be used for new encryption.
- Compatible with Windows 7 and all operating systems from Windows XP onwards
WHQL certification has been obtained for Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, and the latest 64 bit Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system.
- Can be used for thin client solutions
The card is compatible with application virtualization solution Citrix XenApp (*3)and desktop virtualization solution Citrix XenDesktop (*4) from Citrix Systems Japan K.K. and use is also possible in a thin client environment.


Sales target
Toppan Printing is targeting sales of 150 million yen for the 2 years from fiscal 2009 for SMARTICS-PKI Solution and related products.

*1 PKI (Public Key Infrastructure)
This is a technology for safe network transmission and personal authentication using electronic certificates issued by a certification authority through an infrastructure on a network using a public key cryptosystem.
*2 WHQL accreditation
WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) is an organization run by Microsoft for verifying whether or not hardware such as peripheral devices for personal computers is suitable as a Windows compatible product.
*3 Citrix XenApp
This is an application virtualization product that centralizes applications on the server side and only sends and receives screen images and keyboard/mouse signals to and from the client.
*4 Citrix XenDesktop
This is a desktop virtualization product that centralizes a desktop on the server side and sends a desktop image to the client.


* Microsoft (other trademarks and registered trademark names) is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.
* Citrix, Citrix XenDesktop and Citrix XenApp are registered trademarks or trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.
* Other company names and product names in this article are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.