Thales, a leading supplier of IT security products and solutions for all critical infrastructures, today pledges its support for higher security and performance requirements for card issuers through the release of its next generation cryptographic smart card personalisation module, the P3CM-250. The first global product shipments of the P3CM-250 are now taking place, signaling the need for a cost effective, flexible and upgradeable platform that will support card issuers in their EMV migration and their move from issuance of SDA (static data authentication) to DDA (dynamic data authentication) smart cards.

Thales has been at the forefront of banking industry standards and best practice for a number of decades, including the significant migration in recent years to EMV. As the industry adopts further open standards and demands higher security, Thales' next generation cryptographic module, P3CM-250, supports card issuers in meeting new requirements. Working in conjunction with the Thales P3 EMV data preparation application, Thales offers issuers significant choice in their approach to personalisation for both contact and contactless smart cards.

Thales has enhanced the physical security of the new P3CM-250 with a robust metal case construction, integral power supply and new tamper evident features. The new P3CM-250 is also RoHS compliant to meet EU environmental mandates. These compliment the existing FIPS-approved internal security engine and the new enclosure design now offers users a simple method to convert from a desktop module to a 19” rack mount configuration.

In preparation for ever increasing security measures, the P3CM-250 has a flexible platform to support future upgrades, including increases in cryptographic performance. The P3CM-250 is optimised to work with the globally implemented Thales P3 EMV data preparation application and offers full backwards compatibility with all previous P3 hardware and software releases. Thales is rolling out the new release of its P3 product v1.7 which can be used with the PC3M-250 module.

Paul Meadowcroft, head of transaction security for the e-Security activities of Thales, comments: “Thales is supporting the efforts of card associations to implement more rigorous security standards across the global banking industry. The EMV standard has already made great strides into protecting consumers against fraudulent transactions. Thales' new cryptographic security module will assist card issuers in making more informed decisions about card personalisation and force criminals out of the counterfeit card fraud arena.”

Notes to the Editor
Thales is a world leader in the provision of cryptographic security products and solutions for all critical infrastructures including governments, the military, satellite networks, enterprises and the finance industry. Thales has 40 years of unrivalled track record in protecting networks up to TOP SECRET and a complete portfolio of products, which includes network encryption, access control and remote user solutions. In the financial world, Thales secures value bearing transactions, data preparation for card and PIN issuing, and provides advanced user and message authentication solutions supported by secure identity management and token issuing. Over half of the world's banks, together with the majority of the busiest exchanges, currently use Thales technology and services.

Press Contacts
Thales, Security Solutions & Services
Tim Arnold / Claire Topping
Tel. +44 1 844 201 800
tim.arnold@thales-esecurity.com
claire.topping@thales-esecurity.com

Hotwire, press agency
Nicola Truman
Tel. +44 (0) 207 608 4673
nicola.truman@hotwirepr.com