United States government agencies and the branches of the armed forces utilize a myriad of contractors — both defense and civil — at many levels, granting them access to highly sensitive and contained areas. Security checks and high tech security measures are routinely used to safeguard equipment and personnel in these areas, as breaches could lead to the loss of high priority information and equipment, as well as acts of terrorism.
A hole in these security systems arises in the issuance and verification of temporary security and work clearances. The flaws of temporary documents are most exposed in the theater of war, when the stakes are higher, and cultural and regional prohibitions — as well as religious sensibilities — come into play, increasing the difficulty of implementation.
Areas of Concern
Temporary Security Clearances
The U.S. Army works with over 434 separate defense contractors, each whom subcontracts work to other contractors and cover a wide range of products and services. Temporary security clearances for these contractors lack the full complement of security features that permanent passes contain. Allowing this vulnerability to exist unaddressed can have a ripple effect on the security of highly confidential or dangerous materials with a safe zone. Even the lives of other personnel are threatened by the possible exploitation temporary security clearances.
Temporary Work Clearance
As of 2003, there were over 140 separate defense and civil contractors in Iraq assisting with the rebuilding efforts. Temporary work clearances in Iraq and other hazardous locations may be issued by hundreds of different agencies and organizations, and often lack the anti-counterfeiting technologies that protect the final papers. Forged work documents represent a major security hole for defense contractors, and can threaten both national security secrets and operational tactics, not to mention the lives of military and other contractor personnel. The stakes could not be higher.
Outlook
With more and more fronts opening in the global war on terror, the need for defense contractors continues to increase, exacerbating the vulnerabilities in security and work clearance documents. The loophole for temporary clearances must be closed using simple, foundational technology that can be embedded on-site. Permanent documents, which are not consistently produced, can also benefit from a more layered security approach with redundant protective features. It is imperative that such measures be applied at any site with confidential or sensitive plans, dangerous equipment or high-ranking officers.
AuthentiGuard On-Demand Can Help
AuthentiGuard-On-Demand is a sophisticated print security technology that combines the benefits of copy and tamper protection with the ability to conceal sensitive data within printed documents. Utilizing standard desktop and commercial printers, the solution provides for the dynamic delivery of comprehensive protection to identity and other sensitive documents critical to the defense industry.