DOD and Army To Use TWIC for Authentication

This week the Department of Defense (DOD) issued a brief notice announcing that as of October 1, 2011, it will require all commercial users of its transportation systems and applications to use a commercial PKI certificate or a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) to access those systems and applications.

This initiative to enhance customer identification security and provide a stronger and more secure authentication process for accessing DOD information systems is the first instance in which TWICs will be utilized beyond their intended purpose—to gain unescorted access to Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA)-regulated facilities.