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Army begins CAC logon for computers

February 10, 2006

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 10, 2006) –The Army began implementing CAC Cryptographic Logon last month and will soon require a common access card and personal identification number, or PIN, to log onto the Army’s unclassified network.

By March, about 10,000 Army users, including most Pentagon staffers, are expected to be logging onto their computer network by scanning their card. By summer, implementation should be Armywide, G6 officials said.

“Protecting identity is critical as the Army moves forward to deliver a joint net-centric, information enterprise,” said Lt. Gen. Boutelle, Chief Information Officer/G6.

“One of the greatest vulnerabilities of our networks is posed by weak user names and passwords,” Boutelle said. “Spyware or keystroke tracking software can steal your username and password, and even your PIN. It cannot steal your CAC. The Army’s goal is to eliminate the use of username and password.”

Before the CAC Logon is implemented across the Army, workshops will be offered, G6 officials said.

A workshop for major command and region information management officers is scheduled for Feb. 28 and March 1 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The same material will be offered on both days, a G6 official said, adding that region implementation plans will also be discussed.

CAC logon allows users to be authenticated with something they know — their PIN, and something they have — a CAC, officials said. CAC is a type of smart card with electronic information about an owner and digital public key infrastructure, or PKI certificates that insure identity.

Part of the CIO/G6 mission is to protect and defend the Army systems, networks and information, officials said. Key to that mission is reducing vulnerability of the unclassified network through security measures such as CCL, they said.

CCL also meets the directives on identity protection published by the Army vice chief of staff in 2005 and the president’s 2004 Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12.

Recently, DoD’s Joint Task Force Global Network Operations started accelerating PKI implementation throughout DoD.

In the near future, the Army’s intranet Army Knowledge Online will also require CAC logon, officials said. They said the Army is currently testing and vetting the capability to use CAC logon outside Army networks.