NIST Wants Security Beyond Passwords for Cyber Transactions

NIST image

The National Institute of Standards and Technology will award $10 million for pilot projects aimed at creating a trusted online identity using aspects other than passwords or simple IDs.

NIST said on Wednesday it launched a competition for the funds, which will range from $1.25 million to $2 million per year.

A NIST-hosted program office for the White House’s National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace will manage the competition.

The NSTIC is a White House initiative to encourage collaboration between advocacy groups and the public and the private sectors to make online transactions more secure.

The Federal Funding Opportunity allots funding for five to eight projects for up to two years.

The FFO says proposals can include technologies that:

• create identity hubs that validate credentials with strong authentication methods
• incentivize customers to use trusted authentication methods instead of user IDs and passwords
• improve ways to both enhance consumer privacy and meet business and security needs
• are interoperable across technologies such as smart cards, one-time passwords and digital certificates

Projects can be submitted through March 7.

Related posts:

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2. New NIST Website Details Forthcoming Strategy for Trusted IDs in Cyberspace
3. NIST Role in Cyber Security Could Expand
4. HP, Equifax Expand Identity Access Capabilities of the Fed Cloud
5. NIST Seeks Public’s Input on Cloud Definition, Security Guidelines