In ports and industrial environments with a constant flow of people, vehicles and vessels, safety begins with one essential requirement: knowing exactly who is entering the site. To achieve this, organisations need a system that is fast and reliable, while fully complying with international security standards and data protection regulations.
The Alfapass Smartcard delivers just that. It combines identification and authentication at the highest ‘Level of Assurance’. Enhanced with biometric authentication and supported by mobile applications, the smartcard provides a robust and future-proof foundation for secure identity verification.
Physically verified identity
Each smartcard is linked to an identity that has been physically verified in advance. Before a card is issued, the user completes an in-person registration process during which their official identity document is checked and biometric data, such as a fingerprint, is captured. Only once this verification has been successfully completed is the smartcard activated.
We therefore rely on the latest and most advanced biometric technologies to ensure maximum security and operational efficiency. This approach not only confirms that a person is who they claim to be but also provides demonstrable proof of identity.
Layered security and privacy by design
The Alfapass Smartcard features a secure chip and strong encryption to protect sensitive data. Cryptographic keys are stored in tamper-resistant hardware, ensuring that the smartcards cannot be copied or cloned. Security is further reinforced through multi-factor authentication, combining three independent factors:
- Something the user has (the smartcard)
- Something the user is (biometric data)
- And something the user knows (a PIN)
Our approach to data protection is equally robust and carefully designed. Biometric data are not stored as images, but as encrypted templates held directly on the user’s smartcard or mobile device, in line with the template-on-card or template-on-phone principle. There is no central database. This privacy-by-design model complies with the strictest European requirements and aligns with ISO 27001 and 27701 certifications.
Efficiency without compromising safety
Ports depend on speed and continuity. Thanks to pre-verified identities, the Alfapass Smartcard enables fast, automated access authentication, without manual checks at the gate. Once a smartcard has been authorised by one of our affiliated facilities, the user is immediately granted access to the appropriate zones. For organisations, this results in shorter waiting times, reduced administrative workload and a higher level of security – all within a single, standardised system that complies with ISPS Code and the Belgian Maritime Security Act, including integrated support for the management of ports bans.
For more than 20 years, Alfapass has been delivering identity and authentication services to companies operating in Belgian ports. While our technology continues to evolve, the smartcard remains a stable and reliable foundation on which secure digital identity solutions can confidently be built.
Integrating Alfapass with your access platform? Contact us for technical support and onboarding.