SmartCard Workshop

SmartCard Workshop on 21 and 22 February 2018 in Darmstadt

Focus of the SmartCard Workshop

The SmartCard Workshop will take place on 21 and 22 February 2018 in Darmstadt. It is one of the most important events for smart cards in Germany. The partic­i­pants come from all areas of industry, science and politics. They partic­u­larly appre­ciate the technical orien­tation of the workshop and its extensive neutrality. The workshop offers partic­i­pants and experts a forum to present new operating system concepts and conceivable new features and appli­ca­tions, as well as to discuss the current state of devel­opment, cryptog­raphy, infor­mation security and standardization.

SRC expert explains authen­ti­cation procedures

This year, SRC expert Sandro Amendola will give a presen­tation on security-related and regulatory issues in the “Regis­tration of App-based authen­ti­cation proce­dures”. Such authen­ti­cation methods play an important role in many digital appli­ca­tions and have become very important for all users of online banking systems, especially due to the regulation of the banking market by the PSD2.

Evening event with award ceremony

A special highlight is the evening event. Each year, one expert is honored with the SmartCard prize for special achieve­ments. The prize is donated by Fraun­hofer SIT.

SRC actively partic­i­pates in SmartCard Workshop

SRC supports the workshop as sponsor and through active partic­i­pation in the Programme Advisory Board.

Image source: Fraun­hofer SIT
PSD2

SRC expert Sandro Amendola contributes to the PSD2 conference meeting

Second EU Payment Services Directive PSD2 comes into force

“Banken+Partner” expert panel on PSD2

The second EU Payment Services Directive PSD2 comes into force in January. The business policy, technical and regulatory need for action to be taken by credit insti­tu­tions is diverse and at the same time individual for each bank. Among other things, the insti­tu­tions will have to observe and implement stricter security require­ments for the authen­ti­cation of their customers and prove these to the national super­visory authority. For banks and Sparkassen as service providers and for customers as users, there is a risk that login and payment release will become more incon­ve­nient. At the same time, the interface must be imple­mented for access by autho­rised third parties.

SRC expert discusses complex challenges and evaluates solution approaches

SRC expert Sandro Amendola

Sandro Amendola, Division Manager at SRC Security Research & Consulting GmbH, was one of the experts at the table talk of “Banken+Partner”. Mr. Amendola discussed the oppor­tu­nities and challenges of the PSD2 and outlined possible solutions for banks and Sparkassen.

The challenges for banks and Sparkassen

An example of these challenges are the inter­faces for autho­rised third party providers, which PSD2 requires to be made available by banks. Another example is two-factor authen­ti­cation, which further enhances account access security. Increased security on the one hand is often not possible without making too great a sacrifice in terms of conve­nience and customer friend­liness on the other. The experts present also explained how this security can be achieved without loss of comfort or customers. Finally, the oppor­tu­nities that can be exploited through cooper­ation with the agile FinTechs were discussed.

Possible solutions for banks and Sparkassen

The entire expert discussion, as well as the topics and solutions, can be read in the free e‑paper from “Banken+Partner”. In addition, Sandro Amendola is available for individual workshops and consul­ta­tions on PSD2 and its implications.

Image source: Banken+Partner/Fotografie Schepp

NextGenPSD2

SRC GmbH hosts the NextGenPSD2 Conference 2017 in Berlin

The NextGenPSD2 standard of the Berlin Group

In the context of the six-week public market consul­tation of the Berlin Group on its NextGenPSD2 standard for account access “Access to Accounts” (XS2A), which enables third parties to access payment accounts within the framework of the provi­sions of the revised EU directive for payment services (PSD2), SRC GmbH is also hosting a NextGenPSD2 conference. This will take place on October 25, 2017 in Deutsche Bank’s Atrium in Berlin. The conference offers a detailed program that shows how NextGenPSD2 builds a bridge into the banking system and reduces the complexity of the revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2) and the require­ments for access to accounts (XS2A). It also highlights how Third Party Payment Service Providers (TPPs) can provide innov­ative solutions for customers using modern appli­cation programming inter­faces (APIs) for secure access to bank accounts.

Change in payment transactions

The conference offers experi­enced specialists, devel­opers, FinTechs, banks, processors and other experts involved in the PSD2 standard an excellent oppor­tunity to learn in detail how NextGenPSD2 will change daily payment trans­ac­tions in the coming years. A variety of policy insiders, experts and stake­holders will provide infor­mation on the background, goals and details of the open and collab­o­rative NextGenPSD2 XS2A API standard. Accord­ingly, the meeting offers a great oppor­tunity for a compre­hensive expla­nation of the topic and to clarify open questions. The conference will also be honoured with an insightful keynote opening speech by the European Central Bank and offers several panel discus­sions with banks, regulators, FinTechs and consumer organisations.

Networking in Microsoft Lounge and Digital Eatery

The conference also offers excep­tional networking oppor­tu­nities: On the evening of 24 October 2017 (from 6 p.m.), the Microsoft Lounge and Digital Eatery will open their doors to the partic­i­pants and provide access to a get-together event with delicious cuisine and refreshing drinks at no extra cost.