CAC reader for iPad

I work for Thursby. At this time, the PKard Reader is the most affordable solution for secure iPad and iPhone. We're hoping to make it more and more affordable over time as numbers of users moves from 1000s of early adopters to tens of thousands of mainstream users, just like any high tech product from flat screen TV, to BluRay or 3-D printing.

There are two issues with DTS neither of which is related to Thursby or PKard

1) It's in Oracle's Java, which Apple doesn't allow to run on an iPad or iPhone.

2) The web signing tool is from a company called DBsign that currently doesn't support the iPad or iPhone.

The good news is that Thursby has worked with DBsign to fix (2) and DTS is changing (1) to work on iPad/iPhone, with dates TBD.

This is documented on the MilitaryCAC website and Thursby's own website. Unfortunately quite a lot of DoD functionality is via third party tools and for those tool makers to be motivated they had to see large numbers of secure iPad/iPhone users, some of whom were waiting to see the tools, so a classic chicken and an egg!

The good new is DTS is coming, along with secure VPN, secure document signing from Silanis and larger numbers of tools. The end goal is to be able to offer users choices other than legacy Windows or Blackberry, especially with the idea of not breaking the user experience on the iPad or iPhone devices.

just to help clarify. Blackberry had a bluetooth, self powered, CAC reader that allowed all the functionality for email through their phone. It seems that there needs to be a desire by Apple to want to fill the niche that Blackberry is no doubt going to lose as their company continues to fall.

Now that Apple devices (iPhone/iPads) have been approved for use on DoD networks, CAC readers should become more readily available.

-> http://bgr.com/2013/05/17/apple-iphone-dod-approval/

I get the impression that Apple has no desire to fill this niche and is perfectly happy letting app and third party developers address this relatively low-demand feature. There are a small handful of CAC/Smart Card readers for IOS devices (I have one through Thursby that connects to the dock connector) And yes, DISA has approved IOS for use by DoD (although it's yet to have gotten signed off on any of the service CIOs). Unfortunately, as we saw a recent change to the dock connector, accessories that require a physical connection to the device can easily be made obsolete.

BaiMoble (http://www.biometricassociates.com/products/smart-card-readers/3000mp-reader/) as well as some others have put together Bluetooth CAC/Smart Card readers for iOS and Android devices, however because Apple has not (and apparently will not) allow the software the necessary access to disable all other bluetooth profiles on the device when the App & CAC are in use, the use DoD authorized use of this device requires that the internal bluetooth antenna be turned off and an additional bluetooth "dongle" be utilized for the Bluetooth adapter to work.

The card reader from Thursby works fine, but they only have a 30-pin version and it's $130 with limited software access. My opinion is that it's just not worth the money for the individual given the limited capabilities it provides and only opens the door to headaches for Mobile Telephone/Data managers.

Today, you cac CAC into a number of secure solutions on an iPad.

http://www.thursby.com/iOS_apps.html

This is no longer a few test users, as it was in 2011 or early 2012, but today in the tens of thousands.

The most useful and most accessible app to individuals is secure web since it's 80% of what most folks need ... and it's free on itTunes.

Some of the others apps rolled out at a command-level since they require specific configurations to be in place in the data center.

There are CAC readers for iPad but they are quite expensive, but things have definetely improved.

Yes, but they're expensive: PKard for iOS software from Thursby Software for $179.99 and Identive iAuthenticate Smart Card reader includes PKard for IOS software for $139.00.

http://enterprise-email.org/installing-cac-reader-software/

You can also try baiMobile's Reader for $124.95; https://www.biometricassociates.com/products/smart-card-readers/301mp-reader/

Yes, it ist king of expensive but it does work with , use the following web site http://www.thursby.com/products/pkard-reader-apple