STA Secure Technology Alliance

The Secure Technology Alliance (STA) is a non-profit organization that serves as a cross-industry association focused on advancing the adoption of secure solutions and technologies. Formerly known as the Smart Card Alliance, the organization expanded its scope and changed its name in 2018 to encompass a broader range of secure technologies beyond smart cards. The STA brings together industry stakeholders, including technology providers, government agencies, financial institutions, retailers, and other organizations, to collaborate, educate, and promote the understanding and implementation of secure technologies.

The mission of the Secure Technology Alliance is to accelerate the widespread adoption of secure solutions and technologies through education, advocacy, and collaboration. The organization serves as a neutral platform for industry players to address common challenges, share best practices, and develop resources to advance the adoption of secure technologies.

Key areas of focus for the STA include:

1. Secure Payments: The STA plays a significant role in promoting the adoption of secure payment technologies, including EMV (Europay, Mastercard, and Visa) chip cards, mobile payments, contactless payments, and other forms of secure transactions. It works closely with industry stakeholders to drive the migration from magnetic stripe cards to more secure payment methods.
2. Identity and Access Management: The STA focuses on secure identity solutions, including smart cards, digital identity credentials, biometrics, and related technologies. It addresses topics such as secure identity verification, authentication, and secure access to physical and digital resources.
3. Transportation and Transit: The STA promotes secure technologies for transportation and transit systems, including contactless payment cards, mobile ticketing, secure access control, and interoperability standards for fare payment systems.
4. Healthcare: The STA addresses secure technology applications in the healthcare sector, such as secure patient identification, electronic health records, secure access control, and privacy and security considerations in healthcare IT systems.

The activities and initiatives of the STA include:

• Research and Education: The STA conducts research, market analysis, and educational programs to provide industry stakeholders with insights into secure technologies, market trends, and best practices. It offers webinars, white papers, case studies, and educational events to foster knowledge-sharing and promote understanding of secure solutions.
• Working Groups and Committees: The STA organizes various working groups and committees focused on specific areas of interest, such as payments, identity, transportation, and healthcare. These groups bring together industry experts to collaborate on developing standards, best practices, and implementation guidelines.
• Advocacy and Public Policy: The STA actively engages with government agencies, regulatory bodies, and industry associations to advocate for policies and regulations that promote the adoption and interoperability of secure technologies. It provides expertise and input on standards, security frameworks, and industry requirements.
• Industry Events: The STA hosts conferences, summits, and workshops to facilitate networking, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among industry stakeholders. These events provide opportunities for education, demonstration of new technologies, and discussion of industry challenges and opportunities.

By bringing together diverse stakeholders from various industries, the Secure Technology Alliance plays a vital role in fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and promoting the adoption of secure technologies across multiple sectors. Its efforts contribute to enhancing security, privacy, and convenience in areas such as payments, identity management, transportation, and healthcare.