What is the Common Access Card (CAC)?
The Department is implementing smart card technology as a Department-wide Common Access Card (CAC). The CAC will be the standard ID card for active duty members of the Uniformed Services, Selected Reserve, DoD civilian employees, and eligible contractor personnel. The CAC will also be the principal card used to enable physical access to buildings and controlled spaces and for logical access to the Department’s computer networks and systems. The CAC platform will contain the mandatory identification, physical and logical access capabilities, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) authentication, encryption, digital signing certificates, and may also contain Department-wide and/or Component-specific applications such as manifesting, deployment readiness, food service, and medical/dental.
