Vingcard enhances hotel security with MIFARE Ultralight AES compatibility

STOCKHOLM – Vingcard, an ASSA ABLOY company, has announced the enhancing of its door lock security abilities and features by ensuring compatibility with MIFARE Ultralight AES from NXP Semiconductors. The latest in contactless integrated circuit (IC) technology for door lock credentials, MIFARE Ultralight AES together with Vingcard locks are set to provide the advanced encryption and flexibility that today’s hotels need to ensure heightened guest safety, convenience and service quality.

MIFARE Ultralight AES comes with CC EAL3+ security certification as the most secure member of the MIFARE Ultralight product family by NXP. The advanced capabilities of MIFARE Ultralight AES supported by Vingcard locks includes 128-bit key length authentication and a secure messaging communication mode for the protection of data when being transmitted via radio frequency (RF). The cipher-based message authentication code (CMAC) is attached to both commands and responses, ensuring that all communication between credentials and Vingcard locks is substantially more secure and protected against replay and man-in-the-middle attacks. To protect user privacy, MIFARE Ultralight AES also features the optional ability to create a randomized ID in order to prevent personal data tracking.

“Vingcard with its range of door lock designs is committed to providing our customers and their end users with the latest state-of-the-art abilities in security access that the industry has to offer,” said Richard Eastburn, Senior Director and Head of Product Management at Vingcard. “By working with NXP to provide compatibility with MIFARE Ultralight AES, Vingcard lock solutions continue to represent ultimate guest peace of mind while providing hoteliers with enhanced opportunities to make their businesses more efficient and competitive.”

In addition to its security advantages, MIFARE Ultralight AES streamlines hotel operations while minimizing costs by ensuring backwards compatibility using the same memory structure as predecessor ICs. Thanks to its design flexibility, which is supported by Vingcard locks, hoteliers leveraging MIFARE Ultralight AES also have more options over the types of credential formats they can make available to guests. This includes traditional keycards, badges, key fobs, mobile keys and even paper-based wristbands. Both technologies also support multi-functional capabilities, allowing a single credential to serve as a secure, yet convenient means of access to other hotel areas in addition to the guestroom.

“Both NXP and Vingcard share the same goals of making hotels ever safer and more capable of adapting to evolving market priorities and trends,” said Andre Perchthaler at NXP Semiconductors. “With MIFARE Ultralight AES and its enhanced security features, the hotel owners and brands now have a more secure contactless way to transition away from legacy access technologies to ensure increased privacy and safety for their guests.”

MIFARE Ultralight AES further aids hoteliers in meeting guest demands for their sustainable practices by featuring DARK Green classified silicon. This classification demonstrates the sustainable design of both paper and card-based credentials.