Under HSPD-12, what is the benefit of issuing a PIV card for employees and contractors?

• A. It allows universal access to all facilities.
• B. It serves as a clearance to view all sensitive documents.
• C. It provides a credentialing mechanism for controlled access to facilities and information.
• D. It is solely a tax identification card.

Answer: (C)

Under HSPD-12, the PIV card provides a credentialing mechanism for controlled access to facilities and information. It creates a standardized, government‑wide identity credential that ties a person’s verified identity to specific access rights. This enables physical security systems to grant entry only to those who are authorized and, at the same time, allows secure, authenticated access to IT systems through multi‑factor authentication using the card’s credentials. The result is a reliable way to manage who can enter buildings and who can view or use sensitive information, with the ability to revoke or suspend access when a person’s status changes. It is not universal access to all facilities, nor a blanket clearance for all sensitive documents, and it is not simply a tax identification card.