Smart Card Overview
Applies To: Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8
This topic lists documentation resources for smart cards that include product evaluation, getting started guides, procedures, design and deployment guides, technical references, and command references.
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Feature description
Smart cards are a tamper-resistant and portable way to provide security solutions for tasks such as client authentication, logging on to domains, code signing, and securing e-mail.
Practical applications
Smart cards and their associated personal identification numbers (PINs) are an increasingly popular, reliable, and cost-effective form of two-factor authentication. With the right controls in place, the user must have the smart card and know the PIN to gain access to network resources. The two-factor requirement significantly reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access to an organization’s network. Smart cards provide particularly effective security control in two scenarios: to secure administrator accounts and to secure remote access.
See also
The following table provides links to relevant resources in understanding and using smart cards.
Content type |
References |
|---|---|
Product evaluation |
What's New in Smart Cards | Understanding and Evaluating Virtual Smart Cards |
Scenario documentation |
Strong Authentication with One-Time Passwords in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 |
Planning and Architecture |
Windows Smart Card Technical Reference |
Troubleshooting |
|
Community resources |