cetecom advanced offers testing and certification expertise for secure payment devices, mobile devices, wearables, or access solutions
The SmartCard & Identification (SC&I) division of cetecom advanced bundles testing and certification expertise for chip cards, secure elements, embedded SIMs, contactless payment devices, eID solutions, as well as associated terminals, mobile devices, and wearables. All well-known credit card companies rely on the services of cetecom advanced GmbH. The SmartCard & Identification division serves applications in payment transactions, but also applications from telecommunications, identity management, mobility, automotive, healthcare, and industry.
The service offering ranges from conceptualization through preliminary investigations and debugging to conformity assessments and certifications. cetecom advanced assists companies in translating complex regulatory and technical requirements into clear, actionable steps, thereby securing international market approval for their products. Furthermore, cetecom advanced supports the selection of suitable approval pathways, communication with program operators, authorities, and certification bodies, as well as the preparation of the necessary technical documentation. This creates a continuous process from the initial idea to the market-ready product, reducing development risks and shortening time-to-market.
In addition, the SmartCard & Identification (SC&I) division develops its own test tools and automated test environments, which are not only used internally but also made available to customers for integration into their development and quality assurance processes and are marketed worldwide.
A key focus is on technological innovations in the areas of security, encryption, and multifunctionality. This includes modern security architectures, hardware-based key management, and secure personalization, as well as multifunctional cards and tokens that combine payment, identity, and access control on a secure medium. NFC-based solutions with integrated Secure Elements in smartphones, wearables, and other smart devices, as well as embedded SIM approaches, are also comprehensively supported. Finally, certification tests on biometric sensors for fingerprint or facial recognition complete the range of services.
Contactless payments and eID solutions play a central role. cetecom advanced tests contactless cards, mobile devices, and terminals, as well as electronic IDs, passports, or health cards, including the corresponding readers. The goal is seamless interaction between cards or tokens, infrastructure, and backend systems, regardless of the application area in retail, public transport, e-government, or digital service platforms.
A typical project process begins with the analysis of the customer product's specifications and requirements, as well as the joint definition of the test scope and depth. This is followed by debugging and pre-compliance tests in the lab to identify technical risks early on. Formal conformity and functional tests follow, with their results being incorporated into structured test reports and serving as the basis for certifications and approvals.
Automation is an integral part of testing processes. Standardized procedures are handled via software-controlled test systems and scripts, supplemented by data-based evaluations and initial AI approaches, for example, for more efficient analysis of extensive measurement series. New technology platforms such as NFC, Secure Elements, and Embedded SIMs, as well as the increasing convergence of the smart card and IoT worlds, for example in vehicle keys, wearables, smart devices, or access systems, are leading to a closer integration of card, radio, and cybersecurity testing. A holistic view of interoperability, security, and radio performance lays the foundation for trustworthy, globally deployable customer products.