By Tracy Kitten editor • 20 Apr 2009

Dennis "Abe" Abraham has spent the last five years waiting for remote key loading to reach a tipping point. The president of Concord, N.C.-based Trusted Security Solutions Inc., developer of the A98 remote key loading system, says the timing for RKL is finally right, and independent sales organizations are now seriously considering their options.

Though complicated by complex algorithms and multiple levels of encryption, the function of remote key loading is simple. Basically, RKL eliminates the need for ATM technicians to physically visit ATMs for manual key changes — thus eliminating expense and the possibility for human error.
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After completing their investments in Triple DES upgrades, ATM deployers are now finally able to focus some time and money on RKL. Up to this point, financial institutions have expressed interest in RKL, but few have made large investments. In the ISO space, movement has been, by and large, non-existent.

And there are a few reasons for that.

Deployers of off-premises ATMs have not been as diligent about ensuring their keys are changed. In fact, before the October 2008 release of version 1.2 of the Payment Card Industry Council Data Security Standard, no definitive requirements for key changing existed. ATM deployers were required to change keys if and when audited, but audits were not mandated across the board.

Under version 1.2, keys must be changed every 12 months, and the networks are watching, says Chuck Hayes, product development manager for Long Beach, Miss.-based Triton Systems of Delaware. That PCI push has encouraged manufacturers like Triton to start marketing RKL part of the overall ATM offering.

"It's a differentiator for us," Hayes said. "It's the first time an RKL solution has been brought to market for the off-premises space, and that's helping us enjoy a competitive advantage."

Triton's patent-pending RKL offer may only require a software upgrade, if the ATM already has Triton's upgraded encrypting PIN pad.

For an ISO that acquires and needs to merge a fleet of remote-key capable ATMs with an existing fleet of ATMs that aren't remote-key ready, the Triton solution calls for a mere switch of the host for transaction processing, Hayes says.

"The business case for ISOs is simple: less key handling," he said. "That's an advantage. If an ATM key was corrupted, the host could rekey that ATM within minutes, rather than having to go through the manual process of sending someone out, which takes time and expense."

A case for ISOs and FIs

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