Stay compliant with the REAL ID Act by locking down access to federal buildings to REAL ID holders
Passed by Congress in 2005 in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks, the REAL ID Act established new federal standards for driver’s licenses and identification cards in a dual effort to enhance security and prevent identity fraud. The Act sets minimum requirements for ID verification, documentation, and security features, affecting how Americans travel, access federal facilities, and enter nuclear power plants.
In May, the law (finally) officially went into effect. After numerous deadline extensions, REAL IDs are now mandatory per the Department of Homeland Security for anyone flying on an airplane. But getting less publicity is that REAL IDs are now required to gain access to all federal buildings and nuclear facilities.
The Department of Homeland Security Guidelines state:
Beginning May 7, 2025, all adults 18 and older will need to present REAL ID-compliant state-issued identification or other acceptable ID to enter most federal facilities. Under the direction of building owners, the Federal Protective Service will ensure that all entrants meet the necessary entry requirements. Upon arrival, individuals may be asked to present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, a passport, or other acceptable ID.
This change is designed to enhance security while establishing consistent identification standards across federal facilities.
This law applies to all federal agencies as well as military bases.
This poses the question – how can federal buildings best comply with REAL ID requirements?
How to read REAL IDs with VeriScan
In response to the implementation of REAL ID compliance, IDScan.net has introduced a new feature inside the VeriScan platform. Scheduled to be released July 1, along with the VeriScan for Windows 3.24 update, the new feature allows federal buildings to easily change ID acceptance criteria for REAL IDs only. Adding the filter to only accept REAL IDs is simple.
How to turn on the REAL ID filter inside VeriScan
- Log into your VeriScan Cloud portal.
- Navigate to Settings
- Click Local Settings
- Click Alerts
- Click Unacceptable ID Type
- Click the gear icon which is where businesses can filter ID types as shown below
Once enabled, businesses can continue scanning IDs as usual, and in the event that a non-compliant ID is scanned, a pop-up will display.
*Note both the header and description of the pop-up are customizable text fields
Conclusion
Staying ahead of any federal or state compliance changes requires vigilance and the commitment to integrating the best available technologies into your business practices. By doing so, you’ll not only protect your business but also build trust with your customers and partners in an increasingly complex digital and regulatory landscape.
