The Physical Security Interoperability Alliance (PSIA) has released version 2.0.1 of its Public Key Open Credential (PKOC) specification, adding new capabilities and implementation guidance while preserving backward compatibility with existing PKOC cards and readers, according to Security Info Watch.
What’s New
PKOC 2.0.1 adds improved version handling, a new information command, APDU compatibility and expanded implementation guidance. PSIA’s PKOC Validated mode continues to support legacy identifiers alongside core PKOC credentials, and the specification’s two underlying transport profiles — PKOC BLE Transport Profile 2.0.1 and PKOC NFC Transport Profile 2.0.1 — were formally approved on August 13, 2026, according to PSIA.
Why It Matters
PKOC is a license-free, vendor-agnostic credential specification built on public-key cryptography rather than a shared PKI, an approach PSIA says lowers deployment costs and reduces vendor lock-in for access-control credentials. “Version 2.0.1 strengthens the technical foundation of the specification and makes it easier for manufacturers, integrators and end users to evaluate and deploy PKOC-based solutions,” said David Bunzel, Executive Director of PSIA. Jason Ouellette, Head of Product Management and Strategy at ELATEC and Chairman of the PSIA Board, said testing confirmed the update “functions properly while remaining compatible with existing PKOC cards and readers.”
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