Common Access Card (cac)

Primary definition

Standard identification/smart card issued by the Department of Defense (DoD) that has an embedded integrated chip storing public key infrastructure (PKI) certificates. Note: As per DoDI 1000.13, the common access card (CAC), a form of DoD ID card, shall serve as the Federal personal identity verification (PIV) card for DoD implementation of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12. Source: DoDI 1000.13 (adapted)

Also known asCAC · DoD CAC · Department of Defense Common Access Card · Federal PIV Card · Personal Identity Verification Card
3 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 9, 2026
Committee on National Security Systems Glossary CNSSI 4009-2015View source

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CNSSGC

Standard identification/smart card issued by the Department of Defense (DoD) that has an embedded integrated chip storing public key infrastructure (PKI) certificates. Note: As per DoDI 1000.13, the common access card (CAC), a form of DoD ID card, shall serve as the Federal personal identity verification (PIV) card for DoD implementation of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12. Source: DoDI 1000.13 (adapted)

Committee on National Security Systems Glossary CNSSI 4009-2015 · 2024

Cite this term

Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Common Access Card (cac). In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 22, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/common-access-card-cac

Sources

3 cited · last checked Aug 9, 2026

01

Committee on National Security Systems Glossary CNSSI 4009-2015
Committee on National Security Systems Glossary CNSSI 4009-2015

High consensus

View source

02

NICCS Glossary
NICCS Glossary

Disputed

View source

03

The Cyber Glossary
The Cyber Glossary

Multi-source

View source

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