Fargo Addresses New Government ID Card Standards.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Initial Review Shows Company's Current Technology Solutions Comply with Relevant NIST Federal Information Processing Standards 

Fargo Electronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRGO), a global leader in secure technologies for card identity systems, today announced its support of the new common identification standard for federal employees and contractors. The announcement, in response to Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 and the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201, reinforces Fargo's standing as one of the market's premier secure card issuance vendors participating in major federal smart card initiatives.

"Our company has always been extremely proud of the value our secure ID card issuance systems have provided for key government customers like the Department of Defense and other government agencies," said Gary Holland, Fargo President and CEO. "By affirming our established support for the stringent FIPS 201 interoperability requirements, we continue to assure government agencies they can confidently accomplish their most critical objectives in a secure environment. With Fargo manufacturing operations in the USA, we can quickly and efficiently respond to the changing federal government market."

Fargo offers a full array of secure card issuance solutions, including its patented High Definition Printing(TM) (HDP) technology. Several government agency initiatives, including the Department of Defense's Common Access Card program, already successfully utilize Fargo's HDP technology. The CAC solution includes the HDP600-LC card printer/encoder, and custom-developed consumables including PolyGuard(TM) overlaminate, which provides increased card durability and security.

"Fargo's technical team has conducted a detailed review of the FIPS document," says Gary Klinefelter, Fargo's Vice President of Technology and current chairman of the Open Security Exchange, a forum dedicated to recommendations and best practices for the convergence of physical and IT security. "Although not all of the NIST standards apply to the products we manufacture, in reviewing those that do, we believe that our current technology, such as our HDP600 and our secure materials comply with the standards as they are currently issued."

Fargo's collaboration with industry leaders provides a strong position from which to address the new standards.

"We've worked with Fargo on a number of secure government smart card programs, and their printing and encoding technology has played an important role in our solutions," said Jeremy Grant, Vice President of MAXIMUS, a program management, operations, and systems integration and services provider to the government. "The release of the new FIPS 201 standard raises the bar for secure government ID systems, and the proven solutions MAXIMUS has built to date with partners like Fargo provide an ideal foundation for agencies to quickly comply with HSPD-12 and FIPS 201."

"Actcom and Fargo Electronics have a long history of providing industry-leading solutions for government-mandated projects," said Ray Lorenzo, Chief Executive Officer at Actcom, Incorporated, a leading integrator in enterprise security, identity management and life safety. "This is the latest opportunity for our two companies to work together to enable government agencies to meet standards issued by governing bodies. We are pleased to be part of Fargo's initiative to address the critical NIST directives."

Fargo will be exhibiting its full suite of secure card issuance solutions at the Smart Card Alliance's 4th annual "Smart Cards in eGovernment" conference and exhibition, March 9 - 11, 2005 at the Ramada Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C.Fargo Product Marketing Director for Software and Solutions John Ekers will also be participating in a panel discussion on "Alternative Approaches to Identity Management & Security" on Thursday, March 10, at 9:00 a.m.

About Fargo

Founded in 1974, Fargo Electronics is a global leader in the development of secure technologies for identity card issuance systems, including secure card printer/encoders, materials and software. The company has sold more than 80,000 systems in the US and over 80 other countries worldwide. Fargo card issuance systems reduce vulnerabilities and potential for loss of time, money and lives by continually improving the security of identity credentials. Fargo provides physical, information, and transaction security for a wide variety of applications and industries, including government, corporate, national IDs, drivers' licenses, universities, schools and membership. Based in Minneapolis, Minn., Fargo markets its products through a global distribution network of professional security integrators. For more information about Fargo, visit www.fargo.com.