About Personal Desktop App

Smart ID Desktop App (Personal Desktop App) is based on Microsoft Virtual Smart Card (VSC) and Universal Windows Platform (UWP) technology and uses the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip, which is available in many computers, rather than requiring a separate physical smart card and reader. The solution uses native Microsoft mini-driver for communication with the VSC. 

A virtual smart card that is provisioned with the relevant certificates, can be used by Microsoft Base Smart Card Cryptographic Service Provider (BaseCSP) for most Windows-related use cases. See Features of Personal Desktop App. 

Personal Desktop App is integrated to Hermod for message distribution between Personal Desktop App and remote provisioning / verification entities such as Smart ID Identity Manager (PRIME) and Smart ID Digital Access component (Hybrid Access Gateway). 

Manage lifecycle of virtual smart cards

For common virtual smart card use cases that are covered by the Nexus Smart ID solution, see Virtual smart card management.