In order to read the contents of a smartcard, a software application is required.

All smartcards that have integrated cryptographic functions such as digital signature cards, CNS cards, identity cards, bank cards and many others, must guarantee a high standard of security and for this reason they are not freely accessible.

In order to use them in the system, the PKCS#11 driver of that specific smartcard must be present.

The smartcard supplier usually provides its own software which also includes the smartcard driver.