ID cards had a great effect on the security of many businesses. When
proximity card was introduced, it's was intended for identification
purposes only. Introduction of proximity cards also bring convenience
to its user.
With the need for increased security in organizations that are
vulnerable to terrorist attacks or sabotage it is vitally important
that the most secure systems of entry to departments and employee
identity cards are used. There are many advances now in the ID card
that make it as secure as possible with magnetic strips, watermarks and
other devices used to prevent duplication and forgery. It is paramount
for an organizations security department to be assisted as far as
possible by infallible devices that ensure all round protection from
any threats.
Buying a plastic card printer is a good investment
for such an organization as cards can be customized to the company's
specification and people outside that organization do not have details
of the security measures implanted in such cards. The magnetic strips
and watermarking designed to make cards more difficult to copy could be
augmented by the inclusion of the company's own security measures. It
would also mean that visitors to the site could have a personal ID card
prepared for them prior to the visit thus eliminating the easy
"Visitor" ID used by so many companies. In a large organization it is a
small investment to lay out producing extra safeguards for the
protection of employees, visitors, and management.
A Proximity
card is supposed to be a secure measure for passing from one department
to another. It has a small electric field that is picked up by a reader
from about 1" to 18" from the reader. The reason for this type of card
is more for speed and convenience than any security measure but
attached to a retractable badge reel it can be useful. The main problem
with these cards is that each company is given a facility number and
cards are then numbered upwards to the number required but as there is
no official control on the system two companies could share the same
facility number thus meaning duplicate cards exist. Again if the
organization invested in its own technology to produce these cards it
would ensure that the security was the best.
The Photo ID card
is a system much used all over the world with passports being the
obvious example. There are obviously security questions relating to
these and on the internet there are unscrupulous companies offering to
alter photographs and retouch photographs on ID cards making a mockery
of the system. It also means that the person checking the card needs to
be alert at all times to ensure that the person presenting the card is
accurately depicted in the photograph. Unfortunately human error is one
of the main failings in this system as, if there are a huge number of
people presenting these cards the holders are often given a cursory
glance and if they slightly resemble the photo then they are passed
thru. Such a card could only be used in conjunction with other security
measures to ensure correct identification. It is amazing that this
system has survived for so long at passport control as it is a very
flawed system when used on its own.
