Identity cards are a fantastic enhancement for any and all business. An identification system benefits any environment, whether your trade is corporate, manual, creative, leisure – the list goes on! With the promise of heightened security and efficiency, it’s no wonder that more and more buildings and companies are opting for some form of identity card system to be put in place. proximity cards are a great option for IDs, however, as is the case with any investment, it’s really best to understand what it is you’re investing in and just how it works!
How do proximity cards work?
Proximity cards are contactless smart cards, which are able to allow entry or simply transmit identity without having to make contact with a reader. This means the carrier doesn’t have to insert or scan their card when trying to pass through an access point. Proximity cards do not have a stored memory, they instead have their own encrypted data which signifies whether the holder does or does not have access to the area that the reader allows access to. These cards are passive, meaning they do not have any function when they are not in proxy to their reader. The field sparks just enough energy for the proximity card to spring to life and be read by the access system. The card and reader are able to communicate through radio frequencies or RFID for short.
What is RFID and how does it work?
A card reader has an electromagnetic field, which basically means it has a charged energy exerted around it at all times. A proximity card is able to absorb some of this energy and spark to life when it enters the reader’s electromagnetic field. The number is read by the reader, and it scans its own system to see if that number has access to its area. If the number is on its list, then the cardholder can pass through the entryway. This is all made possible by radio frequencies, proximity cards carry a low 125 kHz which are just enough to communicate with a reader. This communication happens over radio waves or RFID.
Benefits of proximity cards
Proximity cards are perfect for simple identity cards! Their benefits include:
Speed: One of the very best benefits of proximity cards is that they are so quick! Staff, members or visitors can just present their card in front of a reader and pass through in a matter of seconds, making maintain a secure workplace or environment incredibly easy.
Frequent use: Because these cards aren’t constantly being swiped or inserted, they tend to last a really long time. General wear and tear and daily use can be a big expense, causing you to constantly replace staff IDs.
Difficult to duplicate: Due to their unique number encryption, proximity cards are difficult to duplicate and therefore are great for adding to the overall feeling of safety in your building.
Additional security features: You can print proximity cards with additional security features such as micro text and holographic details to make them even more unique and hard to compromise.
HID proximity cards will really up the security of a building! Daily comings and goings will also be so much faster and easier, making productivity rates and sentiment soar. Get looking into your options for proximity cards to enhance your environment and make it a safer place for everyone.
