General Computer Services

Physical access cards: Protecting campuses and safeguarding students has become a critical operation for all educational establishments from kindergarten through to universities. Smart cards, each issued with unique keys to provide access to campuses, faculties and individual classrooms, are now a fundamental requirement for staff, visitors and increasingly for students of all ages. Cards are typically presented to an authenticating reader, linked to a physical access control system (PACS) which verifies and grants access to an individual.

Photo ID cards: All personnel on an educational campus should be carrying some form of visual ID, most commonly in the form of an ID badge worn about their person. Authenticating an individual who is trying to gain access to a campus or who is located in a protected area can be achieved using visual verification, provided the card has enough effective secure visual elements in place. Typically this includes a photograph, but to prevent counterfeiting, the card should also include an additional security feature such as a hologram, UV printing or better still a hard to copy feature such as HoloKote watermark that can be uniquely tied to the school.

Time and attendance cards: Students and staff movements can be tracked and monitored using a smart card linked to a time and attendance system. This not only verifies whether students are in the right class at the right time, but also can monitor absence, sickness or in the event of a mustering scenario in an emergency, can verify that all the students are accounted for.

Logical access cards: By adding a logical access application to a student or staff ID card, educational establishments can grant access and monitor use of electronic data such as coursework, e-learning resources and even examination submissions. Other IT assets such as printers, Internet browsing or email communications can also be secured and monitored with this method.

Loyalty and membership cards: ID cards are widely used for access to libraries, sports clubs and societies on an educational campus. With a multi-application smart card, provision can be made on the electronic chip to include these as part of a single and secure student ID card.

Payments cards: Cashless payment schemes are becoming more prevalent in educational establishments, eliminating the need for students to carry around cash. Applications can include vending machines, payment for resources such as printing and photocopying, student canteens, campus retail outlets and public transportation.

Data cards: The chip on a multi-application student ID smart card can be used to securely store important personal information including details of next of kin, emergency contacts and medical information such as blood group, allergies or details about medication.

Photo ID cards: One of the most common uses of ID cards is for the identification and authentication of citizens to access rights or benefits in society. This can range from voter IDs in emerging democracies through to multi-application national ID cards used to cross borders. Many state or federally issued driver’s licenses are printed locally on desktop retransfer printers. High levels of visual or electronic security are a fundamental tenet of an effective citizen ID and can range from electronic keys stored on the smart card’s chip to visual security elements including holograms, UV printed images and HoloKote watermark.

Loyalty and membership cards: Local and district governments frequently issue ID cards for access to community facilities such as libraries, sports clubs and social centres. By utilizing more advanced multi-application smart cards these localized applications can be integrated with a federally issued card such as a national ID.

Physical access cards: Protecting access to secure government facilities and infrastructure is important to protect critical functions and to counter disruptive threats in today’s World. As one of the largest employers in most societies, federal, local and district governments use physical access control and the issuance of secure ID cards to ensure that only those individuals who are permitted to be in specific facilities are granted access.

Logical access cards: Access to information is a fundamental citizen’s right in a functioning democratic society. Locally or federally issued citizen ID cards can be used to help gain access to general information such as e-learning resources, community events or available benefits. A smart card with the appropriate secure keys and logical access application can also be used online by citizens to access, update or amend personal information held about themselves by government organisations.

Payments cards: Government-backed payment schemes can also be administered using smart ID cards. This could include a card for the receipt of benefits such as welfare, housing or medical services or indeed the use of a government ID card with a pre-loaded payment application to securely transact for government services such as the payment of local taxes, fines or tolls.

Physical access cards: Electronic data, securely written to a smart card at the point of issuance can be used to grant access not only to the front door, but also privileged access to more secure departments or assets within the building itself. A smart card is typically presented to a card reader, linked to a physical access control system (PACS) which authenticates the individual and permits access. Access rights can be revoked or amended at the touch of a button.

Logical access cards: Access to corporate data and networks via desktop PCs, laptops and mobile devices can be granted, monitored and protected using a logical access control system (LACS). A separate application can be written on to the chip of the card alongside the physical access application to enable this. Normally, a terminal attached to the network access point or a reader within the hardware itself will securely read keys and data from the card. This can sometimes be coupled with a password, or for three-factor authentication to highly secure or sensitive company information.

Photo ID cards: Most enterprises now issue employees, contractors and visitors with cards in order to verify identity. ID card printers enable the instant printing of these cards by HR or facilities departments for employees and visitors. Ensuring these cards cannot easily be copied is a fundamental security requirement which can be achieved by using additional visual security features, such as HoloKote watermark, on each card.

Payments cards: An additional application can be written to a multi-use employee ID smart card for payment. This can be pre-loaded with money or even linked to a payroll system to enable cashless payment for goods, for example from vending machines or from the staff canteen.

Time and attendance cards: Often linked to a physical or logical access control system, a time and attendance application enables the smart card to be used to track an employee’s hours of work and movements within buildings and networks. Technologies deployed can range from a magnetic stripe ‘swipe’ system to a more advanced tracking technology using Ultra High Frequency proximity cards which can pinpoint the cardholder’s whereabouts.

Physical access cards: Both employee smart ID cards, patient ID and instantly issued visitor cards can be used to grant access to secure areas within a medical facility including ward access, associated with pre-defined visiting times. Access is typically granted using a card reader linked to a physical access control system (PACS).

Data cards: The embedded electronic chip within patient ID smart cards or those issued by a health insurer can be used to store important information about the individual. As well as information about their health insurance scheme allowances, health-related information such as blood group, allergies and medications can be all be written to the card. This can be read at the bedside or in an emergency situation by a health professional equipped with an appropriate mobile card reader.

Photo ID cards: Visual identity within a medical facility is important. Staff IDs reassure a patient who they are dealing with, patients need to be easily identified and only appropriate visitors should be granted entry to wards. ID cards with secure visual identity features such as a HoloKote watermark can facilitate this. A desktop ID card printer at the reception desk can be used to instantly issue secure IDs to all incoming patients, contractors and visitors.

Logical access cards: Smart cards encoded with appropriate electronic keys can be used to grant logical access to IT and medical equipment. For critical facilities, such as life-support, this could require multi-factor authentication including the smart card, a password and sometimes a biometric such as a fingerprint or iris scan. Patients can also use smart cards to access services such as TV, radio or Internet.

Payments cards: Plastic cards have become the global standard for electronically purchasing goods and services. In the last 20 years insecure magnetic stripe and embossed numbering systems have been replaced by a secure electronic system of data and keys held on the smart card’s embedded chip. This standard was established and has been championed by EMV (Europay, Mastercard, Visa). These secured cards can be issued locally, for example in branch at the point of account opening, using desktop card printers fitted with the appropriate EMV encoding devices.

Logical access cards: EMV bank cards can be used with a logical access control reader to provide multi-factor authentication to online banking services. In addition to a password, the account holder can be asked to present a smart card with secure electronic keys to identify themselves; and for the highest level of transactional security, a biometric (with the template stored on the card) can also be requested.

Physical access cards: Bank cards based on a smart card platform can be used to access banking facilities such as out-of-hours deposit boxes or cash machine foyers, typically by fitting an appropriate smart card reader to the point of access.

Physical access cards: ID cards for all event attendees can be personalized and issued at the point of entry using desktop ID card printers, smart cards and badging software. Data encoded on to an electronic chip on the card can be used to grant access via turnstiles or card readers located within the event. Access to specific areas, such as VIP lounges, or selected conferences can also be allocated at the point of issuance.

Photo ID cards: Delegates, exhibitors and contractors can be issued with a visual identifier in the form of an ID card so they can be quickly and easily authenticated for access to the event, at given times or to locations within the event that are available to them. Clearly identifiable, personalized cards can be issued on the spot using desktop ID card printers and easy to use badging software. To prevent fraudulent entry, added visual security, such as a HoloKote watermark, can be written to every card printed.

Data cards: Smart cards can contain specific data about event attendees. Useful information such as contact details, job role and areas of specific interest can all be written to the card’s chip at the point of issuance. This information can be read by organizers or exhibitors to determine the most appropriate people to talk with and to ensure contact at the event can be followed up easily afterwards. Electronic communication between cards can also be a useful networking tool, helping to bring together people with common interests.

Payments cards: Event cards can be programmed with a payment application that enables quick contactless payment for food, drink and other event services, such as Internet access. Delegates could pre-load their cards at the point of entry or VIPs/exhibitors may have some payment tokens already granted by the organizers. Enclosed, event-only payment systems are becoming increasingly popular for large-scale events such as music and sports festivals.