30 Aug Choosing the Right ID card Printer — What Factors to Keep in Mind
Today’s security concerns are increasing, and many organizations, government agencies, hospitals, schools, and healthcare facilities are looking for cost-effective, reliable, and scalable solutions to produce ID badges that are secure. These credentials can come in many forms and can be either dedicated or multifunctional. They can include simple ID cards or badges that allow physical access to card readers on the wall or smart cards with more advanced technologies such as accessing networks or protected data via mobile devices or laptops, tracking an individual’s attendance, or cashless vending.
At first glance, the range of secure printing options available can seem overwhelming. It is possible to choose from many solutions, but how do you know which one is right for you? These considerations can help you choose the best secure printing solution to meet your needs.
Here is what to keep in mind
Security is paramount and cannot be stressed enough. To ensure the security of your business, it is crucial to choose a secure printing solution capable of supporting a wide range of credential security measures. Many printing solutions support a variety of technical and visual security elements that ensure an organization’s identity is always protected and tamper-proof.
- Credential durability refers to the effectiveness of any secure ID card printer system. It boils down to how well-issued credentials meet the requirements of usage over the expected card life. The expected card life span and the environment to which cards will be exposed are two factors to consider. Does the card serve as an employee badge, and is it intended to be worn outside? Maybe your employees use magnetic cards that are swiped through card readers multiple times a day to gain access to secure locations. For such uses, durability matters. It is based on the kind of use your cards are put to that you should decide how durable you want the printing to be. Once you can figure that out, you can choose the most appropriate printer for your company.
- It is important for you to know about card printing volume. What number of cards will be printed, and at what times? Are new cards printed periodically throughout the year, or are large quantities of cards printed in batches several times per year? While some printer models can print large volumes but only intermittently, others are capable of producing significant volumes in one large batch.
- In the context of functionality, you should check if multiple processing steps can be applied simultaneously to ID cards. This includes lamination and encoding, as well as how fast cards can be printed. Modern card printing and encoding systems can perform multiple operations simultaneously, resulting in high card throughput. Each unit can be used independently or in conjunction with other printer/encoder units to print visual personalization and encode data using one or more technologies, such as magnetic stripe, smart cards, or proximity. Finally, each station can apply layers of protective, secure lamination over the cards.
- When it comes to a secure and flexible ID card printing solution, holistic thinking is key. It doesn’t matter if the company is looking for simple ID badges or multifunctional technology cards or trying to increase security by tying into an Access Control System (PACS); it’s highly recommended that they look into options that offer a wide range of interoperable, secure solutions. Are there requirements for wireless or remote printing? Is it possible to print on the spot or encode to secure IDs? Many solutions support multiple connectivity options, including USB for single-PC connectivity, Ethernet for network printing, and Wi-Fi(r), for wireless card printing. It’s important to figure out your needs to choose the best option.
The ID card printing technology of today is very sophisticated and easy to use. However, it requires routine maintenance, especially when you are potentially issuing thousands upon thousands of ID cards per day. The advanced printers have been designed to reduce operator effort and time required for maintenance. This maximizes system uptime and throughput. Organizations need to consider fully modular, field-upgradable solutions that can accommodate new security and card personalization requirements. This is especially important as the company grows in size. Printers equipped with encoders can be used to assign data access permissions at the time of card printing. This allows for the consolidation of multiple processes into one, seamless card personalization, etc.
Now that you know how to choose the right ID card printer for your office, there is no reason why you should fear investing in the wrong product.