The way ID cards are used in the enterprise and on college and university campuses have changed dramatically in recent years.
Once a simple identification tool, corporate ID badges now provide the means to open doors and access IT systems, networks and data, and campus IDs are used to purchase meals, check out library books, enter dorm rooms, and more.
The way cards were issued had not changed much for two decades, using one or more PCs that were each connected to a nearby printer.
Now, enterprises are making a shift to cloud-based solutions that enable a remote card issuance experience, transform ID card printers into edge devices within the Internet of Trusted Things (IoTT), and redefine the economics of card issuance by ushering in new service-based models.
Likewise for universities and institutions of higher education across Asia Pacific, issuing student ID cards at the beginning of the school year or semester can be a challenging task.
Cloud computing solves the problems of traditional onsite card issuance systems by removing the software and applications from PCs and putting them on a remote server that can be maintained by a third party. This means that updates to the software and firmware are done automatically and are no longer the responsibility of campus IT.
Employees of the card issuance office are provided access rights (a login and password) and then can connect to the system via a web browser using their laptop, tablet, mobile phone or any other mobile device. They no longer need to worry about their devices not working because they don’t have the correct or updated software installed.
Improved user experience
Today’s cloud-based platforms bring all the elements required for secure issuance into a centralized and integrated system that enables the entire process to be managed and executed remotely, from design and encoding to printing.
An administrator in a card office or any satellite facility or other remote location, for instance, can seamlessly create new cards, encode data on them, issue replacements and manage print queues. This can all be accomplished through one trusted system using a tablet, laptop or any device with a web interface.
This cloud-based model improves the user experience by enabling instant issuance at many different locations, rather than requiring a visit to the main card office in order to pick up an ID. Card printers can be installed anywhere, including remote offices and satellite campuses, and cards can be sent to any of these printers. Printers essentially become smart, secure, web-enabled edge devices in the IoTT that can leverage all of the platform’s functionality.
Security and privacy protection are both improved with the cloud-based model. There is end-to-end encryption of all sensitive data both in transit and at rest, using banking-level encryption protocols.
The use of digital certificates creates a trusted relationship between the cloud and the issuance console, and card data remains encrypted until it is printed, after which all personally identifiable information (PII) disappears.
All encryption keys are securely stored in tamper-proof hardware, and unique firmware ensures the printers cannot be hijacked, but will only work with the cloud-based issuance system software. The issuance console can also be used with a card reader so that print jobs are not released until an authorized card or credential has been physically presented for validation.
In addition to transforming security, privacy protection and the user experience, this cloud-based model also improves the administrator experience by simplifying high-volume card issuance management and delivery, while increasing control and security. It is no longer necessary to manage software and other IT resources typically required for card issuance.
New economics of cloud-based card issuance
With a cloud-based platform, the entire ID card issuance process can be delivered through a service model billed on an annual or monthly-installment basis – hardware, software and service all in one offering.
This approach cuts multiple layers of program costs while making it easier for administrators to scale the card office to accommodate future technology capabilities or changing volume demands.
Cost savings can be substantial. This savings can include the typical annual cost for card stock, laminates and ribbons as well as the expense of service, maintenance and hardware and software updates.
A service model enables administrators to convert their budget for ID card issuance into an operational expense that could amount to a service fee covering all ribbons, pre-printed cards and mag stripe encoding. This approach diminishes the previous unpredictable ancillary costs associated with owning and managing hardware and software by eliminating costs related to maintaining hardware, inventory, labor, and potentially the capital expenditure related to purchasing printers.
Other benefits include auto-replacement of cards and other consumables when needed, and centralized control and visibility along with distributed or batch printing.
Administrators who adopt a cloud-based model for their card office know that their operations will be compatible with today’s and tomorrow’s credential technology, including mobile IDs that enable users to carry ID cards on their smartphones.
While the technology used by card production offices had largely remained static, the technology available to most other operations in the enterprise and a university campus has advanced considerably, improving how employees were onboarded and making it easier for university students to seamlessly register for classes online, pay fees and be ready for classes on the first day without waiting in physical lines.
The crucial task of printing and issuing student IDs has caught up with these advances, taking the inefficiency and inconvenience out of corporate ID badging while removing the Fall crunch time for university card office administrators. Cloud-based card issuance solutions are giving back both time and money while re-envisioning the way card offices operate.
