ID Badging System Spring Cleaning Tips
Frequent maintenance of your software and equipment will help minimize issues in the future.
Follow these seven steps!
- Purge or deactivate your database of information on any employees/members no longer with your organization.
- Make sure all records are complete and are not missing any pertinent information such as photo, employee number, etc.
- Remove duplicate records.
- Giver your ID badge printer a thorough cleaning to ensure good quality prints. Be sure to use the proper ID badge printer cleaning supplies designated for your model.
- Make sure you are running the latest firmware and download the most current driver for your ID badge printer and scanners.
- Check your supply inventory to make sure you are not running low on your ID badge card stock, ID badge print ribbons and ID card accessories.
- Consider re-designing your ID Badge to include helpful information such as call-off procedures, important phone numbers, etc.
Need help? Reach out to an IDentiphoto Company ID Expert and discuss your needs today – 800-860-9111.
I heard someone say recently “Nothing’s Free”. That is not always the case!
Here at IDentiphoto Company we offer a quite a few things free:
- Free shipping on all orders of $100 or more placed on-line at our e-commerce site.
- Free ID Consulting – Rebadging projects – let us be your 100% solution provider by assisting with ID badging services and project management. Seeking guidance on moving into a more secure technology, upgrading outdated equipment and/or ID software? Count on us to lead you through the process and become your most trusted adviser!
- Free test cards. Changing technologies? IDentiphoto Company will help you move into the best solution for your business and provide test cards at no charge to assure you’re up and running in no time at all!
- Free samples. Wondering if that holder will fit your badges? Rigid or vinyl? Are those plastic hooks really durable? How long do the reusable badge backs really last? IDentiphoto Company is happy to answer any ID questions and provide free samples for you to test before you buy.
IDentiphoto Company, caring for your business, it is our job and we love it!
A message from IDentiphoto
Once again, we at IDentiphoto were jolted by the horrific events that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut. When we heard the news, our team experienced a range of emotions, from angst to empathy and we ask ourselves why? We grieve along with those most affected and are thankful for the educators who dedicate themselves to fostering our children’s education in this world that is becoming more uncertain.
Many in our organization have posed the question, what can we do to help? As specialists in identification, we offer a variety of products and services that enable schools to identify and track all individuals on campus. We understand that our solutions most likely would not have prevented this tragic event, but we would like to do our part in helping our schools improve security policies, procedures, and solutions that make it more difficult.
We have the experience, wide-ranging partnerships, and the know-how of working with schools and districts throughout the United States to share concepts and ideas even on solutions that we do not necessarily provide.
For any educational organization, we would like to offer our support to help prevent future instances such as this by providing free consultation with one of our ID Consultants or Technical Support staff. Together, we can help you evaluate your current procedures etc. and make suggestions for improvement.
Feel free to investigate our learning center for a plethora of resources or contact us at 800-860-9111.
Tag, you’re it!
Have a new message you want to communicate to your workforce? Going through a rebranding? If so, there is no better way to convey your corporate message and/or brand, recognize employee service, displaying your corporate pledge etc. then with the TagID clip!
Not your typical “clip,” the TagID clip has a large decorating area that is perfect for conveying your unique message, such as:
- Corporate Message
- ID Unique Groups
- New Product Launches
- Fund-Raising Campaigns
Available in six shapes; heart, circle, rectangle, star, oval or square, one is sure to meet your needs. They work just like your common badge strap clip, which makes them the ideal ID badge accessory for any organization!
In addition to conveying your brand or passions, they can also add another layer of security, since they are unique to you.
For complete product details, view the TagID Clip page now. Be sure to play the game and pass the “tag” on!
The “skinny” on Commercial Identity Verification (CIV) Credential. Are they for you?
The “Skinny”
The Commercial Identity Verification (CIV) credential, takes a chapter from the Federal Information Processing Standard 201 (FIPS 201), initiated by the Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) mandate. The mandate required Federal agencies to deploy and support an identity credential that can be used across all Federal agencies for both physical and logical access.
The CIV credential takes advantage of the PIV infrastructure that has been developed, tested, and refined over the past ten years. By adopting the CIV credential, corporations or medical environments no longer have to create multiple identities for each employee to work in the various standalone systems. Identity creation and enrollment is completed at one central location. Once an employee receives their CIV credential, this one credential can be used at locations enterprise-wide.
Each employee’s CIV card can be a tool for authenticating identity and authorizing access to doors and resources such as inventory control, accounting, process control systems, and HR databases. In addition, a single identity allows a provisioning system to confirm that an employee is actually on the premises before enabling that person to log on to a desktop computer and enterprise network. At the same time, it blocks access from an external device, such as a remote computer, after physical presence is established within an office.
To make the CIV credential work in your organization, your infrastructure will need to change from multiple standalone solutions to one that is enterprise-wide. Due to the Federal mandate, multiple vendors offer interoperable solutions using off-the-shelf products because of competition, prices will become more and more affordable.
In a typical implementation, each CIV credential holds one unique user identification number that is tied to the person’s network account. This allows access to authorized applications, plus the physical access control system in the proper buildings.
Are they for you?
A CIV credentialing program provides corporations with the ability to improve efficiency and reduce resources while maintaining overall security. However, to determine if this is the solution for you, ask yourself the following questions:
- Are only authorized employees accessing the corporate property and networks?
- Is any portion of the network, access control system, etc., vulnerable, posing a security risk?
- How many resources are allocated to resetting employee passwords and logins?
- Overall, what is the current level of security? Poor, Fair, Satisfactory, Excellent?
These are just a few of the questions that can be addressed. Every organization is unique and therefore it is best to speak to an ID Consultant during the fact-finding and qualification process.
Reference:
Smart Card Alliance. October 2011. The Commercial Identity Verification (CIV) Credential – Leveraging FIPS 201 and the PIV Specifications: Is the CIV Credential Right for You? Retrieved from http://www.smartcardalliance.org/resources/pdf/CIV_WP_101611.pdf
IDentiphoto rides to raise money for the SIA Education Scholarship Fund for First Responders
Ride to raise money for the SIA Education Scholarship Fund for First Responders.
IDentiphoto was happy to participate in the Security Industry Association 2012 Ride for Education that took place on Saturday, March 31, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The monies generated go directly into the scholarship fund, which is available to the first responder community for work-related education.
Deserving agency staffers and volunteers in the first responder industry are able to apply for the monies made available in the SIA Education Scholarship fund in up to five-hundred dollars, per request, to further their education and attend continuing education conference, classes, presentations, and training.
“Being able to partake in the 2012 Ride for Education for the first time was a wonderful experience. The ride was a great conclusion to an exciting week spent at the International Security Conference. The monies generated will be put to a good cause that benefits us all, the first-responder community,” said Geoffrey Urbanowski, Sales Manager.
The ride commenced at the Las Vegas Harley Davidson location, were the riders left for the first destination, the Valley of Fire State Park. After a scenic tour, the riders gathered at Seven Sisters for a barbecue lunch before commencing to the Hoover Dam with a short stop at Lake Mead.
Creating professional ID cards
Proper ID card designs should help:
- Quickly and easily identify employees, contractors and visitors
- Enhance physical and logical security
- Increase efficiency and productivity
- Reduce vulnerability to counterfeiting
- Reflect the organization’s brand identity
Here are some best practices for creating employee ID badges.
- Background Design– Whatever background you choose, be sure to use something that will not detract from the actual employee information. Make sure that all information is clearly visible from a distance.
- Photo Size – The starting point is a color photograph. From a design perspective, the larger and more vivid the photo, the easier it is to authenticate the cardholder. The recommended minimum photo size is 1” x 1.25”. It is also important to crop all photos from the shoulders up. We recommend that you utilize a solid color backdrop for photo taking, no brick walls, or patterned backgrounds!
- Font Size – The larger the font size you utilize, the better. Due to the nature of direct-to-card printers, it is hard to reproduce very fine lines or small point font text. It is also important to utilize common block font types for easy legibility.
- Technology – Remember to leave adequate space for any technology you need to incorporate – i.e., magnetic stripe, barcode, prox etc.
- Slot or No – If your ID cards are going to be worn, be sure to accommodate an area for the slot punch so you do not slot through the printed information, or card technology. Standard slot punch dimension is .5625” x .125”. Bottom of slot is .3125” from top of card. Other attachments are available that do not require the card to be slotted.
- Additional Design Options –
- Use a color bar or different graphic to easily designate different departments, access levels, etc., from a distance.
- Use different badge orientations (vertical/horizontal) to identify groups such as employee or visitor, at a glance.
- Duplicate the front of the ID card on the backside so pertinent information is always visible even if the card flips while being worn.
- Incorporate fluorescing or holographic security elements that are easy to validate – choices available for every budget.
- Retire cards that are faded.
