Using ID Badge Reels as Giveaways

When thinking of giveaways, door prizes, and similar party favors, you want something that’s lightweight, inexpensive, and puts forth your company image. ID badge reels may not be an item you think of when thinking of a good giveaway item but they are one you should consider. Avon offers a wide range of different ID badge reels to fit a multitude of industries. With customizations you can create ID badge reels that perfectly fit any giveaway, here is a brief overview of these different features.

Colours

Avon’s ID badge reels are available in several different colours. These include black, blue, purple, red, white, clear plastic, dark blue, green, and metallic. Colours are available in solid and many cases see through plastic as well. By customizing the ID badge reels’ colour you can match it to your company colours or the colours of the event your company is hosting. Certain colour combinations are striking to the eye and really make the reel stand out.

Shape

ID badge reels commonly come in circle shaped designs. However, if you’re looking for something different or that stands out there are other shapes and sizes available. Variance choices include heart shaped badges, squares, and rectangles. Heart shaped badges are especially fitting for charity or awareness events. While square and rectangle badges are unique and when combined with a company or event logo resemble a miniature business card.

Logos

Avon’s badge reels can be customized with logos or a picture. When handing out giveaway items it’s important to remember they also serve as a marketing tool. Your company logo or the event logo are an effective addition to your badge reels. By combining your logo on a solid colour reel using one of your company’s identifying colours you create something memorable. Clear colours can also create a dramatic effect. The same is also true when you reference the event you’re holding. A ribbon on a heart shaped reel or the logo of a worthy cause can also be highly memorable. Lastly, if you want something truly unique rhinestone reels are available and hard to miss.

Special Features

Some ID badge reels come with special features that make them unique. Options include reels with built in pens, no twist designs (these keep your ID facing forward), swivel clips, solid metal designs, a carabiner clip, and specialized reels strong enough to hold keys. With several additional features available you can make your reels specialized to fit your company image and the image of the event they’re hosting.

Avon’s badge reels are highly customizable and make for great giveaway prizes. When you buy from Avon you can rest assured you’re dealing with industry professionals. For more information on using ID badge reels as giveaways, contact us today!

Developing a Security Policy Template: What to Include in Your Employee Handbook

When developing your employee handbook there are several different topics to cover including accepted behavior, company norms, performance of duties, use of company equipment, and more. One area of accepted behavior that is not be overlooked is the security policy. Your company’s security policy not only assures proper access but is also a matter of safety as well. The following security policy template is a general overview of what to include in your employee handbook.

Control Access

One of the most important parts of any security policy template is access control. In many businesses, schools, and government spaces access has to be carefully controlled. To make sure everyone who can gain access requires checks and balances. Naturally an in-house security team can help keep things ordered however, they can’t be expected to question everyone on site as this is both time consuming and unrealistic. The best method of access control is an ID card or security card system.

Security ID systems can take several forms from the highly simplistic to the highly complex. The simplest systems are temporary passes and signing in when you arrive. More complex systems can involve picture IDs for employees and pass cards restricting access via locked doors to various parts of the business. No matter what system you make use of your security policy template should cover in detail what the system is, how it functions, and what is expected from each employee.

Keep Detailed Records

Aside from controlling access, part of a proper security system is good record keeping. By keeping track of who is visiting or at the location at any given time you greatly increase safety. Much like your badge system, record keeping can range from the simple to the complex. The most basic way of keeping visitor records is a sign in book. A visitor arrives, signs in, and receives a temporary pass. These kinds of simple systems are good for businesses or locations that receive a lot of daily visits. However, for more complex industries a more advanced system may be required. Computer software systems can easily keep highly detailed records complete with a vast amount of visitor information. This allows careful screening of visitors which increases overall safety. When combined with a strong and well understood ID system this allows you to greatly control access to your property.

Responding To Emergencies

When things do go wrong having a well-defined and understood chain of command is essential. Employees should know exactly who to contact if things go wrong. Examples may include break and enters, theft, unauthorized access, evacuation, or in some cases non crime related events such as the need for medical attention. Emotions often run high during these events so knowing whom to contact and when allows a faster response when these events do occur. A key element of safety is being able to respond quickly when it is required and your security policy template should have a detailed course of action outlined when emergencies occur.

As is apparent there are several steps in developing a security policy template. No matter how complex or simplistic you system may be remember the following rules to assist in implementing security policies. Keep them current, welcome feedback to improve the system, make sure the system is understood, and make sure your security policy is a part of employee training so there are no questions about policy. For more information on company security policies and how to implement them, contact us at Avon Security!

Choosing Between Breakaway Lanyards and Non-Breakaway Lanyards

When using ID cards as part of your security system one question not to overlook is what kind of lanyard to use. Many people prefer wearing their ID and other important access cards on a lanyard for easy access and to make sure they don’t misplace them. When picking lanyards you have to choose between breakaway lanyards and non-breakaway lanyards. Now you may wonder what the difference is and why this is important. Here is a brief comparison between breakaway lanyards and non-breakaway lanyards and how to make that selection.

Non-Breakaway vs Breakaway

Lanyards can vary based on a variety of design concepts. The art, materials, thickness of the lanyard, and ways of holding ID cards can all vary. The key difference between breakaway and non-breakaway lanyards is the quick release clasp you find on a breakaway lanyard. These safety clasps come apart automatically if sufficient pressure is applied to the lanyard. For example if the lanyard is caught and you jerk your body away from it the clasp comes undone and you no longer have to worry about removing it. This is important safety feature as it can save you from injury or getting caught in dangerous situations.

How to Choose

Now you may be wondering how to choose between these two lanyard types and if the extra features are ones you need. When choosing lanyards the key reason you’d want to use breakaway lanyards is safety concerns. Many industries use machinery where a lanyard could easily catch onto a moving part if you have to bend over it to check on it or make use of it. If your business is one that has such equipment then breakaway lanyards greatly increase employee safety when accidents occur or their lanyards get caught on things.

This built in safety feature is also useful in other industries such as schools, hospitals, or prisons where a lanyard could be easily pulled on. By comparison if your industry is a relatively quiet one without moving machinery or interaction with the outside public then such safety features may not be needed. Non-breakaway lanyards work best in quiet industries such as offices, telecom centers, and the like.

As you can see lanyards with breakaway clasps can be very useful and an important part of your employee safety plan. No matter what kind of lanyards you use for your business you want to buy a quality product. Avon Security Products has been serving Canadian businesses, the public sector, and government facilities for many years along with customers all over the world. As industry leaders we sell the newest and highest quality security products on the market today. For more information, contact us today!

5 Steps to Enhancing Your Business’s Card Access Systems

The number of businesses moving to card access systems has steadily increased over the last decade. While card access systems provide a level of protection that you can’t get with a lock and key or more traditional security systems, the more businesses that have them, the more opportunity criminals have to learn their way around the systems. Fortunately, it is easy to enhance these systems, and some of the simplest enhancements can deter would-be-criminals.

Quick Comparison

The reason that card access systems offer more security than traditional methods is because you can track people coming and going. Badges can have photos on them, which is another easy way to verify if someone should have access. Cards are significantly harder to duplicate or mimic because they are paired with the device specific to your business. This is important to keep in mind when you start thinking about enhancing your existing system.

Different Levels of Access

Most employees don’t need access to all areas of your building or facility. By using a slightly more complex system, you can limit access to specific areas or grant employees access based on their position. Access levels can be scaled to meet different needs. If you need to grant different levels of access based on the building, the floor, or even the room, you can adjust the security level so that locations that need very limited access can be mostly locked down without making it difficult to get into the other places.

Access for Visitors

Instead of having a person constantly with a visitor, having a badge for those who will be in the building or facility for a short period of time much easier to manage. If visitors have their own badge, they will have access to a few areas and will not be able to go into locations where they shouldn’t be.

Monitoring Each Door

One of the biggest benefits of card access systems is that you can monitor entry into all of the different areas in the building or facility. These types of systems have multiple uses, as you can monitor power failures, temperature, and water levels. This is an easy way to keep informed about traffic to different places while handling other necessary aspects that are vital for safety and regulation compliance.

Color Coding and Logistics

Most businesses need to have different designated area. By color coding badges, you add another layer of security and visual verification. You can also have landscape or portrait picture orientation to indicate different types of access. Many companies color code or orient the badge differently for contractors. They also have different colors based on the level of access. This is particularly helpful if you have a distribution center or a warehouse that needs continuations security. It is one of the best way to secure products and inventory because only those who have been granted access.

If you have been thinking about getting a card access system for your business or want to enhance the one you already have, you can contact us. We can answer your questions and help you decide what’s right for your needs.

How ID Card Systems Help Manage Health Club Memberships

ID card systems keep health clubs safe and secure, creating a welcoming environment for members while keeping non-members out. Without an ID card system, controlling who comes into your health club can be difficult. With an effective system in place, you can not only control members’ access to the various parts of the club, but also manage their memberships and track how often they visit.

Creating a Secure Environment

With health club memberships growing in popularity, keeping track of your members is becoming more important than ever. Wireless ID card systems allow members to quickly swipe into the club, while blocking access to non-members and people whose memberships have expired. This security allows your members to feel safe and secure while working out inside the club. Blocking access to non-members also ensures that the facilities are reserved, reducing demand for equipment in the gym and increasing the space available for working out.

Tracking Visits

Smart ID card systems allow you to track how often members visit the health club. Depending on how the system is implemented, it may also be possible to find out which parts of the health club members use most often. This information allows you to plan future development of the club, as well as targeting promotional campaigns at members according to how often they visit.

Managing Memberships

Health club membership cards can be tied to a database of members. Front desk employees can scan a wireless membership card to bring up the database entry for the cardholder. This feature makes it easy to reunite lost cards with their owners, as well as allowing employees to quickly deal with members’ questions about their memberships. When a membership expires, the wireless chip in an ID card automatically deactivates, preventing the member from entering the health club until they renew their membership.

Designing Your Health Club ID Cards

Prevent health club members from allowing other people to use their membership by including a photo on every card. Other security features include watermarks and holographs, which make ID cards difficult to forge. Incorporate these features into an overall design that matches the branding of your health club. You could include inspirational images of people working out or a motivating slogan. By making your ID cards look smart and modern, you can boost the image of your health club and make members proud to carry their cards with them every time they visit.

For more information on getting an ID printing system for your health club, contact us today at Avon Security!

How to Choose a Fargo Printer

Whatever you need when it comes to high quality ID cards, we have it. Fargo I.D card printers all come with hi-definition printing which means crisp, clear images. The brand has a variety of different printers, with different programs and benefits. If you’re unsure which Fargo ID printer will be best for you, consider the following:

DTC100Me

If you require a simple monochrome system then check out the DTC100Me perfect for the single sided, temporary I.D. badges it even has a simple erase and re-write function to eliminate mistakes. The printer creates crisp black and white images, barcodes, QR codes and more. This affordable option allows you to custom design badges without having to install any additional software, making necessary changes simple.

DTC1250e

The DTC1250 is the perfect machine for small to medium businesses that require a Fargo ID printer that can print quick, effective IDs. This machine prints both black and white and colour images, and allows you to custom design the card on the spot, no computer program or accessories needed. Another fantastic benefit of this machine is the overall efficiency of its programming and simplicity to use with inclusions like SmartScreen technology, simple set up options, easy maintenance, and graphical display.

DTC4500e

At the other end of the scale we have the Fargo DTC4500e, perfect for those bigger jobs and where added security is required. This impressive machine can produce 225 full colour, double sided cards an hour; 50% faster than its predecessor and with the bonus of crisp, clear black text and even a barcode facility. Additional security features can be added with this id printer, including: password protection, data decryption, locking dual-card hoppers for different card stocks, and holographic or UV over-laminates.

HDP5000

The Fargo HDP5000 is the elite model in Fargo’s line of ID printers. It comes with a 200 card input hopper and can print a single sided card in just 24 seconds. If you have a bigger job, need double-sided cards, or even if you need the front face of the card laminated for that extra-durable and professional finish, then the Fargo HDP5000 can do that too. The HPD printers use retransfer film technology, which provides the sharpest images as the rich, vibrant colour saturates the card. The alternative method used by many is the direct to card printing method, but if the card has an imbedded microchip or other circuitry this can be damaged by the direct to card method and give a less than clear image. Retransfer film printing causes no damage to the other security imbedded within the card and it also has the added advantage of adding extra protection to the card.

The best news of all is that it is really simple to use; it has an intuitive user interface, which means it has easy to understand instructions on its smart screen LCD panel and it comes with a choice of languages. It is also has built in Ethernet connectivity so it doesn’t have to remain stationary at your security post or office but can be taken to where it is needed. Cleaning the unit is also a simple process as Fargo now includes a free cleaning roller with each ribbon purchase making it easy to replace the roller each time you replace the ribbon.

For any company, school or even government department that needs fast, secure I.D there is none better than the Fargo range of printers. Avon security products has everything you need so please check these and all the necessary accessories out on our website

How to Start a Security ID Card Program

A security ID card program will revolutionize your organization’s ability to protect itself. With such a system, authorized personnel can be verified in seconds, and intruders will be turned away. That being said, starting a security ID card program requires more than a decision to have one. Here is how to get yours started:

Determine what you need your ID security program to accomplish

What technology your security ID card system uses to protect your organization will depend upon your unique needs. Here is how what you will be using your security ID cards for will affect its use:

Door Access

You want every door in your facility, from the front entrance to the last door in the building to be secured. To this end, smart chip and RFID technology are the best options. Both secure the data within your card and allow for quick and easy door access for authorized personnel, while still keeping intruders out.

Vehicle Access

Your security ID card program is an effective tool for managing what vehicles can access your facilities. RFID ID technology, which can be added directly to a vehicle, will send a signal to security checkpoints allowing the vehicle to enter; at the same time, it will not allow anyone who doesn’t have a verified security ID in. This is especially useful for businesses that have a high volume of employees entering or leaving at the same time. Instead of them having to wait for a person or manual terminal to verify their authorization for access, their vehicles can pass through security checkpoints unhindered.

Secure Internal Transactions

A security ID card can be a great tool for completing secured transactions within your organization. For example, if you run a university, your security ID cards can be used by students to make purchases at the school bookstore. In this case, the optimal security feature that you will need is smart chip technology, because this protects the data stored on the card through data encryption, while allowing you to efficiently complete transactions.

Terminal Access

Passwords can be hacked or copied. Once this happens, a data thief with the right resources will have unfettered access to the data on your computer terminals. You can enhance your computer terminals by requiring the use of a security ID card in order to access it. These security ID cards should use encrypted smart chips, which scramble your data so that it is unreadable to anybody until the card is used for access.

Meet Your Needs for Capability

Some ID card systems are incapable of printing smart chip or RFID security ID cards; others are incapable of printing on both sides of a card. You want to make sure that you won’t have any problem addressing all of your needs for your security ID cards, so make sure that your ID card system is capable of doing everything that you need it to. Many ID card system manufacturers offer custom solutions that you can tailor to match your needs.

Meet Your Needs for Volume

If you run a university with 20,000 students, then a security ID card system that only produces 500 cards per day just won’t work. Make sure that the ID card system that you invest in is capable of exceeding your need for ID card volume — especially if you will be printing a new batch of cards regularly, as in the case of a university.

Now you’re ready to protect your organization with a security ID card system. Contact us today at Avon Security for more information!

Preventing Staff From Losing Their Employee ID Badges

Whether you want to upgrade your company’s security capabilities, streamline the management of employee accounts, or just make your employees more readily identifiable to customers, employee ID badges are outstanding tools for upgrading your business operations. In addition to being useful, ID badges are also very small; at only a couple of grams in weight and a few square centimeters in size, they are easy for anyone to carry around.

However, their small size also makes them easy to lose. An employee’s ID badge can fall right out of their pocket without any notice. This creates security issues and the hassle of having to create a new employee ID badge. Fortunately, no matter how careless an employee may be, you can prevent them from losing their employee ID badge by taking the following three steps:

Make Your Employee ID Badges Difficult to Drop

An employee ID badge cannot be lost via a careless drop if it is attached to their body. To this end, you should invest in one or both of the following accessories:

ID Badge Reels

An ID Badge reel is a thin, retractable string attached to a small clip. This allows your employee ID badges to be clipped to any part of your employees’ clothing that has an edge. These clips are sufficiently strong so as to prevent almost any action other than an intentional removal from causing an ID badge to be misplaced. The retractable string makes it easy for employees to quickly swipe their badges without any wasted time.

Custom Lanyards

A custom ID badge lanyard is a string that hangs around an employee’s neck and holds the ID badge in a clasp or transparent pocket. As they hang around the neck, these ID badge accessories make it almost impossible for an ID badge to be dropped without a noticeable breaking of the lanyard string. The central placement that custom ID badge lanyards have makes them great solutions for not only preventing the loss of employee ID badges, but also for making your employees more readily identifiable for customers or security personnel.

Add Readily Identifiable Imagery to Your Employee ID Badges

Your employees own a lot of cards. Some of these cards they may wish to leave at home or discard. To make sure that your ID badges don’t accidentally get mixed in with such cards, add the following imagery to the badges:

Employee Photos

Outside of personal ID cards, few of your employees’ cards will have their faces on them. By adding an employee photo to an ID badge, you give it an easily recognizable distinction from everything else.

Company Logo

To ensure that an employee’s ID badge is not mixed up with any other personal photo-bearing cards that they may have, include a company logo on every employee ID badge.

Put Company Contact Information on Your Employee ID Badges

Despite your best efforts, an ID badge still be misplaced. You can prepare for this as well. Simply include your company’s physical address, mailing address general email and phone number on each employee ID badge. Next to this information, include instructions telling people what to do if they find a badge. This way, if a casual passerby comes across a lost employee ID badge, they will immediately know what to do with it.

Protect Your Employee ID Badges From Unnecessary Loss

The loss of your employee ID badges creates security, monetary and operational issues that you shouldn’t have to deal with. Make sure this doesn’t happen by contacting us at Avon Security and learning about our ID badge products.

Should You Have Workplace ID Cards if There’s Already Security Personnel?

When securing your property there are several different approaches to keeping it safe. A well-managed building and security personnel can help a lot, however by using ID cards you not only increase safety but also gain flexibility. Now you may be questioning why ID cards are useful when you already have security personnel, so here are three reasons why.

It Supports Your Security Personnel

Without an ID system your security personnel have to keep track of everyone that enters your property; this takes a great deal of time and expense. For example without an ID system in place your security has to talk with everyone who enters the building, check their identification, and sign them into some type of record system every time they show up. With ID cards it’s easy to identify who should be there and grant access to those who should have it.

ID Systems Are Versatile

>With a well implemented ID system you give your visitors and employees greater freedom to move about your property and do what they are paid to do. ID cards can range from the simple to the very complex allowing you to easily implement a system that fits your needs. Permanent ID cards can have a picture of the holder and special security measures, such as holograms, to identify the card as authentic. While simpler ID systems use paper IDs that allow access for short term visitors and then expire after a set period of time. Plus you can combine your ID card system with computer software to keep detailed records of who visited and when. No matter what system you use it allows you to keep track of visitors without overworking your existing security measures.

It Lets You Control Access

ID cards can do a lot more than just identify who should be in a building, as they can control who gets in at all. ID badges can easily be combined with security features to allow greater usability and add features. Proximity cards can be handed out with ID cards allowing you to not only identify who should be in your building but also controlling what parts of the building they can access. Proximity cards function much like key fobs allowing employees to open locked doors via a scanner system. This also cuts down on security work as they no longer have to guard such locked doors or control who can access them. This saves both time and money, and makes day to day operations easier to manage.

While security personnel are an essential part of having a safe property ID badges offer further safety and increased flexibility as well for your existing security systems. When selecting an ID card system to make use of you have several different choices available to fit a variety of businesses and properties. This variety of choices allows you to pick an ID card system that fits your needs and uses. When looking to buy ID card equipment you want to buy from an industry professional. Avon Security has been providing ID solutions to businesses and government properties for 10 years. Contact us today or feel free to browse our top of the line products.

What RFID Technology Means for Security Measures

RFID technology has existed for decades. It has proven to be a valuable tool for everything from opening doors to inventory management. Like every asset, you need to keep in mind how RFID technology affects your business’ ability to secure itself. That being said, here is what RFID tag technology means for your company’s security measures:

What is RFID technology?

RFID, which stands for radio frequency identification, uses short wave radio sources to send and receive data. Most RFID resources are designed to either send or receive data. An RFID ID card, for example, will send a signal, whereas an RFID-capable entryway will receive signals.

How does RFID technology affect my company’s security?

RFID technology enhances your ability to protect your assets in many ways, including the following:

Upgraded ID cards

An RFID tag can be embedded right into an ID card. This increases the security of an ID card, because a person cannot simply copy the graphics and add a picture to counterfeit one of your ID cards.

Employee monitoring

You should be protecting your company from security threats from both inside and outside of the organization. By requiring the use of RFID tags to access certain resources, you can verify individual activities, which can be invaluable for resolving an internal investigation.

Less security-related expenses

Instead of having a security team at each door, an RFID card allows you to oversee access at every entry point in your facilities. This saves a great deal of money, as having security personnel posted at each door is costly.

More efficient security

Extensive security checks take a great deal of time to complete; this ultimately hurts your company’s ability to do its job. With the use of RFID tags, you can streamline your company’s security, because instead of having to do long security checks, you can grant authorized personnel access with a passive swipe.

New security considerations

Every new technology has its own set of security considerations. Here are the security considerations that you need to keep in mind for RFID technology, and how you can protect your company from them:

Data theft

RFID tags constantly emit a signal; data thieves can use devices that illegally capture this signal and clone the data. Some thieves will also use devices that intercept a communication between two RFID capable devices.

What can I do to secure my RFID-capable assets?

Encryption: by encrypting the data on an RFID tag, you scramble it so that it is only readable by devices that have been given access.

Password protection:

A simple pin or password will prevent people from being able to arbitrarily use a fake RFID tag, even if they do manage to hack their way past the encryption.

RFID-blocking technology

Investing in tools that block an RFID tag’s signal from getting out while it is not in use will prevent a data thief from obtaining any information from a close pass with a data capturing device.