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With the holiday season approaching, many companies are preparing to bring in seasonal workers to cover the busy period. If your organization is looking to bring in temporary staff, you need to make sure that all preparations have been made for their arrival. This includes setting up a temporary ID card system, so you can make sure that every temporary employee is easy to identify. Follow these tips to get your temporary ID card system in place in time for the holiday season.

Design Your Temporary ID Cards

There is no reason why a temporary ID card can’t look as good as the ID cards that your regular employees use. Design temporary ID cards that include your company logo, as well as spaces to write in the temporary worker’s name and position. It is also a good idea to include a space to write in the dates of the temporary worker’s employment, so that it is immediately obvious if an employee tries to use their ID card after their employment period has ended.

Some temporary ID cards include technology that automatically changes the appearance or function of the card after a certain period of time. For example, some cards feature expiry tabs, which change colour overnight to show that the card has expired. This is very useful for workers who are brought in to cover a single day during the busy holiday season.

Ensure Security

Expiring temporary ID cards protect the security of your organization by preventing previous employees from entering your business premises or posing as members of staff. If you bring in a lot of seasonal workers during the busy holiday period, it can be difficult for managers and shop floor employees to keep track of them; this means that it is essential to be able to use a temporary ID card system to show immediately which people are supposed to be in the building.

Get Ready for Seasonal Staff

Prepare your temporary ID card system well in advance of the period when you will need to bring in seasonal workers. Being prepared means that you can issue each temporary employee with a personal ID card as soon as they arrive on site, reducing any potential security risks. Your seasonal staff can then immediately start working at their full potential, rather than having to wait for ID cards to arrive before they can gain access to certain parts of the workplace.

Preparing your temporary ID card system in advance prevents downtime and confusion. Start exploring the various short term ID card options now, so that you are ready to receive your seasonal staff when they show up for work. For more information or to learn about our temporary ID card systems, contact us today! 

The rapid evolution of technology this millennium has affected everything, including the ways in which you are able to secure your business. The future of ID security systems for example, includes some amazing technologies that seem to come out of a science fiction movie. Let’s take a look at how the ID security system of the future will look.

No Active Swiping Needed

Doors, computer terminals, and more can already be secured by an ID security system. The technology that protects these points of access though is evolving fast. Instead of having to stop and swipe an ID card, then wait for verification before accessing an area, future ID security systems will emit a signal that communicates a person’s approach well before they reach their destination. This will allow them to gain access without having to search for their ID card.

Automated Points of Access

For authorized personnel, future ID card systems will break down the perceived barriers that older security systems create. Instead of being operated manually, they will be a part of a larger automated security system. This will allow employees to walk through a secured door hands-free, or open up a secured computer terminal without any extra time consuming steps — or locking themselves out due to too many typographical errors when inputting a password.

More Versatile ID Security Solutions

IDs That Cannot Be Manipulated 

For decades, a staple of high-tech spy and thief movies has been the manipulation of IDs to gain access to restricted areas. The tactics used in these movies range from changing the photo on the ID to making a fake copy of the ID. Future ID security systems will prevent these types of things from happening to your company thanks to technologies like the following:

Holographic IDs

A holographic ID system makes it impossible to alter an ID in any way once it is created. This is because if anyone tries to manipulate the holographic film, the entire ID will be damaged, which means nobody can change the face or words on an ID to suit any nefarious purpose.

Advanced ID Information Storage

Newer ID card technologies, such as smart chips and RFID chips, encrypt the data that they store, so that even if someone tries to clone the ID, they won’t be able to gain access to anything without providing authentication that will unscramble the encrypted data.

More Adaptable ID Options

Future ID security systems will not be limited to handheld cards. Instead, there will be a range of technologies to enhance the efficiency of an ID security system’s use, including the following:

RFID Wristbands

With an RFID wristband, authorized personnel can be readily identified and swipe at access points with nothing more than a flick of the wrist.

RFID Vehicle Passes

RFID vehicle passes are attached onto a vehicle and allow authorized personnel to access entry points without backing up traffic while trying to awkwardly swipe an ID card.

RFID Stickers and Tags

These appear as tiny stickers or emblems that can be placed on almost anything. Because of this, RFID stickers allow a great deal of ID versatility.

You Don’t Have to Wait Until To Take Advantage of the Future of ID Security

The futuristic ID security system capabilities discussed above are not theoretical, they all exist right now. In order to optimize your company’s ability to efficiently secure itself, you should be taking advantage of some of these technologies right now. To learn more about these technologies and more, contact us today at Avon Security.

A Magicard printer is a printer used specifically to print IDs, not paperwork, legal documentation or otherwise. There are three types of Magicard printers based on their capabilities: essential card printers, HD card printers, and specialty card printers; essential cards are subcategorized as professional, standard or hand fed. Professional Magicard printers print in high volumes in high speeds and have a customizable visual security watermark. Standard printers are batch fed, are for mid-volume card printing, and come with Ethernet connectivity.

Specialty models come with different properties. Some are fully secure and lockable, and come with a lockable input-output hopper. Moreover, there are 140mm / 110mm cards that are suitable for large format cards and ideal for labeling. There are a few factors you should consider when buying a Magicard printer.

How the ID Cards Will Be Used

Before you begin searching for the perfect ID Magicard printer, know how the ID cards will be used. The purpose of the card will determine the information and features you require in the printer you need. For instance, ID cards used only for visual identification and building access require less information and design time than cards displayed to customers. Moreover, ID card printers are often used for other purposes other than creating ID cards. You may use your Magicard printer for an event, creating labels or for other uses.

Number of Sides You Want To Print On

Printers which are dual-sided are made to print the card on the front side flipping the card over after which it prints the back of the card. However, single-sided printers do not have this function. If you’re not sure whether you need dual-sided cards, then choose a printer that can be later converted from a one-sided to a two-sided Magicard printer.

Number of Cards You Print at a Time

Consider the quantity and frequency of cards you produce. Select a printer that can withstand your printing frequency. Different ID card printers are made to handle different printing frequencies, and components vary with the expected output.

Possibility of Encoding Data in the Card

Different ID Magicard printers have different data capabilities. Determine what type of data encoding to use on your ID cards. For instance, barcodes and magnetic stripes can both be added to ID cards to coordinate with any system that involves swiping a card.

Need for Added Security Features on Your Cards

Choose a Magicard printer that adds security features to your cards if need be. Enhanced security features help make your ID cards fraud-proof. More security features can be added to an ID card software program, such as logos, signatures, and employee pictures to make ID the cards unique.

The Possibility of Having a Detailed Logo or Card Design

Most ID card printers have great color accuracy. However, lower models may not have crisp colors, and this could lead to colors bleeding. In case, you have a detailed card design or logo, or probably your organization is known for its attention to design, you should not settle for less than the best in print quality and color.

Possibility of Regularly Transporting Your Printer

ID card printers vary in their ease of transportation. If you want to use your ID Magicard printer at multiple locations, a portable printer will be the most convenient.

For more information on how to choose a Magicard printer, contact us at Avon Security today!

When looking for visitor pass solutions there are a multitude of different options available for you to make use of for your business. At Avon Security Products, we are experts in ID systems for a wide variety of industries and carry several visitor pass solutions.

Choose from a variety of our visitor pass solutions:

EasyLobby

EasyLobby offers hardware that lets you enhance your visitor records and lets you collect detailed information from your guests. Hardware you may consider useful as visitor pass solutions include signature tablets to record signatures as visitors sign in and scanners that take photo records of various forms of personal identification including driver’s licenses, business cards, passports, and other forms of official identification. Depending on the security level of your business you may find keeping such records useful before allowing access to your visitors.

Jolly Software

Jolly Software offers several different software platforms to track and record access information and create temporary visitor IDs. There are many product options, including two that stand out as particularly useful as visitor pass solutions. Lobby Track offers features that you’ll find useful no matter what your company does its size. It allows you to enter visitor information and print temporary IDs, keep visitor records, print out reports concerning visitor information, and register visitors in advance via online features. If your visitor tracking is related to events then Event Track Premier may be more suitable. It allows you to record visitors, print IDs, check people in, track visitor stats, and handle registration both in person and online.

Label & Wristband Printers

When using ID tracking and creation software you’re going to need the printing materials and hardware to create IDs as needed. Avon Security Products offers a wide range of the equipment you need to take full advantage of the above software. We carry wristband and label printers and the needed paper refills for both.

Non-Digital Solutions

TEMPbadge

TEMPbadge offers sturdy and basic visitor passes designed to be clipped to a shirt of collar and available with a wide variety of options. One of our most popular products is a clip on badge with ‘Visitor’ printed on it that you can also write on. More advanced options add your company information, time stamps, and dates. TEMPbadge also offers expiring badges that can last either 24 hours, an entire week, or an entire month. This allows you to make long term visitor badges viable and safe.

Visitor Pass Solutions

Visitor Pass offers stick on name badges that also keep careful records. These badges are stored in a visitor pass book that not only allows visitors to fill out their badge information as needed but also records it. After filling in their information your visitor then peels off their badge and an imprint of what they wrote down is recorded in the pass book. These badges are available in non-expiring and expiring badges that show void after 24 hours adding an extra layer of protection.

There are several different visitor pass solutions ranging from the technologically advanced to simple hand written IDs and records. No matter what your business needs, Avon Security has the solution. Contact us for more information, or browse visitor pass solutions today.

When thinking about how to maximize the usefulness of your ID cards, integrating holograms is a great solution. A hologram is one of our favourite things to add to an ID card, because they provide a unique array of features and benefits that will allow you to get the most out of your company’s ID cards. Here are a few of them:

Enhanced ID card security features

Colour coded security

ID card holograms can be made either to be chromatic or any hue on the colour prism. This gives you an unlimited number of options for your ID cards. It also makes it easier for you to discreetly add different levels of security to your ID cards.

Motion security

The colour coding of your ID card holograms will shift as they move around in the light. This serves as an extra level of protection, because nobody can simply mimic the colour of your ID card.

Different overlay sizes

You can arrange to have your ID card holograms to cover the entire ID card. This will secure every inch of the card. If, on the other hand, you only want to have a small portion of your ID card covered by a hologram, then you can do this as well.

Embedded images

An ID card hologram does not simply have to reflect an obscure pattern of light if you do not want it to. You can have any variation of stock or custom photos integrated into an ID card hologram, so that the appearance of the hologram itself will be exclusive to your company; this means that someone who happens to have access to ID hologram technology cannot simply embed an ID card with a random hologram to breach your security.

Embedded text

ID card hologram text adds a unique layer of security to your ID cards. Instead of being a set of words that anybody can print out, the words in an ID card hologram are fleeting, shifting based on how the light hits it. This not only makes your ID cards even more difficult to fake, but it also reduces the likelihood that a counterfeiter who doesn’t already know that the holographic words are there is likely to overlook them altogether.

Tamper protection

One of the most common ways that counterfeiters create fake ID cards is to use real ones as their template. For instance, a counterfeiter will often remove a photo from an ID card and replace it with someone else’s. They can do the same thing with numerical data. ID card holograms prevent this from happening with its unique tamper protection technology, but if the hologram appears inconsistent, it may have been tampered with.

Aesthetic benefits

In addition to exponentially enhancing the security capabilities of your ID card, an ID card hologram also looks great. Both you and your employees will absolutely love the sleek aesthetic appeal that a holographic depiction adds to your ID card.

We always recommend using ID card holograms for better ID cards

Make sure that your company’s ID cards deliver all of the security and aesthetic capabilities that you need by including ID card holograms in them. Also, make sure that you take the right approach to adding holographic depictions to your ID cards. An ID card hologram must be added to your ID cards after the card has already printed. Doing otherwise is likely to cause interference with the print.

To learn more about the best ID card solutions, contact our team of experts at Avon Security Products.

ID cards have become critical for organizational security and productivity. There are many different types of ID cards, and in order to make sure that you get the perfect ID cards for your organization produced, you need to understand how ID card makers work. We’re going to help you with this by breaking down the critical capabilities that you need to know about for ID card makers.

Single-sided maker vs dual-sided ID card maker

For some organizations, a single-sided ID card is all that is needed. In this case, you can save on your ID card maker investment by going with a single-sided maker.

If, on the other hand, you would like to expand the security and detail included in your ID cards, then a dual-sided card maker is a must. This is because for those with intentions of owning dual-sided ID cards, attempting to print a card twice on a single-sided maker will waste time and cause manual printing errors.

Color vs black and white ID card makers

Not all ID card makers are able to print in full color. In order to make sure that your ID cards are printed in the way that you intended, you must double check to make sure that it is a color ID card maker.

ID card maker speed

The number of ID cards that you need will drastically affect the type of ID card maker that you should be investing in. For example, if you only need a few dozen ID card printed for your small business’ employees, then you can obtain a card printer with a normal printing speed. If, on the other hand, you are an organization like a university that needs thousands of brand new ID cards each year, then you absolutely need one that can make hundreds of cards in less than a day.

Computer compatibility of the ID card maker

This is often an afterthought, but the type of computer that you use will affect the type of ID card maker that you are able to use. This is due to the fact that some card makers are only compatible with Windows PCs; in this case, MAC users won’t be able to properly link the card maker to read the proper information. Always double check this, especially if you intend on using a MAC or Linux device for ID card printing.

Encoding capability

A great way to enhance ID card security is with encoding. A magnetic stripe, smart chip, and more will exponentially enhance your ID card’s efficiency and security capabilities. You cannot, however, simply have an encoded card printed by any printer. You need to ensure that the card printer you are using is specifically designed to print on an encoded card. In most cases, you can add this to any ID card maker when you make the initial purchase of the device.

Lamination capability

For extended ID card durability and security, it can be laminated. There are many ID card printers that only print; this requires you to obtain a separate lamination device. However, there are ID card makers that can laminate during the printing process. If you plan on laminating your ID cards, this is the preferable option, because it will save you a great deal of time and money during the ID card printing process.

Now that you know how ID card makers work, you can make the smartest investment

The ID card maker that you choose will become an invaluable part of your organization’s operational fluidity and security. Buy the right one for your business today!

An identification card is an invaluable business tool that enhances the functionality and security of your company. Before implementing an ID card system, you need to decide what type of identification cards are right for your business. Here are the steps that you need to take in this process:

1. Learn what types of ID cards are available

If you don’t understand the various types of ID cards that are available to you, then you won’t be able to determine what the best fit is for your company. Here is a list of the most commonly used types of ID cards, and what you need to know about each:

Proxy ID Cards

Proxy ID cards are able to communicate with other devices without touching them. The applications for this are wide reaching. For example, a proxy card could be used to give authorized personnel access to entryways without forcing them to stop and unlock a door manually.

PVC ID Cards

A PVC ID card is composed of a plastic known as poly-vinyl chloride (that’s where the name PVC comes from). Due to the strength and durability of a PVC card, this is the most common type of ID card used. It is such a popular card solution that its applications expand beyond ID cards — most debit and credit cards are PVC cards.

ID Cards with Lamination Pouches

You want your ID cards to last. If your company’s ID cards are constantly exposed, then they should be protected from the wear that will occur as a result. Using ID card lamination pouches is a great choice. They could, for example, enclose ID cards that hang from lanyards without interfering with the ID card’s functionality.

ID Cards with Protective Overlays

Protective overlays such as holograms add a layer of protection to your ID cards and enhance their security capabilities. This is due to the fact that one cannot simply steal an identification card with a protective overlay and make changes to it. Any attempt to alter the ID card would damage the overlay and render the card useless.

2. Consider your company’s needs

Your company’s specific needs determine what type of ID card will work best for you. If, for example, you are only using an identification card system to make your sales team more readily identifiable to a customer at your retail store, then there is no need to use proxy ID cards. However, if you also plan on using the ID card system as a tool to streamline clocking in and out, then proxy ID cards should be used.

3. Make sure that your ID card system can accommodate your needs

You must make sure that your ID card system can produce cards with all of the features you need. For example, proximity card capabilities is a feature that you may have to add to your custom system while you buy it.

What type of ID card works for your business?

Make sure that you carefully consider all ID card features, your company’s needs and your production capabilities when choosing which type of ID card will work best for your organization. Contact the experts at Avon Security for more information, or browse our selection of identification cards.

The most important factor to consider when taking pictures for photo IDs is consistency. You want to have everything set up before you take the first picture and you want each picture you take to be the same. Having a uniform look is just one of the essential parts of your security procedure to ensure your IDs are not being duplicated. These tips will help you take pictures the right way – consistently. 

Pick a quality setting for your camera and stick with it

Most modern cameras have many quality settings and you’ll need to decide which one is right for your photo ID pictures. Remember that the higher the resolution is the better the picture will be. Just be sure to use the same setting on all photos.

If your company or organization does not already have a camera and is looking to buy one specifically for the purpose of taking photo ID pictures, then you may want to consider investing in a specialty camera. Usually called either credential cams or image cams, these cameras are pre-set and optimized for exactly the purpose you need them for.

Make sure your pixels are consistent

The picture you take should have a minimum of 300 dpi. What does that mean? Essentially it means around 400 pixels by 400 pixels. While this is the absolute minimum we recommend, note that the most common default resolution on most cameras is 640 pixels by 480 pixels. For most companies this is a good option. 

Find the right backdrops

You want your photo ID pictures to look professional. Choose backdrops with professionalism in mind. Buying a professional backdrop will ensure not just uniformity but a truly professional look. Simply hanging a curtain on the wall won’t do the trick, because curtains are light, can wrinkle easily, and can move with the wind. Backdrops are made from thick, durable material that will stay put and add to the professionalism of your photo shoot.

Don’t forget your tripod

In order for pictures to be as clear as possible you should always use a tripod for your camera. This ensures that it’s completely still. If possible, keep the camera on the tripod and don’t move it at all until you’ve taken all the pictures. This ensures that photo ID picture after photo ID picture will be taken with the exact same angles, height, etc.

Your final step: excellent photo ID software

Taking the pictures consistently is important, and focusing on professionalism is essential, but the final step is to use the right software. Once again, these programs can make sure every picture is consistent, they can add extra security measures, and they can work in tandem with your printing system.

The Canadian government has gone to great lengths to help you with identity theft protection. The security measures that they provide begin with their ID cards. Here are some ways in which government ID card identity theft protection capabilities protect us every day:

Passports

The new generation of Canadian passports was released in 2013 with a great deal of fanfare — and with good reason. We absolutely love the bevy of features that these ID cards come with. These security features are so high-tech, in fact, that the Canadian government also upgraded the passport’s name to the ePassport.

Smart chip technology

Instead of important personal information easily being a counterfeited page, it is also stored on an encrypted chip. This redundancy makes everything much more difficult to copy.

Data skimming prevention

One of the most popular ways to steal personal information is by way of data skimming, wherein a thief uses a scanning device to steal the data contained within the waves that modern ID cards emit. ePassports prevent this by requiring someone to input the physical information on page 2 of the passport in order to access the information on the chip. As an added measure, the scan range is also shortened to 10 centimetres.

UV image authenticity verification

Modern Canadian passports include a photo that glows with a specific array of colours and added images when held under a UV light. This prevents use of a fake passport, no matter how good the thief holding it is at stealing information. 

Ontario personal ID cards

Visual patterns

Ontario personal ID cards aren’t arbitrarily pretty. The holograms and images are all identity theft protection measures. When security personnel are given an ID card that doesn’t have the correct array of visual features, they immediately know that it is fake. The holographic overlay also makes altering the image or other information on the ID card virtually impossible.

Micro text

It is very difficult to precisely print on the edge of any document, let alone an ID card, without a capable ID card printer. The Canadian government knows this; that is why all ID cards come with a micro text border of the stylized trillium of the Ontario logos on the left side of the card.

UV image authenticity verification

The modern ID card is another government ID card in which unique images can only be viewed under a UV light.

*all government ID cards include additional security features that the government has not yet revealed

Can a non-government organization create ID cards as secure as those the government produces?

Yes. The government is not the only organization that uses the security features listed above. We regularly help businesses, schools, libraries, etc. to create ID cards with the security features they need to protect employees, public members, assets and facilities. All you need to do is invest in the right ID card materials and printers.

With these tools, you could easily print detailed information on both sides of an ID card, while also embedding an encrypted smart chip. Also, the size of your organization will never be a problem, because we provide ID card printers that can print thousands of highly secure ID cards in a single day.

Join the Canadian government’s fight against identity theft

By protecting your own ID cards from fraudulent copying or alteration, you are by extension protecting the identities of yourself, your students/employees and your organization itself. To learn more about how to produce secure ID cards that match the capabilities of government ID cards, contact our team today.

With ID cards, you can protect every corner of your business’ facilities. Maximizing the effectiveness of your company’s ID cards requires you to choose the right security features. But which ID card security features are best for your organization? To help you decide, we will show you everything that you need to know beforehand.

ID card design

Colour vs black and white

Although it may seem like an aesthetic choice at first, deciding between colour and black and white is actually one of the most important ID card decisions that you will make. Colour makes it much easier to quickly identify the details of an ID card. You can also use colour coding to distinguish between different groups of people. Our favourite ways to use colour coded ID cards are to identify visitors and to manage security clearance levels.

Single sided versus double sided

Trying to squeeze a large amount of data onto one side of an ID card can make it difficult to read; this nullifies its primary purpose. For organizations that plan on including more than a name and job title on an ID card, we always recommend going with double-sided ID cards.

Photo ID cards vs text only ID cards

The best way to ensure that someone holding an ID card is who they say that they are is to add a photo to the card. With this, your security team can verify people with a quick glance — this is especially important for large organizations wherein everyone isn’t familiar with one another. Using a photo ID card also has customer service benefits, as a smiling photograph can make a customer service representative seem much friendlier. 

ID card technology

Visual security only

Visual ID card security is the most limited technology that you can choose. Although it can be helpful, it relies solely on the flawed limitations of human perception. This could lead to someone accessing assets and areas that are highly restricted. However, visual ID card security does allow your security team to recognize where someone should and should not be. It is for these reasons that we always recommend using visual security for a card, but only in conjunction with other security technologies. 

Magnetic stripe security

This has been a powerful ID card security technology for decades. With this, access points can be protected without having to station security everywhere. It is also easy to revoke access to an ID card secured by magnetic stripe technology — as opposed to a key, which would require changing locks and redistributing keys to everyone with authorized access. One of our favourite capabilities of magnetic stripe technology is the ability to encode unique account data. This means that someone can see an employee’s full profile with a single swipe.

RFID security

RFID technology can do everything that magnetic stripe technology can to do secure your ID cards. As an added bonus, RFID technology emits short-range radio waves to make reading a card easier. An RFID card is also much more difficult to duplicate, further enhancing security.

Smart chip security

When embedded into your ID cards, smart chips present the same security benefits as RFID and magnetic stripe technology. In addition, a smart chip ID card has a computerized data encryption. Because of this, it is the most secure ID card technology that you can choose.

Which ID card security features are best for your organization?

Now that you have a more complete knowledge of ID card security features, you can make the best choices for your organization’s needs. To learn more about ID card security, feel free to contact us.