ASAP Identification

How can I make my ID more secure?

March 22 in ID Cards, Security by admin | No Comments

IDs offer just one more layer of security to your overall security plan. They can be simply a visual security tool or, with programmable cards, they can also help with physical and logical access, as well as other transactions. Either way, there are several options to add to your ID to make alteration or duplication more difficult.

Card stock with Visual Security Elements:

As the threat of fraud, theft and forgery looms large, today’s counterfeiters are more advanced than ever. The proliferation of digital printing technology has made forging legitimate-looking ID cards all too easy.

That’s why you need HID Global. Visual Security Solutions® are available including:

  • Holographic Foil Cards – Custom-designed, metallized or translucent holograms are layered inside of the card, just below the surface to add a custom layer of security.
  • Holographic Overlaminates (laminator required) – Lamination provides a layer of durability and security, especially with a custom laminate that is very difficult to replicate.
  • Holographic HDP® Film (for use with retransfer printer) – Custom HDP film offers a layer of added security to your card design.

Fluorescent Printing (UV)

Most card manufactures offer ribbons which include a fluorescent panel for printing elements on the card that are only visible under UV light. Fluorescent printing makes duplicating and forgery more difficult.

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ID Flow Upgrades

November 19 in ID Software, Jolly ID Flow by admin | No Comments

Last year when your boss asked you to set up your ID badging station, you did your research and selected a great system including a robust printer, Jolly Badger card design software, a slot punch and supplies. The system has served you well but you want to upgrade your ID card design software to Jolly ID Flow Standard for more capacity.

There is a not a direct route to export your current records directly from Jolly Badger and import into ID Flow but you can point your new ID software to your old database.

Before you do any installation, however, you need to back up your files. The default location for the Badger database is Program Files/Jolly Technologies/ {then the name of the program}/Sample Companies. Back up this entire folder.

Once your ID Flow is installed, point the software to connect to the same database that Jolly Badger was using by setting the database to c:\program files\jolly technologies\jolly badger\sample databases.

Once this is set up , you are ready to go!

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How to select the best ID card design software

September 19 in ID Cards, ID Software by admin | No Comments

When you look to invest in a new ID card system, the printer is just one critical component, but just as important to the efficiency of your ID system is your card design software.

Outside of a card design module in your access control system, there are, in general, 3 levels of off the shelf card design software available:

  • Entry level – This software supports simple designs and is good for a basic organization BUT it does have limitations, mainly in connectivity to outside databases and a cap on the number records stored (usually 200).
  • Mid-level – This level of software allows for connectivity to multiple outside data sources including MS Excel and MS Access.  This level generally has flexibility to grow with your organization.
  • Professional – The highest level of card software offers connectivity to the most data source types and the most flexibility to interface with existing enterprise systems.

Determining your needs both today and over time will help you make a smart choice and while  most systems can be upgraded, some require more steps than others.  Also, you will need to look at the system requirements v. your own system to make sure you are getting the most current program available.

Our recommendation is to download a free trial and see which software solution works best for you and compare the interface.  Once you find one you like, ASAP Identification can help set you up with your new software.  Call 317-488-1030 or email us with questions and we’ll get you started right away.

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HID Global Acquires EasyLobby For Secure Visitor Management Solutions

April 5 in ID Software, Security by admin | No Comments

EasyLobby Visitor Management Press Release

HID Global, trusted leader in solutions for the delivery of secure identity, today announced the company has acquired EasyLobby, the industry leader in secure visitor management solutions. The acquisition delivers a number of potential synergies with HID Global’s portfolio across its identity and access management business.

EasyLobby is the pioneer and market-leading provider of comprehensive visitor management solutions. The company’s product suite provides enterprise-class visitor registration, tracking, reporting, badge printing, asset and package management, web-based pre-registration, and employee/contractor time and attendance functionality, and is tightly integrated with a wide variety of access control, human resources and other systems. EasyLobby products complement and extend HID Global’s portfolio, and have been deployed across a large and diverse base that is well-aligned with HID Global’s physical access control customer base.

READ FULL ARTICLE

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Pre Printed ID Cards by ASAP Identification Security

April 5 in ID Cards, Security by admin | No Comments

If you need ID badges for your organization or event and you don’t want to manage the process, ASAP can help. ASAP Identification can design, print and deliver pre-printed ID badges, gift cards, membership cards, loyalty cards, hotel room key-cards or any other type of card you want printed on plastic. We can manage single card orders up to orders for thousands! No order is too big or too small.

It just takes a few steps and a few days to complete your order.

Step 1: Determine what function you want your card to perform. Do you need a technology card to open doors, complete cashless transactions or clock in/out? Will a simple bar code or mag stripe support your needs or is this card a simple visual photo ID?

Step 2: Let us work with you to design a layout. This can include company logos, employee photos, names and titles. You may also include color blocks to indicate access to restricted areas or to allow for temporary employees to be unescorted in the building.
Once we know your design needs, we will send you an electronic proof for your approval.

Step 3: You provide the data for the IDs and we print and ship. We can even provide fulfillment to end customers.

Let ASAP Identification Security help you manage your ID needs when it is for a small office, large event or major re-badging effort. ASAP can help so please call (317-488-1030) or email (info@asapid.com) and let us help get your badging project off your to-do list!

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Other Uses for the ID Printer

April 3 in ID Card Printer by admin | No Comments

You buy your Photo ID printer to create a layer of visual security for your organization, but what else can your ID printer do for you? It can help sell your identity and gain customer loyalty.

Gift Cards
Create gift cards with fixed face values easily using your ID printer. Just determine what values you want to sell, design an exciting layout and print.

Reward/Loyalty Cards
Use your POS system and a mag stripe card to encourage customer loyalty with a reward card. A reward card is durable and reusable and, if your system supports it, can store customer information.

Booster/Fundraising Cards
Work with local businesses and not-for-profits and you can create booster cards to support a good cause. Interested businesses can offer a certain discount to patrons and have that information printed on the card. Patrons purchase the card (money going to the not-for-profit) and support local business in the process. This is a great opportunity for small businesses to increase traffic and support a worthy cause.

Business Cards
Print unique and durable business cards using 20-mil PVC on your ID printer. You cards can be customized to meet your needs and may include as much information as you need as well as logos and photos. Stand out from the crowd with a durable, flexible business card.

ASAP can help support you on your basic photo ID needs as well as other uses for your ID printer. Please feel free to call (317-488-1030) or email (info@asapid.com) and we will support you in your plan.

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Improving School Security Through Student IDs

March 14 in ID Cards, Security by admin | No Comments

One way to keep students safe at school is for the administrators, teachers and fellow students to know if someone belongs in their school or not. Photo IDs play an important role in that security. More and more schools have adopted (or are going to adopt) procedures to issue student and staff IDs to all individuals in the school, as well as visitor IDs to anyone allowed in the building on a temporary basis. These IDs are to be worn at all times in the school building.

How do photo IDs help?
Photo IDs are a quick, effective and affordable visual identifier. If someone does not have the proper ID, that individual can be approached to ensure they do in fact belong. If they are lost, they can be redirected, if they don’t belong, they can be removed from school grounds.

Student IDs also provide a way to get to know student names so teachers, volunteers, administrators and fellow students can get to know the names of new students more easily.

Layers of Security
Using student ID cards is a simple, effective and affordable solution to helping add another layer of security to your school. If you need help, please feel free to call (317-488-1030) or email us. We can help find the right ID system for you, help design the card layout and support you in both the initial card issuance and on going ID production.

We look forward to working with you!

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Does this ID system purchase make me look foolish?

February 29 in ID Card Printer by admin | No Comments

When we get calls from customers looking for a new ID system, they often try to find the least expensive printer available. While we will always offer the best price available, ID systems should be purchased to meet your ID requirements and not just a price point.
Some basic printers are very robust and will serve you well but oftentimes there is a higher per print cost for the ribbons. If you do not print large volumes, this will not be a problem but if you do print large volume, you need to be careful in understanding the total cost of ownership including both upfront + ongoing costs.

Some high end printers offer great flexibility including:

  • adding encoding
  • dual sided printing
  • lamination

For some customers, this flexibility is important so the ID system can grow along with your needs. These printers often have a higher up front cost to “buy” that flexibility.

Every card printer is different so we recommend reading about the capabilities using the brochures on each website, comparing those facts to each other and, of course, giving us a call so we can help you make the right decision for your organization now and into the future.

Call 317-488-1030 or email us to talk or ask questions so we can help. No one wins if you end up with the wrong printer for your organization, so let’s do it right the first time.

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There’s a white line in my ID card, Dear Liza!

February 15 in Printer Maintenance by admin | No Comments

What to do, what to do. If you have the unfortunate case of a line in the same spot on your card every time you print, then you most likely have a broken pixel on your printhead inside your printer. This is unfortunate because the printhead cannot be repaired and in most cases it is not under warranty.

The good news is that all is not lost because the printhead can be replaced. However, the cost of replacing the printhead can range in price from $500 to roughly $1500. Want to keep that $500 – 1500 in your pocket?

KEEP YOUR PRINTER CLEAN! Dirty cards are the most common cause of damaged printhead. Next most common is coming in contact with the printhead with a hard object such as a watch or bracelet while changing the printer ribbon so remove these items if possible.

Remember, ASAP recommends cleaning your printer every time you change your ribbon – a small cost compared to that of a new printhead.

If you have any questions about the above, or you have an issue with your printhead, give us a call at (317) 488-1030.

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Does Anybody Have a Loaner!?

August 30 in ID Card Printer, ID Cards, Printer Maintenance by admin | No Comments

Has this ever happened to you – you walk into the office with a spring in your step as you enjoy the beautiful autumn morning. Just as you are laying out your morning paper, cup of coffee and blueberry muffin, someone knocks on your door reminding you (okay, let’s be honest, telling you for the first time) that there will be 75 guests in the building tomorrow afternoon and each of them needs an ID badge.

Ignoring the grumbling in your stomach, you proceed to say “not a problem, I can get those done today.” You turn on your printer, enter the necessary information and hit print. Unfortunately, the next sound you hear is the kind of screeching that sends cats and dogs running for cover. Somehow, someway, the printer is broken. The question now is – what do you do?

The simple answer – give us a call. We maintain a variety of printers at our office precisely for this exact situation. Depending on where your offices are located, we can either deliver a loaner printer to you that day or ship you a loaner printer overnight. Either way, you will be able to print those ID badges in time for tomorrow’s afternoon meeting.

At the same time, we can also repair your broken ID printer while you use our loaner printer. This will ensure you are ready to go if any other unexpected badging jobs need to get done. This is a much better deal than going 2-3 weeks without your ID printer!

For more information, please give us a call at 317-488-1030.

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