Organizations move from Prox cards to HID iCLASS SEOS (and other smart card technologies) primarily to enhance security and functionality, leveraging advanced encryption, secure data transmission, and support for multi-application credentials beyond simple physical access control. Prox cards transmit data unencrypted, making them vulnerable to cloning and interception, while SEOS utilizes a Secure Identity Object (SIO) data model with strong encryption and secure messaging to protect identity data and prevent unauthorized access.
Key reasons for migrating from Prox cards to SEOS:
- Enhanced Security:
SEOS offers superior security through advanced encryption and a secure messaging protocol that protects data transmission, making it highly resistant to cloning and unauthorized access, unlike prox cards which lack encryption.
- Multi-Application Functionality:
SEOS enables a “one card” solution by supporting multiple applications on a single credential, including physical access control, network login (via One-Time Password – OTP), cashless payments, and more, all managed within a secure, firewalled architecture.
- Increased Privacy:
SEOS credentials communicate no traceable identifiers during card sessions, preventing card data from being divulged or cloned by unauthorized parties, thus enhancing user privacy.
- Mobility and Future-Proofing:
SEOS is software-based and independent of the underlying hardware chip, allowing for flexibility in form factors and supporting future technologies, including mobile credentials, ensuring long-term adaptability.
- Interoperability and Migration:
Dual-technology SEOS cards (e.g., SEOS + Prox) facilitate a gradual transition by working with existing Prox readers while enabling a move to more secure technology as the upgrade progresses.
- Robust Identity Management:
The SIO-enabled platform within the iCLASS SE ecosystem provides trusted management of secure identities throughout their lifecycle, including secure distribution and lifecycle management.