Safeguard Business Data - Value Advantage of Integrating Logical Access on an Employee ID Badge

Many large corporations and government agencies have found the cost savings, security and employee convenience very compelling to integrate logical access into the employee badge. However, the two biggest barriers in getting small to medium size businesses, clinics and agencies to follow suit have been: Awareness and Cost.

Awareness:

With many of the new and modified federal and state data protection laws the burden of protecting a customer's personal information is squarely on businesses. Reports and studies done by different monitoring companies have estimated that the average direct and indirect cost of a data breach on a business is $6.3 million, or $10,000 per record. To be compliant, these laws strong suggest two-factor authentication (something you have and something you know).

Industry-wide security threats to a company's network access is increasing, that is why all security experts also recommend two-factor security solution. Now with the current economic situations where more employees are working remotely, companies have to be even more conscious of authenticating users.

Finally, over 90% of all businesses and internet sites still rely on passwords to authenticate users. While some security integrators will claim that passwords are insecure compared to Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), One-time password (OTP), Single Sign-On (SSO) and Biometrics, they are not telling the full story. Passwords are very secure, but it is the way people manage their passwords that creates the problem. Have you ever seen someone write passwords on notes and store them by their computer, use the same password for all their accounts, or use a simple password like their dog's name as their password? Have you done it? Don't worry, we all have. People cannot remember long, complex passwords.

Companies need to take network security seriously, and there are cost effect solutions available to match your needs. That's where a Smartcard-based Password Manager (SPM) can help.

Costs:

When evaluated a number of technologies, companies are choosing to deploy smartcard technology over USB tokens, PKI, one time password generators and biometrics due to the combination of reliability, performance, cost, features, mobility benefits, and ease of integration with their existing network environment. The combination of smartcards with password management is very cost effective.

The chips used are less complex so are less expensive. IT is seeing a 30-40% saving by not having to reset forgotten password. The training and implementation time is a day or so versus months to years. Finally, there are no backend network components or modifications required. SPM's have the required two-factor authentication, issuance of unique complex passwords for every site, mobility to carry passwords from computer to computer without leaving any sensitive data behind and the low cost of no backend server integration. It works with what you already are using.

Imagine the security and savings of never having to remember or type another password.

Single ID Badge Solution:

Companies are reporting the following benefits of deploying employee smart cards with password management:

o Strengthened security: Two-factor authentication with smart cards provides stronger security, user convenience and remote authentication than remembering or typing passwords.

o Increased flexibility: Smart cards carry multiple passwords to access secure computers, networks, data files and the Internet. The ability to add photo ID, building access, parking, etc. on a single card adds more convenience and productivity.

o Ease of use: Users find smart cards simple to use, with no bulky device to break or cumbersome password generators to carry. The ID badge is also a familiar form factor, so by implementing a smart ID card companies avoided issuing and managing multiple cards and employees are less likely to lose the card.

o Leverage of existing infrastructure: Passwords are native to Windows Server, Windows O/S, Windows-based applications and the Internet.

Conclusion:

Data security breaches of a business' customers or employees can drive the business into bankruptcy. Security experts all agree that two-factor authentication is required to protect networks. Smartcard based password managers on an employee ID badge offer the savings, security, mobility and convenience to make employees a stronger link in your security chain.