Organizations today have a rapidly expanding universe of choices for issuing secure credentials across a wide variety of applications. Advancements in issuance solutions including printers, card materials and software are making it easier to meet the highest security requirements by incorporating critical visual and encoding technologies for multi-layered validation, and by using multi-layered management procedures that further improve security while enhancing issuance system efficiency. Additionally, organizations can choose from a broad range of printer/encoder cost and performance options, from entry-level monochrome solutions to the most robust, high-throughput printers/encoders.
Choice is important given the wide range of credential needs. The most common form of ID in the U.S. is the driver’s license, and the U.S. Green Card is also widely used to identify foreign-born residents living in the U.S. as permanent residents. The Department of Defense (DoD) uses the Common Access Card (CAC), and Federal agency employees and their contractors use the Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card. Beyond these cards and licenses, there are ID cards and badges used by Corporate America, academic institutions, healthcare facilities, and many other organizations. Secure issuance solutions must be tailored to each application and environment while optimizing card, cardholder and system issuance security.