It’s no secret that a majority of colleges and universities still rely on magnetic stripe credentials as their primary card technology. Unfortunately, magnetic stripe technology typically employs little or no security protections and the creation of fake student IDs, among other vulnerabilities, remains a concern.

In HID Glboal’s “Smarter Identity and Access Control Solutions” whitepaper, the access control specialist reveals that the best option for the modern college campus is to upgrade to the most current technological innovations in order to achieve the best return on investment over time. Specifically, the move to contactless, high-frequency systems that support both smart cards and devices, as they combine improved security with the convenience. Using a single card or device for applications beyond just access control, such as secure debit and payment capabilities, allows for more streamlined operations and a better end-user experience.

While the initial expense of moving to more robust contactless technology can be substantial, HID stresses that this concern is outweighed by the long-term cost savings from less maintenance, improved management efficiencies and an infrastructure capable of supporting new features in the future.

In the whitepaper, hear strategies for upgrading your campus’ current infrastructure as well as best practices for issuance, effective printing methods to speed the issuance process, a look at direct-to-card and high-definition printing, and proper card encoding techniques.

Also included in the whitepaper is an examination of visitor management systems for higher education environments and the key benefits your campus should consider. Often a challenge on campus, visitor management systems can offer a valuable layer of security and HID offers ways to directly integrate this feature into a university’s card system.

Finally, discover the numerous applications for smart card credentials on the modern campus. More than just a tool for physical access, the whitepaper discusses how smart cards can be used to facilitate cashless payments, parking and transit, asset protection, time and attendance, and cost and sustainability initiatives.

For the full rundown on smart card credentials on the modern college campus, see HID’s full “Smarter Identity and Access Control Solutions” whitepaper.