So, it's safe to say that other technologies have also advanced from what they were in the late '90s, early 2000s, and even just ten years ago. Security is no different and your 'secure' swipe cards are probably due for an upgrade too.
Many early security and access control systems still run on the ever-popular 125kHz cards (commonly Prox cards) and they have been used and trusted by all kinds of industries. This technology was an industry standard ensuring widespread adoption and stayed a top product in security for many years. The problem is, as with every other kind of technology, credentials and security technology have dramatically improved in recent years and unfortunately, Prox is now easily comprised, making your once highly secure premiss not so secure in the modern-day.
Because of the age of the 125kHz frequency standard, the data isn't encrypted and thus is easy to gain access and read with off-the-shelf devices easily purchased online. This isn't just an issue for Prox cards, but magnetic stripe is also subject to this insecurity. The good news is, there are ways to upgrade and re-secure facilities using the newer 13.56MHz - specifically MIFARE DESFire, technology. A company can either do this slowly, or all at once.
Doing this gradually over a period of time is called migration and is where a company can replace critical readers first, with less critical readers being changed later. A migration reader (such as the BQT BT951 or BT953) will read the existing Prox card base as well as the new MIFARE DESFire cards that can be issued. As and when all the readers on site are replaced with a BT951 or BT953, the Prox element is disabled leaving only the secure MIFARE DESFire credentials to gain access.
If a company is looking for a total system overhaul in one go, there is a range of 13.56MHz readers that will read the non-compromised MIFARE DESFire credential data. Associated with the security upgrade is the re-issuing of the users’ access cards to MIFARE DESFire, again there is a wide range of credential options for this. For an added layer of security, a company could also look into a biometric reader such as the BioX that offers two-factor authentication, including a fingerprint scanner for those areas that need the extra security.
The good news is, BQT Solutions offers everything you need to upgrade your Prox system to a more secure system. So, whether you are after a migration strategy to upgrade your security at your own pace or ready to take the plunge and have a complete overhaul, BQT Solutions is your one-stop shop to find the right solution for you and your company. With a global presence and a friendly team ready to have a chat about your access control, BQT Solutions can help you re-secure your premises.
