You’ve probably been using smart cards for years now without even realizing it. If you’ve ever had a gym or store loyalty card, topped up your mobile phone via a top-up card, or had a hotel room that was accessed via a card, then you’ve used a smart card.

It’s around the size of a credit card and contains a small circuit chip which is integrated to provide memory and processing power. Smart cards are popular, but when considering them for PC logon security, what should you know?

Versatility

The smart card is a highly versatile and portable piece of technology that can provide logical access to a number of different machines in a simple and intuitive way. The fact that smart cards are employed in a number of different industries and applications is testament to this.

For example, with the right setup a smart card can allow the correct level of access to a single employee on multiple machines, through the use of the single smart card, meaning there is only one card and PIN or password for the employee to keep track of.

Security

Smart cards, by their definition, provide two-factor authentication to every logon process. Anyone requiring access to a certain PC will need to present a smart card which has a chip that is recognized by the system, along with the correct PIN number or password that has been assigned to their user account.

This offers improved security over the traditional “username and password” method of logging on, because the integrated chip is unique to every single card, and if, for example, the card is stolen or lost, there is still no way to get unauthorized access to the system without also knowing the user’s logon credentials.

Cost

Dependent on the technology used smart cards when bought in bulk can cost beween $5 and $20 each. When comparing this to other smart security technologies, this makes them quite an affordable investment.

Also consider the fact that they are simple to understand and operate. Once the system has been installed all an employee has to do is place the card into the reader and input their unique logon credentials, and this will give them access to any machine in the network to which they have the appropriate rights.

This means that businesses can expect a boost in overall security, without significant time or resource investment required for installation of the technology and employee training.

Summing Up

Smart cards, such as those available from Universal Smart Cards, are a great way to enhance security when logging onto PC systems or accessing resources and provide a fast and versatile way for users to do so.

Want to know more about how Universal Smart Cards could help you with implementing a logical access solution? Get in touch today