The Battle of the Access Control Credentials: Our Guide to Prox, High-Security, and Mobile Credentials

Credentials are devices that carry permissions, and they are an essential part of any access control system. ProdataKey (PDK) provides a wide variety of access control credentials for every application, allowing you to choose which type will work best for a particular install. Different credentials forms have varying features, costs, and functionalities, so it’s always important to consider what type of credential will work best for you and your space. To help you make the best decisions for your projects, let’s go through the pros and cons of the different access control credential types sold by PDK.

Prox Credentials: Low-Frequency Communication and Low Costs

Proximity, or prox, credentials are a low-frequency RFID credential, communicating over a 125 kHz radio frequency. PDK’s prox credentials come in a variety of physical forms, including printable cards, clamshell cards, key fobs, stickers, wristbands, and bracelets. 

These door credentials are a widely adopted option, due to their compatibility with a range of legacy and newer systems. “Normally, any reader can do the 26 bit transmission, so prox credentials are easy to integrate with any system without worrying about changing out readers,” says Brandon Peluso, General Manager of MONItech Security. Furthermore, as the most cost effective credential, they are an easy choice for businesses of all sizes.

While prox credentials offer a cost-conscious and flexible option, they do have a few notable downsides. Prox cards transfer data to a reader unencrypted, leaving your information vulnerable to being read and copied. An additional issue with prox cards is that they can be easily lost, stolen, forgotten, or even shared. Each of these occurrences decreases the security of your space, and can leave you and your property open to potential threats. 

High-Security Access Control Credentials: Encrypted Data at a Higher Price

For a more secure option, PDK offers high-frequency RFID credentials–the High-Security Red Credentials. Communicating over a 13.56 MHz radio frequency, these door credentials transfer data at a higher frequency than prox credentials. When it comes to the primary benefits of high-security credentials, Brandon identifies two important points:

“The main things that high-frequency allows for is enhanced security and a much larger data capacity.”

With the ability to transmit larger amounts of data through an encoded string, high-security credentials are far less likely to be read and duplicated.

Another benefit of 13.56 MHz credential is an increased read range: “With high frequency, you're dealing with inches, while with low-frequency you’re dealing with centimeters,” Brandon explains.

While the additional encryption of 13.56 MHz credentials allows for a more secure process, it also means that high-security credentials come in at a bit of a higher price point. Despite this, Brandon explains that “many businesses today are willing to spend the additional amount of money in exchange for the ability to have more secure premises.” Lastly, as physical credentials, high-security credentials also come with many of the same issues as a prox credential: they can be easily lost, stolen, forgotten, and shared.

Mobile Access Credentials: The Future of Access Control

As a relatively new form of credential, mobile credentials are rapidly increasing in popularity each day. Using a mobile access credential involves presenting a mobile device to a reader or activating a mobile application, like the ProdataKey App. 

PDK’s mobile credentials communicate with a reader through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), which has an average range of 25 feet. In addition to BLE, PDK users can also use the push-to-open feature in the PDK Access App, which lets you open a door remotely. This allows you to have complete control of your system anytime, anywhere, and from any device. 

Mobile credentials are a very convenient option, since they leverage an existing device that most users already own, and are not likely to misplace or forget.

“You have people who show up to places like work or the gym, and 50% of the time they forget their key fob. But I bet you 99% of those people all have their cell phones with them,”

says Brandon. 

PDK’s Inside General Sales Manager, Sean Blaisdell, echoes this sentiment:

“Mobile credentials are not only more convenient, but they're more secure because physical credentials can be much more easily lost, duplicated, and stolen. But you can't just duplicate a phone, and people don't share their phone the way that they share physical credentials.”

And if a user breaks or loses their phone, PDK’s Credential Self-Help makes it easy to request a new credential. Additionally, credentials can be assigned, updated, and revoked remotely–saving you time and energy.

Alongside their convenience and increased security, PDK’s mobile credentials also provide a very cost-effective option for system managers. Unlike other access control providers that tack on a per-credential cost, ProdataKey provides free, unlimited push-to-open mobile credentials (Bluetooth credentials require a low additional cost). With free and unlimited push-to-open credentials, it’s easy to keep up with rapid system growth without the financial burden that would come with the production of physical credentials. 

The main downside of mobile credentials is the fact that not all readers will have Bluetooth compatibility. Because it is a newer technology, a lot of antiquated or legacy systems will not be able to jump into using Bluetooth mobile credentials right away. Instead, dealers will need to install new hardware, like a PDK Red Reader, with built-in Bluetooth compatibility. However, unlike Bluetooth, PDK’s push-to-open mobile credentials can work on any door and any reader–so there will always be a reliable and cost-effective mobile option for any older or newer systems hoping to become mobile-first.

Finding the Right Access Control Credential For You

With PDK, you have a lot of options when it comes to what credentials you want to use in your install–and it’s important to weigh the costs and benefits for each one. As the most simple physical door credential, prox cards are a cost-effective and low-security option. High-security credentials take a step towards higher security through encrypted communication, but they are more expensive and come with the same potential of credential theft, loss, or sharing. 

Unlike prox and high-security physical credentials, ProdataKey’s mobile credentials are a convenient, secure, and cost-effective option. ProdataKey is committed to creating the best mobile access control experience possible, and as the security industry embraces mobile door credentials and other emerging technologies, partners like Brandon are happy to see PDK at the forefront of this movement: “It’s so nice that companies like PDK are moving towards the future of credentialing.”

Now that we’ve explored each type of credential, you will be ready to decide which one is right for your install.

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