A Guide to Secure Credentials: The Smart Way to Authenticate Users

Proximity cards have long been a staple of logical access control frameworks across industries.

Initially, they allowed organizations to explore what a passwordless security framework could look like. However, the cracks are showing in this legacy technology.

Prox cards’ low frequency and limited versatility make them increasingly easy targets for hackers to duplicate. This also makes them an accessible entry point for account takeovers.

Plus, it’s not just bad actors you have to worry about. Employee error is just as dangerous and costly when it comes to prox card misuse. With the average cost of a data breach reaching $4.88 million in 2024, organizations can no longer rely solely on prox cards to secure their sensitive data.

Avoiding a data breach should be a top priority for your organization. To protect your networks from modern threats, look to modern logical access control configurations that offer enhanced interoperability and encryption.  

Key takeaways: 

• Proximity cards are increasingly vulnerable to duplication and misuse, making them a security risk for organizations. 
   
• Upgrading to modern authentication methods like smart cards, mobile credentials, and FIDO passkeys enhances security, compliance, and interoperability.

What’s at stake when organizations lack secure credentials

Logical access control systems help organizations identify employees and authorize them to access specific endpoints and networks.

However, many organizations still rely on cloneable proximity cards to verify each employee’s identity and permissions. While prox cards are more reliable than passwords, technological advancements have turned what was previously a secure credential into a vulnerability.

An over-reliance on proximity cards can lead to tremendous risk. Without proper security measures in place, organizations leave themselves vulnerable to the following:

• Data breaches: Over 90% of breached organizations report credential misuse or authentication weaknesses as a primary cause of their data breach. If a proximity card is lost or stolen, bad actors can easily replicate it. 
   
• Compliance violations: Weak access control can lead to violations of GDPR and industry-specific regulations. For example, weak authentication in healthcare increases the risk of HIPAA violations by exposing sensitive patient data.
   
• Account takeovers: Proximity card vulnerabilities can lead to account takeovers (ATOs), where a malicious party gains access to a user’s account. ATOs can have severe operational consequences, halting production lines, preventing healthcare employees from accessing shared workstations or disrupting essential workplace services.

3 types of secure credentials supported by rf IDEAS

rf IDEAS supports a range of secure credentials that can be tailored to your organization’s needs. The three most common and versatile solutions include:

1. Smart cards

   Smart cards offer a more secure alternative to traditional proximity cards by leveraging advanced encryption and high-frequency communication.
   
   Unlike proximity cards, which operate at a low frequency (125 kHz) and have limited memory and logical access capabilities, smart cards function at a high frequency (13.56 MHz), offer greater memory capacity and support robust encryption.
   
   Smart card readers support a variety of authentication use cases across organizations, including single sign-on at shared workstations, secure printing, attendance tracking and vending systems. rf IDEAS’ platform-agnostic readers also integrate with LEGIC, MIFARE and other contactless credentials, including SEOS/SE. This broad compatibility ensures seamless integration into existing access control frameworks.
    

2. Mobile credentials 

   Mobile credentials empower employees to take the increased functionality of smart cards with them on the go. These readers authenticate users by reading data from a mobile device, such as a smartphone or watch. 
   
   With the increasing adoption of digital identification, mobile access control is becoming a standard security measure. By 2026, over 60% of the global population is predicted to use digital wallets, demonstrating the shift toward digital identity solutions.
   
   One of the biggest advantages of mobile credentials is their seamless integration with existing logical access systems, enabling organizations to modernize their security infrastructure without significant disruptions. Employees are also less likely to misplace their phones compared to traditional access cards, making mobile credentials a more reliable solution.
   
   Additionally, smartphones come with built-in security features such as Face ID, fingerprint scanning and passcodes, providing an extra layer of multifactor authentication. This combination of convenience and security makes mobile credentials an effective and scalable solution.

    

3. FIDO passkeys 

   FIDO2 is an open standard that allows users to log into online services using biometrics or hardware security keys instead of passwords.
   
   FIDO uses a decentralized model, which means the authentication event occurs primarily on the FIDO authenticator. This approach reduces the likelihood of exposing sensitive data.
   
   rf IDEAS’ ConvergeID solution converts physical and mobile credentials into FIDO2 keys, eliminating the need for additional credentials. This software is ideal for organizations that aren’t yet ready to upgrade to smart or mobile credentials, as it can convert existing proximity 

The future of secure access control

While proximity cards remain a cost-effective option, their vulnerabilities pose significant security risks. Organizations relying on prox cards face increased threats of data breaches, credential misuse and account takeovers. Hackers can easily clone these cards, putting sensitive data and critical systems at risk.

Organizations in healthcare, manufacturing and financial services require more secure and comprehensive authentication solutions to fortify security  and comply with regulations. While the up-front investment may be a deterrent, it begs the question: Would you rather pay the cost of a proactive upgrade — or the cost of a harmful cyber attack and a reactive upgrade?

rf IDEAS provides a range of access control solutions that can help you meet evolving security needs — while slotting in seamlessly with your existing set-up. 

Reach out to our team to learn more about rf IDEAS’ interoperable readers!