Understanding Access Control Badges: Choosing the Right Solution for Your Organization with HID Prox Cards
Regardless of the size of your company, access control badges are essential for managing entry to buildings and securing critical areas. Organizations across industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, government, law enforcement, non-profits, and high-tech corporations, rely on proximity (prox) cards to grant and track access efficiently. If your facility has an access control system, chances are you already issue HID prox cards to employees, contractors, and visitors.
However, not all access control badges are created equal. Understanding the key differences between common badge types will ensure you select the right solution for your organization’s needs. Below, we break down the most widely used access control credentials, highlighting their unique features and use cases.
Common Access Control Badges and Their Differences
ISOProx® II – The Most Popular Thin Proximity Card
- Base Part Number: 1386
- Combines proximity technology with photo identification capability
- Glossy, graphics-quality surface for direct image printing
- Same size and thickness as a credit card
- Compatible with both vertical and horizontal slot punches
ProxCard® II – Value-Priced Clamshell Proximity Card
- Base Part Number: 1326
- Non-printable, often used with adhesive-backed printed labels
- Thicker, durable design but still thin enough for wallets or purses
- Available with optional vertical slot punch
DuoProx® II – Proximity Card with Magnetic Stripe
- Base Part Number: 1336
- Combines proximity technology with photo identification
- Magnetic stripe can be pre-encoded or encoded by a card printer
- Thin enough for use with swipe or insert readers
- Same size and thickness as a credit card
Smart ISOProx® II – Proximity Card with Contact Smart Chip Capability
- Base Part Number: 1597
- Embeddable contact smart chip for multi-technology applications
- Compatible with direct image printing
- Available with optional magnetic stripe
- ISO 7816 compliant for smart chip integration
Smart DuoProx® II – Multi-Technology Proximity Card
- Base Part Number: 1598
- Combines proximity, smart chip, and magnetic stripe capabilities
- Graphics-quality surface for custom printing
- Ideal for organizations requiring multi-credential functionality
MicroProx® Tag – Compact Adhesive Proximity Tag
- Base Part Number: 1391
- Small, coin-sized tag attaches to non-metallic surfaces
- Compatible with all HID proximity readers
- RF-programmable for flexible encoding
ProxKey® III – Key Fob Proximity Credential
- Base Part Number: 1346
- Small and durable for easy keychain attachment
- Compatible with HID proximity readers
ProxPass® II – Long-Range Vehicle Access Tag
- Base Part Number: 1351
- Active tag provides up to an eight-foot read range
- Solely compatible with MaxiProx® reader
- Features replaceable battery with 2-5 year lifespan
iCLASS® Prox Card – Dual Technology Smart Card
- Base Part Number: 202
- Combines 13.56 MHz iCLASS and 125 kHz proximity technologies
- Enables smart card applications in existing HID proximity systems
- Optional features include magnetic stripe, barcode, custom artwork, and photo ID
MIFARE®/Prox Card – Smart Card with Proximity Functionality
- Base Part Number: 1431
- Supports both MIFARE 1K and HID proximity technologies
- Enables secure authentication, data encryption, and multi-application use (e.g., cashless vending, campus access, event ticketing)
- Compatible with direct image or thermal transfer printers
Simplifying Reorders with the Sales Order Number
Most access control badges include two numbers printed on them, and customers can request specific external numbering. The Sales Order Number is especially useful for tracking and reordering credentials. If your organization needs to reorder credentials but lacks all the necessary details, this number allows us to quickly identify the style, numbering format, site code, and previous credential numbers.
By keeping this simple piece of information on hand, you can streamline the reordering process and ensure consistency across your organization’s access control system.
Why Work with ADVANTIDGE?
For over 20 years, ADVANTIDGE has provided world-class customer service and expertise in access control solutions. We specialize in helping organizations integrate custom identification credentials with physical access control systems, ensuring seamless security and operational efficiency.
Choosing the right access control badge is not a one-size-fits-all decision. With so many options available, it’s essential to work with an expert who can assess your specific needs and recommend the ideal solution.
We invite you to schedule a no-obligation consultation with our team. Let’s discuss your current security setup, explore your options, and ensure that you have the right credentials in place to protect your people and assets.
Contact us today and experience the ADVANTIDGE difference!
