PRINT AUTHENTICATION

Organizations that already use cards for access to campus buildings, offices, or services, can extend the functionality of those existing cards for access to 2D/3D printers. 

To authenticate at the printer, the user simply swipes their card at the YSoft SAFEQ card reader and the device unlocks. The MFD may automatically re-lock after a pre-determined time of inactivity. For Y Soft 3D printers, the user simply closes the printer door to relock. At Y Soft, we manufacture card readers that support a wide range of transmission technologies such as HID, Legic, and Mifare – virtually any required technology.

ENTERING EXISTING CARD INFORMATION IN YSOFT SAFEQ

With YSoft SAFEQ, entering existing user information is automated, making life easier for administrators and IT staff. There are several ways to enter users and their corresponding card numbers in YSoft SAFEQ:

• Many organizations already have user and card data stored in Active Directory. Simply use an LDAP replicator to replicate the AD database to the YSoft SAFEQ database.
• Users and cards can be manually imported to YSoft SAFEQ via a CSV file replicator which copies users, cost centers, and/or user roles from predefined CSV files to the YSoft SAFEQ database.

Alternatively, users can self-register their cards in YSoft SAFEQ – freeing administrators from spending time on this task.

SELF-REGISTRATION METHODS

YSoft SAFEQ can be set up to allow users to register their cards by entering a card activation code or by entering a username and password.

• Registration via a card activation code – The user can generate the code through an option in the YSoft SAFEQ interface on the printer, or the administrator can generate the code.

• Registration via username and password – The user can use their existing YSoft SAFEQ or LDAP/AD credentials to register their card.

Either way, the registration process is simple. At the printer, the user swipes their unregistered card. The printer displays a dialog asking the user to enter their card activation code or their username and password (depending on the setup). Once entered, the card is paired with the given user.

To authenticate at the printer via PIN, the user selects the PIN option on the printer’s display or at a Y Soft 3D printer; then enters their PIN.

YSoft SAFEQ treats PINs as virtual card numbers that are stored in the YSoft SAFEQ database and managed in the same way as card numbers. To ensure security, a cryptographic hash of the PIN is stored instead of the actual PIN, so that it is not easy, even for an administrator, to know users’ PINs. Administrators assign or generate user PINs in the YSoft SAFEQ Management Interface. Administrators can define several parameters for PINs, such as minimum/maximum length, expiration date, and more. A notification email with a newly generated PIN and its expiration date can be sent to the user.

To authenticate at the printer via username and password, the user enters their YSoft SAFEQ username and password at the YSoft SAFEQ terminal or the user interface on the Y Soft 3D printer. The device then unlocks and is ready for use.

The benefits of this method are that it requires no card-related costs and it’s very easy for users. Users do not have to learn a new password or PIN – they can use the same login information they use for their PCs. On the other hand, other methods may be better for organizations in which time constraints often apply because entering a username and password takes longer than simply swiping a card or entering a PIN.

With this method, users can either swipe their card or enter a PIN at the YSoft SAFEQ terminal on the MFD or the user interface on the Y Soft 3D printer. The device then unlocks and is ready for use.

This may be the best method for your organization if access to the device’s functions is crucial because the user can still access the device's functions even if they forget or lose their card – while you retain a high level of accountability and security protection in the print environment.

With this method, the user swipes their card at the YSoft SAFEQ terminal or Y Soft 3D printer and is prompted for their username and password. The device then unlocks and is ready for use.

This method, like the Card and PIN method, is a good choice if an organization requires a high level of security. Users must authenticate with something they have (a card) and with something that they know (their username/password). Authentication cannot occur unless the user has both components.

With this method, the user swipes their card at the YSoft SAFEQ terminal or Y Soft 3D printer and is prompted for a PIN. The device then unlocks and is ready for use.

If a high level of security is important to an organization, this authentication method may be the best choice. Users must authenticate with something they have (a card) and with something that they know (a PIN). If a user’s card is stolen or their PIN is disclosed, the user still has to obtain the second component to be able to authenticate to access the device.

With this method, users can either swipe their card or enter a username/password at the YSoft SAFEQ terminal or Y Soft 3D printer interface. The device then unlocks and is ready for use.

This method enables the user to access the device if they lose or forget their card – without compromising the security of the print environment.