Hotel Room Key Card System:
Regardless which hotel you go to, you’ll discover that many of them use some sort of keycard entry system on all of their rooms. You’re likely also wondering about how these keycards work, as well as how secure they are. Oftentimes, many people think that doors in hotels are secure; however, the technology behind them is more than likely outdated.
Here are some of the most common types of cards that work with a Hotel Room Key Card System.
Many hotels utilize cards containing magnetic strips, which are also referred to as swipe cards. On the other hand, alternatives such as RFID cards are used, as well as the following:
*Access cards containing holes
*Barcode cards
*Photo ID cards
*Smart cards
All of these various types of cards are able to be used for multiple things, such as using elevators, getting into rooms, and accessing different areas of the hotel itself, all of which are common factors of an access control system.
In terms of large-sized hotels, swipe cards are thought of as being a more cost-effective Hotel Room Key Card System option; however, they can often wear out fast and are considered to be much less secure than other options. RFID cards, on the other hand, are more durable and costly. The access cards containing holes, which aren’t used as much anymore, are a form of card that is based on a more mechanical method, which requires the holes featured on the card to be able to fit what’s contained within the reader.
Smart cards, meanwhile, include more information about the user that the card has been assigned to and is also able to grant access to additional areas other than a hotel room. For instance, an individual will be able to gain access to the following:
*Restaurants
*Gyms
*Swimming pools
*Laundry rooms
*Conference rooms
*Other amenities
Smart cards feature an enhanced amount of standards involving both security and encryption, as they are able to gain information from each step of an individual’s stay in the hotel in order to put together a record of their expenses. As a result, the financial management of the hotel itself will be able to be streamlined much easier.
The stripes contained on the cards feature a magnetic layer that contains basic information regarding the individual who possesses, which typically includes the user access number. Once the magnetic strip is read and verified by the reader, the door lock is automatically disengaged.
In terms of RFID cards, these are not required to be swiped. Instead, radio frequencies are used in order for access to be granted from a certain distance, meaning that the card itself doesn’t have to actually physically touch the reader in order for the lock to disengage.
There are also all sorts of different myths involving hotel key cards as well, with the most common involving information that’s stored on them. For instance, people tend to believe that these cards contain all types of sensitive information; however, the truth is that they only store room numbers and dates that individuals have stayed at a hotel. Financial information is never stored on these cards.
Some of the most common forms of information stored on hotel key cards include the following:
*Number of room
*Granted access date
*Removed access date
*Guest number
Even though these cards are never totally able to be misused, there are many regulations involving modern data protection that are designed to keep this from happening.