Badgelezers

Badgelezers are electronic devices used to read and verify information stored on authentication badges at controlled entry points. They are commonly mounted at doors and turnstiles in offices, schools, and event venues, and can also be used by security staff with portable units.

Operation relies on communicating with an access-control system. A badge carries an identifier and access rules; when read, the reader sends this data to a controller that decides whether to grant entry. Most badgelezers read data via contactless RF, but some also handle magnetic stripes or barcodes.

Types range from fixed, wall-mounted readers to handheld devices. Fixed readers are integrated with doors or turnstiles, while portable units support on-site verification. Many deployments use multi-technology readers to accommodate different credential formats and migration to newer systems.

Security and privacy concerns include credential cloning, relay attacks, and data leakage if communications are unencrypted. Mitigations include mutual authentication, encrypted channels, tamper-resistant hardware, regular credential revocation, and audit logging. Privacy policies typically limit data collection and retention.

Standards and interoperability: Readers may implement industry standards for credentials and interfaces. Supporting multiple card types and standard interfaces improves compatibility, while some installations rely on proprietary protocols. Organizations weigh policy requirements, scalability, and integration with identity-management systems when selecting badgelezers.

See also: access control, RFID, NFC, identity management.