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Monday, May 19, 2008

A Return to Edgeline

Managed Print Services is Hot, but Edgeline is Hotter. Getting back to Edgeline.

To authorize by PIN or LDAP or Exchange, that is the question.

One of my recent installs required print, copy, scan and fax rights by authorization(login).

I know authorization is nothing new when it comes to connected copiers - I have worked with hundreds.

Yet imagine the impact on the end user in terms of the degree of "hassle" involved with walk-up copying.

- Example:

Copier sales person - "...it's easy, simply log into the copier the same way you do you computer at you desk"

I.T. guy - "...sure, our end users are familar with their login, and they don't need to remember two different accounts..."

End User(usually at the Executive Level) "...you mean to tell me, I need to log in completely, with my password, every single time I want to make a copy??? Forget that..."

Well, for this client, we decided to use the four digit employee number as the PIN. And each PIN has different rights, some can copy in color, some can not. Some users can scan back to a folder, some can not, etc. And all activity on the system can be tracked by PIN. That is to say, ALL printing, copying, faxing, scanning activity.

The four digits work much better then the network login. And with Edgeline, all the PINS with rights, can be copied or set remotely.




3 comments:

  1. Dan, I have to say this doesn't sound very revolutionary. I agree, the biggest hassle with @console login is the ever increasing strength of password security. While PINS are easy to remember, would this not create 2 databases of information to retain?

    How about integration of bio-metrics? Any ideas on why this hasn't taken off in MFP's? Heck you are paying as much as you might for a car these days... Aren't the manufacturer's really interested in making the end-user's life easier?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ken,


    You are correct on all accounts. Not very revolutionary. PINs are easy, there will be multiple databases and yes, bio-metrics would be the way to go - in this case, we will integrate the existing proximity cards "down the road".

    As for security, I just started hearing about this concern - I.T. people do not want the logins and passwords traveling all over the network. The concern being, an increased opportunity to intercept this sensitive data.

    Bio-metrics is a great idea. Bio-metrics present better security, is easier to use and still not widely implemented nor excepted in business today. It is just one more "cultural" hurtle the technology needs to overcome.

    Thanks for your thoughts - and keep commenting.

    --Greg--

    ReplyDelete
  3. Interesting. I had not thought on the angle of passwords flying across the network. This was the very reason many pros began using strong passwords in the first place. To help kill the ability to intercept useful information.

    I will say the "output" industry has a ways to go with all of the recent security pundits beginning to evaluate all vectors of attack and finally noticing the nodes on the network, not just the PC's themselves.

    I would be interested to hear how the proximity card rollout turns out. I am evaluating several vendors to partner with, and none seem to be a complete or cost-effective solution.

    ReplyDelete

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