HID Global
HID Global (ASSA ABLOY group, US) makes the cards and readers most access control systems support. Seos cards are encrypted and far harder to clone than cheap 125 kHz proximity cards. The range includes Signo readers, Mobile Access, Mercury controllers and FARGO card printers.
- Headquarters
- United States
- Positioning
- Mid-marketEnterprise
- Official website
- www.hidglobal.com
Who it suits
Organizations still on 125 kHz cards that a cheap gadget can copy, and want encrypted cards or phone credentials instead.
Overview
Who HID Global is
HID Global is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and has been part of Sweden's ASSA ABLOY group since 2006. HID does not mainly sell finished access control systems. It makes the layer underneath: the cards, readers, controllers and card printers that many access control software brands rely on.
The product lines
- Seos and iCLASS SE cards: credentials encrypted with AES-128 and mutual authentication between card and reader, with no published break.
- HID Signo readers: read more than 15 credential technologies, including Seos, iCLASS, MIFARE DESFire and mobile credentials, and can be updated and configured remotely.
- HID Mobile Access: phones and watches as credentials through the HID Origo cloud platform, including employee badges in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet on supported systems.
- HID Mercury: open-platform door controllers supported by many access control software makers, so you can change software later without rewiring or replacing controllers.
- HID FARGO: ID card printers that print the photo and encode the card in one pass.
Why the card matters
Many organizations in Laos still use 125 kHz (Prox) cards or legacy iCLASS. Both can be copied with a cheap gadget in a few seconds without the cardholder noticing. Moving to Seos or iCLASS SE with Signo readers closes that gap, usually without replacing the access control software.
Who it suits
HID fits banks, head-office buildings and foreign-owned companies with a group card standard, and any organization that wants one card for doors, lifts and printers.
Strengths
- Seos and iCLASS SE use AES-128 encryption with no published cloning method, unlike 125 kHz cards that can be copied in seconds.
- Signo readers read old and new cards side by side, so you can migrate one group at a time rather than the whole organization in a day.
- Mercury controllers are an open platform. If you change access control software later, the wiring and controllers can stay.
- Mobile credentials through HID Origo can be issued and revoked remotely, which suits temporary staff and contractors.
Things to know before choosing
- A secure card achieves nothing if readers still accept 125 kHz or legacy iCLASS. Once every card has been replaced, switch the old technologies off in the readers.
- In 2024 HID disclosed that standard keys could be extracted from some encoders. For sensitive sites use organization-specific keys (Elite or custom keys).
- Seos cards and Signo readers cost several times more than generic ones. Budget for cards for the whole organization, not just the readers.
- Mobile credentials need access control software that supports HID Origo and per-user licences. Check the licence terms and duration before ordering.
Using it in Laos
HID products reach Laos through distributors in Thailand. Standard readers and cards are usually in stock. Custom-printed cards or cards on organization-specific keys must be ordered ahead and take several weeks, so always keep spare cards.
What we see:
- Copied cards: buildings on 125 kHz cards often have copies that staff made for friends. Check the access log; you may find one card opening two doors at the same moment.
- Heat and rain: outdoor readers need a hood and a weather-rated model.
- Power: Mercury controllers and electric locks need battery backup, because brownouts are frequent in the rainy season.
Sectors that fit: banks, multi-storey office buildings, hotels and foreign-owned companies. We recommend migrating cards group by group, starting with the most important doors.
Compared with alternatives
ZKTeco is far cheaper and fits time attendance and ordinary doors that do not need high-grade encrypted cards. Suprema fits when you want face or fingerprint biometrics, and some Suprema terminals read HID cards, so the two brands work together. For buildings already on Hikvision cameras and door control, Hikvision's own cards and readers are a lower-cost route.
Product lines
- HID Signo
- Seos
- iCLASS SE
- HID Mobile Access
- HID Mercury
- HID FARGO
Solutions that use this brand
FAQ
We use 125 kHz cards. Do we have to replace everything at once?
No. Install Signo readers that read both old and new cards, issue Seos cards group by group, and switch off 125 kHz reading once everyone has moved. The access control software and controllers can usually stay.
Can HID cards work with another brand's access control software?
Yes. HID readers send the card number over Wiegand or OSDP, which most controllers accept. For new wiring we recommend OSDP, because it can encrypt the link between reader and controller, unlike Wiegand, which can be tapped.
Should we use phone credentials instead of plastic cards?
It suits offices where every employee has a smartphone and contractors come and go often. In factories or mines where some workers have no phone, or phones are not allowed inside, keep plastic cards or run both.
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