Konica Minolta secures print authentication technology by integrating HID Global's access control technology

HID Global announced Konica Minolta's membership in the Advantage HID Connect Partner Programme

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leading provider of advanced imaging and networking technologies for the desktop to the print shop, and HID Global, trusted leader in solutions for the delivery of secure identity, announced Konica Minolta's membership in the Advantage HID Connect Partner Programme.  Leveraging the extensive population of HID proximity and iCLASS technology access control cards, Personal Identification Verification (PIV), and Common Access Cards (CAC), Konica Minolta can now offer customers the added convenience of using physical access cards for secure print authentication from their bizhub  Multifunctional Products (MFPs - print, copy, fax and scan all in one system).

Konica Minolta customers using secure print authentication with Genuine HID Technology benefit from the ability to have employees use the physical access cards they already carry, minimising an organisation's capital investment and controlling the costs associated with print, copy and scan features. The combined capabilities of HID Global and Konica Minolta's technology will be compelling when it comes to converged access deployments in high security environments.

With this partnership, customers benefit from a total card solution for environments ranging from those with minimal security needs to those with the most advanced, high security requirements. The proximity and HID iCLASS card authentication device (AU-201H/AU-202H) and CAC/PIV (AU-211P) connect directly to the USB port of Konica Minolta workgroup multifunction printers, allowing users to apply their HID card to authenticate them before copying, faxing, scanning or releasing sensitive print information. Users simply present their HID card to release their print job, eliminating the need to manually enter and maintain user names and passwords. With this technology, only authorised people can use the bizhub MFP by requiring them to authenticate before they can print, copy, scan or fax.

HID proximity card reader connects with MFP and works with the machine's internal authentication capabilities

HID Global recently acquired ActivIdentity, a global leader in strong authentication and credential management, and together they deliver solutions that provide secure identity for millions of customers around the world. By embedding ActivIdentity's ActivClient into the bizhub MFP, Konica Minolta enables government and other high security users to protect their print jobs using their PIV or PIV compatible cards.  This powerhouse partnership will offer enhanced capabilities when coupled with Konica Minolta's technology and will deliver successful deployments within enterprise, healthcare, education, and government organisations.

"Our partnership with HID Global will further enhance the levels of access control and security that customers require directly at the MFP, while also reducing printing costs," said Kevin Kern, Senior Vice President Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. Inc. "This partnership gives customers another great reason to count on Konica Minolta to provide them with innovative, cost-effective and secure technology that improves their business processes."

"HID Global is looking forward to a dynamic partnership with Konica Minolta as they share our vision of enhancing customer value by delivering innovative print solutions to organisations of any size," said Debra Spitler, Vice President of HID Connect with HID Global. "By combining Genuine HID cards with Konica Minolta's solutions, we can enable customers to leverage their existing access control investment to add advanced print authentication at a time when assuring privacy, controlling costs and being eco-friendly are top priorities."