Campus ID News
Card, mobile credential, payment and security
FEATURED
PARTNERS
document security level pyramid 600x292 1

Level 1 document security features key to fighting counterfeit cards

New overt, visible embedded security features rising to top for in-the-field document authentication

Chris Corum   ||   May 02, 2017  ||   ,

“The importance of Level 1 document security features cannot be understated … they are the front door locks in any design…” This comment from the UK National Document Fraud Unit succinctly states the importance of Level 1, overt security features to the overall documents security.

We classify embedded card security features – or document security features – into three levels: Level 1, Overt; Level 2, Covert; and Level 3, Forensic.

In a nutshell, Level 1 features are overt and visible to the naked eye. This makes them easy to authenticate by inspectors in the field. Level 2 features are covert, which means they cannot be seen by the naked eye and are only discernable by trained examiners using under magnification or via some other technique tool. Finally, Level 3 features are described as forensic in nature and require trained examiners and complex laboratory equipment for authentication.

ITW Security Division’s white paper on card security features, Level 1 Security – Long Live the King!, focuses on the importance of Level 1 overt features in document security.

An exploration of the specific embedded security features – from holograms and microtext to UV inks and nanotext – for each level is presented in the document. While each feature and each level is important and should be pursued, the crucial nature of solid Level 1 features emerges.

The emergence follows a series of interviews carried out by ITW with leading companies in the security market. These companies spanned 3 continents and included manufacturers, integrators and security printers. Of those interviewed, 100% reported that Level 1 features are in highest demand.

But just as these quickly visible features are becoming more necessary, fraudsters are getting better at counterfeiting traditional Level 1 options. Thus, there is an increasing need for new, advanced document security features that meet Level 1 criteria.

Learn more about document security features in general and explore new options for advanced Level 1 security features in this white paper. It is part of a series of resources on advanced card materials and embedded security features available from ITW. Check it out online.

Related Posts

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

RECENT ARTICLES

SFCC video screenshot
Apr 29, 25 /

Mobile app and digital ID ease transition to college life for community college students

When Julia Lehman first arrived at State Fair Community College (SFCC) in Sedalia, Missouri, she was lost and unsure where to head. “I was a bit disoriented, and like, ‘Where is the nearest map?’” said the incoming freshman business management major. Lehman didn’t have to look far for help to find her way around campus. […]
UT Austin ID card
Apr 25, 25 / ,

UT Austin student government proposes legislation to push for digital IDs

During its general assembly on April 22, the University of Texas at Austin Student Government introduced a bill to push for the implementation of digital student IDs to replace the existing physical cards. The assembly referred the bill to a committee for review, and it will vote on the bill at an upcoming meeting at […]
Register to vote signs
Apr 24, 25 /

Laws banning use of campus cards for voter IDs continue to spread

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed Senate Bill 10 into law on April 16, 2025, eliminating university-issued student IDs as an acceptable form of photo identification for voting. The bill’s passage marks a significant change to Indiana’s Voter ID law, first enacted in 2005. The Indiana House of Representatives approved the amended legislation on April 2. […]
CIDN logo reversed
The only publication dedicated to the use of campus cards, mobile credentials, identity and security technology in the education market. CampusIDNews – formerly CR80News – has served more than 6,500 subscribers for more than two decades.
Twitter

Attn: friends in the biometrics space. Nominations close Friday for the annual Women in Biometrics Awards. Take five minutes to recognize a colleague or even yourself. http://WomenInBiometrics.com

Feb. 1 webinar explores how mobile ordering enhanced campus life, increased sales at UVA and Central Washington @Grubhub @CBORD

Load More...
Contact
CampusIDNews is published by AVISIAN Publishing
315 E. Georgia St.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
www.AVISIAN.com[email protected]
Use our contact form to submit tips, corrections, or questions to our team.
©2025 CampusIDNews. All rights reserved.