Regardless of size or population, the only true constant on a college campus is change. And when things change at such a rapid pace it can be easy to either hold onto tried-and-true practices out of comfort, or make knee-jerk decisions in an attempt to stay up-to-date.

“We routinely find campuses utilizing technology or hardware that isn’t truly in their best interest,” says Nyblom. “There a number or ways in which identity solutions can act against a campus’ best interests, but the security aspect is probably the most significant.”

We want the Identity Roadmap to be a proactive measure that campuses take now so that some of these unforeseen, though preventable, incidents can be avoided.

Another common hurdle that can sends campuses astray are restraints levied from on high. These limits can’t be ignored, but addressing them early in the roadmapping process can better position a campus to avoid unnecessary headaches down the line.

“Campuses can easily get roped into their budgets and make saving money the primary focus,” explains Nyblom. “But stepping back from that can show that, even if it requires a bit more investment, the long-term security and future proofing can be a godsend.”

Consultative, stakeholder approach

Often times when institutions decide it’s time to discuss changes to the campus identity environment, it’s a result of a security breach or some other negative event. It’s an easy trap to fall into, and it can keep the institution from getting ahead of the curve.

“It’s common for things to be reactionary in this way,” says Nyblom. “But we really want the Identity Roadmap to be a proactive measure that campuses take now so that some of these unforeseen, though preventable, incidents can be avoided.”

Regardless of the reason for opening the discussion, however, ColorID’s first step with a campus is always driven by communication. “Be it stakeholder meetings, conference calls, or on-site consultations, starting the education process with the campus is the first directive,” says Nyblom. “We don’t mince words, either. We make sure to lay out the good, the bad and the ugly.”

Another benefit of acquiring information from a vendor-agnostic source is that you can avoid manufacturer information that isn’t 100% true or is purposely vague.

“Door readers, for example, can read a lot of technologies so a manufacturer might say ‘our reader will read credential X, Y, and Z.’ Users then see that their credential is on that list and therefore will work with that reader because the manufacturer says so,” Nyblom explains. “At ColorID we look deeper than that. For example, that reader may not read the secure part of the credential; it may only look at serial number.”