How useful it is to issue digital certificates on the blockchain?

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Blockchain technology is used in several ways in varied industries for offering high-security managing distribution systems and recording valuable information. Blockchain records all transactions without any verification from third parties. An evolving issue in recent years is - counterfeiting certification. It is posing serious threats to people. Issuing paper-based certificates manually is prone to errors and time- consuming. Day by day, the number of people's data is increasing, so deploying a system for both issuing and verifying digital certificates based on blockchain technology can solve issues of forged documents.

What is the current problem with document certification?

Many organisations and businesses need original documents for verification purposes before further processing. Some valuable documents like (birth certificates) exist only once. Parties involved in verification and issuing other certificates may experience hesitancy to handle these sensitive documents and that can result in damage or even loss. Many parties are unable to protect the valuable physical pieces of paper with this process. Another big problem comes from data theft. Many people have reported it. So the question comes: how can this issue be solved? Creating digital proof or digital certificates certified or signed by respective institutions or authorised organisations can be beneficial. With blockchain-based digital certificates, you can access and verify the digital asset's authenticity without depending on any intermediary or third party. Traditional data records like paper files deteriorate over time. storing records like digital certificates on the blockchain can help in safeguarding sensitive credentials from destruction & damage. Blockchain document security methods can help users seamlessly secure their sensitive documents.

What about blockchain solutions?

Blockchain technology has brought a revolution in storing and sharing data. The mechanism of cryptography helps in keeping information fully secured. Blockchain offers a digital ledger or decentralised database of data. Centred on computer networks that approve updates before data get recorded and verified. It lessens the reliance and vulnerability of centralised data storage. Instead of handling physical pieces of documents, issuing and storing digital certificates in blockchain can be advantageous to users. You can efficiently utilise the benefits of blockchain, like - authentication, encryption and decentralisation. Every certificate consists of references of both issuer and receiver with a hash (a sign of document), that is stored in the public database. It is identical in the number of computers throughout the globe. These digital certificates with blockchain technology have vital additional advantages over any other certificates.

How does blockchain make digital certificates work?

When a digital certificate is issued, data gets digitised. A digital identity gets assigned to every certificate. All of the digital certificates are tagged as well as traceable. Original documents are stored safely in the computer networks in the blockchain which are known as nodes. In totality, blockchain makes digital certificates highly transparent and secured. It also makes it easy to unfurl any fraud because this technology can expose any forged or outdated certificates.

Are these digital certificates tamper-proof?

Yes, the digital certificates are tamper-proof not by just signing but right after the beginning of the transaction. A signing algorithm produces a signature that is encrypted through a private key. The digital signature in these certificates can never be forged without having access to the private key of the user or members. With the help of document security QR codes, users can secure their valuable credentials.

What are the potential benefits of issuing digital certificates on the blockchain?

Blockchain has evolved to be beneficial for the financial industry. This technology is the most talked about and sought-after technology used in the world. There are innumerable benefits of issuing digital certificates on the blockchain. Some of them are here: a) Require fewer resources for issuance: Issuance and maintenance of digital certificates on the blockchain require a very less number of resources. As a result, the whole process saves time, effort and human capital. b) Digital certificates are conveyable: Contrary to physical certificates, the digital ones issued on the blockchain need not be carried around every place. Digital certificates are there to exist for a lifetime. These certificates can be easily accessed on any of your devices from any part of the world. c) Ideal as Identity proof: Digital certificates based on blockchain are the best substitution for the traditional proofs of paper identification. Digital certificates are issued on a highly secured framework of blockchain which is fully secured. These verifiable certificates can be easily traced all the way back to an issuer. This method makes the procedure transparent. You can use the blockchain document security method for securing and storing your valuable documents. d) Gives overall data security: Paper certificates can also take days and months to get issued and dispatched. Paper certificates can be altered without issuing the institute's knowledge and that is risky. Digital certificates issued on the blockchain can not be altered by any person. If someone tries to tamper with it, then verification will fail. This makes data in your digital certificates fully secured as well as traceable. e) No third party requirement: Blockchain verification of digital certificates can be performed by any person having access to the network. There is no need for any third party interference for verification. Digital certificates can be verified even if any organisation that issued them no longer exists. f) For micro-credentialing: Every data remains encrypted in the digital certificates issued on the blockchain. Organisations or businesses can issue "micro-credentialing" for recognizing, career skills, learning and so on. It can help both students and organisations. g) Comes at an affordable cost: Using blockchain is not expensive. With the help of the blockchain-powered platform, you can issue digital certificates for numerous services with ease. You may need no extra software or hardware and be done with an internet connection. So in nutshell, the unique features of blockchain technology make issuing digital certificates easy and tamper-proof. Blockchain technology simplifies and facilities the entire process of issuance of digital certificates. It also helps in the easy transfer of these certificates leading to the expansion of contents and information. We hope in the next few years, more and more organisations will come forward in embracing digital certificates issuance on the blockchain. A blockchain document security system can help you to secure sensitive credentials with ease.

How to create tamper-proof identity cards using QR code and blockchain-based technology?

Posted on June 18, 2021

Introduction

Nowadays, QR codes have become quite common, and anyone who engages in online transactions or document exchange can vouch for their utility in ensuring safety and security in these transactions. Quick response codes can be used in many different industries and fields, and they fit in with most.

Using QR code to manufacture ID cards.

Recently, Identity cards issued by many institutions also use this technology to authenticate entries of their employees. It has become almost like a race for top companies to include the most recent technology in their security procedure, and nowadays, this technology is QR codes. The code embedded on the Id card will send the reader to the encoded details of the cardholder. There are a few ways in which this can be done.

The first way is to do it via a simple text QR code. Once scanned, this simple text QR code will reveal encoded data about the cardholder previously added while creating the code. This code will disclose this information to the security personnel on their handheld device or smartphone, and they can then match it against the website data about the same employee.
The second is via a website URL QR code. Here the employer may add employee details like name, contact information, designation and photo on their website. The link to these details can be then used to create a unique QR code for each of them, and this QR code can then be added to their identity cards. Scanning will reveal an encoded link and take the user to the card holder’s details on the website. Entry will be given only if the information on the card matches the information on the website.
Finally, the third way is to do it via a serial code QR code. This means that when scanned, this kind of QR code will reveal a serial code, and this serial code can be linked to the card holder’s details in the employers’ database. In a way, it is very similar to the website URL QR code. When the details match with the printed ones, entry can be authenticated and allowed.

Using QR codes for identity cards is the most intelligent decision- not only does it solve the issue of space, but it also makes the document completely tamper-proof. Duplication isn’t possible at all. By dealing with limited print space, this solution also saves a lot of money for the company in question. There is no need to install any set-up which is cost-intensive. All needed is an ID card with an embedded QR code and a simple device (like a smartphone) to scan this.

How to create a QR code for an identity card?

First things first, you need to design a template for the overall design of the identity card. Of course, the template needs to be shared with all employees. Leave space for information like name, designation, photo and the QR code on the card.
Once the template is designed, decide which QR code you want to create. Choose one out of the options mentioned above.
Once the type of code is decided, the next step is to create the code. For this step, a QR code generator is needed.
For institutions that need to create QR codes in bulk, there is the option of using an online Bulk code generator.

How to create QR codes in bulk for people in your organisation?

Starting with finding a bulk QR code generator online, the first step is to create a spreadsheet with all of the details which are to be encoded within the codes.
Creating a spreadsheet includes the following steps: a. Downloading the spreadsheet in CSV, XLSX or XLS format.b. From ‘QR Batch’ selecting the type of batch you need, from website URL, serial code, or simple text. c. Uploading the spreadsheet. This is where the most work gets done. When you upload your employees’ details to the QR code generator website, they compile them and make them into compressed codes without you having to move a limb. d. Reviewing the data- might seem unimportant, but don’t skip this step. e. Adding the design to the batch. Here the QR code can be customised by adding different colours and even the company logo. f. Making the payment. Usually, QR code generators accept online payments. Thus the entire process can be dealt with without physically contacting people on either side. g. Downloading the batch of QR codes you just created. h. Ensure that the customisations make it easier to scan/read the code and not difficult- for instance, in choosing a colour, ensure that it stands in contrast to the background.

Conclusion: How to read QR codes on identity cards?

Reading QR codes is way more straightforward than reading Bar codes or other more traditional ways of identification. Previously, it was almost too easy to replicate identity cards and impersonate them as an institution employee. Today, it is becoming more and more challenging to pull off Identity theft because of how biometrics are being used and because some new and improved technology has made it almost impossible for fraudsters to hack into the systems.

Reading QR codes is as simple as opening the camera/scanner on one’s smartphone and placing it near the code. It’s a skill that requires minimal or no training for security personnel to adopt in their daily lives. QR codes can be read successfully even after incurring 30% damage, unlike bar codes. So overall, being cost-effective, almost damage averse and user friendly for both the institution and the employees, QR codes are the new best way to deal with identity authentication.