Card Technologies

Counter Solution's believes that the Customer should have freedom to choose their card technology free from any constraints imposed by their Cashless Application. As a result other card characteristics can be viewed in the light of, “business need”, and the technology platform chosen on this basis whether this be cost, security, multi-application characteristics or any other relevant consideration. Our development team remain dedicated to ensuring that all the possible applications of our systems are available to all customers and so the complete range of Counter Solutions hardware and software are available with all major card technologies.

The cards currently supported are:


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    AES Card Encryption

    Primary Features

    The encryption standard we are employing is AES-256 (Advanced Encryption Standard 256-bit key). AES is an open algorithm, meaning computer software is publicly available that implements the algorithm; it is the key that makes it so secure. Open algorithms are favoured over closed algorithms as they are exhaustively tested and proven by crypto experts before being used. AES is used worldwide and frequently employed in network routers and firewalls to encrypt sensitive data being transmitted over the internet – it is also recommended by the NSA.

    Client Benefits

    AES is being implemented as an option in our newest range of cashless devices with no perceived impact on performance or transaction times.

    AES means a fully secured payment system application on the card which will still allow other people to put their own applications on the card (the card is not locked) but the payment system is not accessible at all to them.

    The end user (Card holder) has no knowledge of the level of encryption on the card and as previously stated is not impacted by increased transaction times whilst the card is being read and written to. If a card is un-encoded for whatever reason then the encryption can happen at one of our CE based devices and the end user will not even be aware of it.

    Ultimately it provides the client complete peace of mind that the payment system balances cannot be manipulated by a malicious outsider.

    Encryption Process

    The Encryption process is very straightforward and happens at the device level. When a card is encoded at a reader with the module set the encryption happens automatically as a part of the process. If a card is encoded at a reader which, for some reason, does not have the module then the encryption happens the next time a card is inserted into one of our own CE based devices and the payment system is then secure.