TROY Group MICR_IRD 9000 1UP MICR Printing Solutions User’s Guide - Manual (Page 31)

Section 2 Understanding TROY’s Features
MICR Solutions User’s Guide -- Document #50-70341-001 Rev. F
2-18
Encryption /
Decryption
(MICR / IRD Secure
EX Printers Only)
All TROY Secure EX series printers can use encryption algorithms to protect MICR documents and other
documents containing sensitive or private information. Use this feature to prevent fraudulent interception of your
MICR check data being sent over a public network. In particular, electronic data containing MICR fonts or
digitized signatures needs to be protected against duplication and fraudulent use.
By selecting one of the three available encryption/decryption algorithms, Triple-DES (DES3), TwoFish, or AES,
the user can encrypt the data being sent from the host computer to a TROY Secure EX printer over the network.
Using the same algorithm used to encrypt the data, the TROY Secure EX printer will automatically decrypt,
format, and print the incoming electronic data. Anyone attempting to capture the encrypted data being sent to the
printer over a public network will be unsuccessful in obtaining any useable information. The encryption feature
can be set to one of two modes: job-by-job (prints all encrypted and non-encrypted jobs) or always (prints only
encrypted PCL 5 jobs – non-encrypted PCL 5 jobs will be purged).
Currently, the DES3 168-bit encryption method is widely used by the banking industry; however, the AES 128-
bit encryption method was recently approved for use by the American Banking Association. The TwoFish 128-
bit encryption method processes data faster than DES3 168-bit encryption method. All three encryption methods
offer a similar level of security and use a symmetrical key in which both the sender and receiver of the data use
the same key kept secure by the use of internal password phrases (pass-phrases). The same key must be used at
the host computer and printer to allow the electronic information to be decrypted by the printer.
The TROY Port Monitor includes these three encryption methods and all three are, likewise, built into all TROY
Secure EX series printers. No extra software is needed to take advantage of this feature.
NOTE: Do not use encryption when sending data over a direct parallel port connection. Encryption is not
necessary for local connections and may slow the printing process.