Crayonic Badge vs YubiKey
YubiKey and the Crayonic Badge both hold phishing-resistant FIDO2 credentials in hardware. A YubiKey is inserted into USB and touched, or tapped over NFC (Yubico healthcare). The Crayonic Badge is a security-first wearable with its own screen: it signs the clinician in by presence and locks when they walk away.
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| YubiKey (5, Bio and FIPS series) | Crayonic Badge | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Key on a keyring or wristband | Badge worn like a hospital ID, with a smart-card slot on the back |
| Login action | Insert and touch, or tap on NFC | Walk up (presence), or tap on NFC |
| Lock on walk-away | Not on the key itself; needs workstation software | Built in |
| PIN entry | On the PC keyboard (Bio series: fingerprint on the key) | On the Badge's own e-ink screen, or fingerprint |
| Shows what you sign | No display | E-ink display for What-You-See-Is-What-You-Sign |
| Certification | FIDO2; FIPS 140-validated models meet NIST AAL3 | FIDO2 Level 1 (Level 2 expected H1 2027); EAL5+ secure element |
| Beyond login | Login and signing | Paging, Code Blue button, Secure Scribe, door access |
When to choose which
YubiKey fits when
Staff have their own laptops, for IT administrators, and for US programs that need FIPS 140 validation today.
The Badge fits when
Clinicians share ward workstations and the problems are sessions left open, keys left in ports and PINs typed on shared keyboards.
YubiKey details are taken from Yubico’s public healthcare page, accessed November 2026. YubiKey is a trademark of Yubico.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Crayonic Badge a YubiKey alternative for hospitals?
Yes, for shared clinical workstations. Both hold FIDO2 credentials in hardware, but the Badge is worn all shift, signs in by presence and locks the session on walk-away.
Where is the PIN entered on the Crayonic Badge?
On the Badge's own e-ink touchscreen, or replaced by a fingerprint, so the PIN never passes through the shared PC's keyboard.
Can the Crayonic Badge be tapped like a security key?
Yes. Where only an NFC reader is installed, the Badge is tapped like a smart card.
See it on your ward
Book a 30-minute demo, or ask for a pilot kit with Badges and Bridges for one unit.
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