PIN Code Input Events

Overview

The PIN Code Input Events feature provides comprehensive auditing and tracking of all PIN code authentication attempts on vending machines and lockers. This security feature helps administrators monitor access patterns, detect potential security threats, and maintain compliance with audit requirements.

Similar to the Key Card Tap Events tracking system, PIN Code Input Events captures both successful and failed authentication attempts, providing a complete audit trail for security analysis.

Purpose

The PIN Code Input Events system serves several critical functions:

Security Monitoring: Track all PIN code entry attempts to identify potential security threats
Audit Compliance: Maintain comprehensive logs for regulatory and compliance requirements
Pattern Analysis: Identify unusual access patterns or repeated failed attempts
Troubleshooting: Help diagnose authentication issues for employees
Usage Analytics: Understand employee access patterns and peak usage times

Accessing PIN Code Input Events

To view PIN code input events:

Navigate to the admin dashboard
From the left sidebar, select PIN Code Input Events under the Security section
The PIN Code Input Events page will display at https://ppe.vendingontrack.com/pin_attempt_events

Understanding the Event Log

Each PIN code input event record contains the following information:

Event Fields

Field	Description
Time	Timestamp when the PIN code was entered
Access Code	Displays either the employee identifier (for matched PINs) or the raw PIN (for unmatched attempts)
Vending Machine	Name of the vending machine or locker where the attempt occurred
Employee	Name of the employee if the PIN was successfully matched
Status	Success or failure indicator
Failure Reason	Explanation for failed attempts (e.g., “Invalid access code”)
IP Address	Network address from which the attempt originated

Privacy and Security Considerations

Matched PINs: When a PIN code successfully matches an employee, the system displays the employee identifier instead of the actual PIN to protect privacy
Unmatched PINs: For debugging purposes, unmatched PIN codes are displayed to help identify configuration issues or typos
Data Retention: PIN attempt events are retained according to your organization’s data retention policy

Filtering and Search

The PIN Code Input Events page provides several filtering options to help you find specific events:

Available Filters

Vending Machine Filter
- Select a specific vending machine from the dropdown
- Leave empty to view events from all machines
Success Status Filter
- All: Display both successful and failed attempts
- Successful: Show only successful PIN authentications
- Failed: Show only failed PIN attempts
Date Range (if available)
- Filter events within a specific time period
- Useful for investigating incidents or generating reports

Pagination

Events are displayed 50 per page by default
Use the pagination controls to navigate through multiple pages of events
The total count of events is displayed at the top of the page

Common Use Cases

1. Investigating Failed Access Attempts

To investigate repeated failed access attempts:

Filter by Failed status
Look for patterns in the Access Code column
Check if multiple failed attempts come from the same IP Address
Review the Failure Reason to understand why attempts are failing

2. Monitoring Specific Vending Machines

To monitor activity on a specific machine:

Select the vending machine from the filter dropdown
Review both successful and failed attempts
Identify any unusual patterns or high failure rates

3. Employee Access Verification

To verify an employee’s access attempts:

Look for the employee’s name in the Employee column
Check the Status to confirm successful access
Review the Time stamps to verify access patterns

4. Security Incident Investigation

When investigating a potential security incident:

Filter by the relevant time period
Look for patterns of failed attempts
Check for brute force attempts (multiple failed attempts with different PINs)
Identify any successful access following multiple failures

Best Practices

Regular Monitoring

Review PIN attempt events regularly, especially failed attempts
Set up alerts for unusual patterns (if available in your system)
Monitor high-security areas more frequently

Response to Security Events

When suspicious activity is detected:

Multiple Failed Attempts: Investigate if an employee is having trouble with their PIN or if it’s a potential security threat
Unusual Access Times: Verify if access outside normal hours is authorized
Unknown PIN Attempts: Check if new employees need PIN assignment

Data Management

Export event logs periodically for long-term storage
Follow your organization’s data retention policies
Consider archiving old events to maintain system performance

Integration with Other Systems

The PIN Code Input Events system integrates with:

Employee Management: Links PIN attempts to employee records
Vending Machine Management: Associates events with specific machines
Session Management: Successful PIN entries create employee sessions
Audit Logs: Critical security events may also appear in general audit logs

Troubleshooting

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue	Possible Cause	Solution
Employee PIN not working	PIN not assigned or expired	Check employee’s PIN configuration in Employee Management
High failure rate on specific machine	Machine configuration issue	Verify machine settings and network connectivity
PIN works on some machines but not others	Machine-specific restrictions	Check if employee has access permissions for all machines
Events not appearing	System delay or filtering	Refresh the page or check filter settings

Security Recommendations

Regular PIN Rotation: Encourage or enforce periodic PIN changes
Complexity Requirements: Implement PIN complexity rules (length, character types)
Lockout Policies: Configure automatic lockout after multiple failed attempts
Monitoring Alerts: Set up automated alerts for suspicious patterns
Access Reviews: Periodically review access logs for compliance

Comparison with Key Card Tap Events

Feature	PIN Code Input Events	Key Card Tap Events
Authentication Method	PIN/Access Code	Physical Key Card
Tracking Coverage	All attempts	All tap events
Privacy Protection	PINs masked when matched	Card numbers visible
Failure Reasons	Detailed reasons provided	Card verification status
Employee Association	Linked when PIN matches	Linked when card registered

Reporting and Analytics

While viewing individual events is useful for investigation, consider these reporting strategies:

Daily Summary Reports: Review total attempts, success rates, and top failure reasons
Machine-Specific Analytics: Identify machines with high failure rates
Employee Access Patterns: Understand peak usage times and access frequency
Security Metrics: Track failed attempt trends and potential security incidents

Support and Additional Resources

For additional assistance with PIN Code Input Events:

Contact Vending on Track support for technical issues
Refer to the Employee Management documentation for PIN configuration
Review the Security Best Practices guide for comprehensive security policies
Consult the API documentation for programmatic access to event data

Note: This feature was implemented as part of SD-3150 to enhance security auditing capabilities and provide parity with the existing Key Card Tap Events tracking system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why are unmatched PIN codes displayed in the system?

According to the documentation’s Privacy and Security Considerations section, “For debugging purposes, unmatched PIN codes are displayed to help identify configuration issues or typos.” This allows administrators to identify when employees are entering incorrect PINs or when there are configuration problems. However, when a PIN code successfully matches an employee, “the system displays the employee identifier instead of the actual PIN to protect privacy.”

Q2: How can I investigate repeated failed PIN attempts?

The documentation provides specific guidance for investigating failed access attempts:

Filter by Failed status
Look for patterns in the Access Code column
Check if multiple failed attempts come from the same IP Address
Review the Failure Reason to understand why attempts are failing

The system displays “Invalid access code” as the failure reason for unmatched PINs, helping you distinguish between typos and potential security threats.

Q3: What happens to PIN attempt event data over time?

The documentation states that “PIN attempt events are retained according to your organization’s data retention policy.” The system recommends:

Export event logs periodically for long-term storage
Follow your organization’s data retention policies
Consider archiving old events to maintain system performance

Q4: How does PIN Code Input Events integrate with other PPE Vending systems?

According to the Integration with Other Systems section, the PIN Code Input Events system integrates with:

Employee Management: Links PIN attempts to employee records
Vending Machine Management: Associates events with specific machines
Session Management: Successful PIN entries create employee sessions
Audit Logs: Critical security events may also appear in general audit logs

Q5: What’s the difference between PIN Code and Access Code in the system?

The documentation’s Terminology Guidelines clarify this distinction:

PIN Code: Used for the numeric/alphanumeric codes used for vending machine access (shown in the “PIN Code Input Events” feature)
Access Code: Reserved for employee authentication configuration settings (e.g., “Access Code Login”, “Access Code Mode”)

In the event log, the “Access Code” column displays either the employee identifier (for matched PINs) or the raw PIN (for unmatched attempts), which helps maintain privacy while allowing debugging.