Page 48 - Security Today, November/December 2019

What You Need to Know About
Access Control in 2020
Mobile credentials, adoption have been anticipated for more than a decade BIy Laura Fradette
t is hard to believe that 2019 is com- ing to a close. As we look ahead to the New Year, sitting with colleagues, we reflected on the trends that impacted
our industry in 2019, and predict what we can look forward to in 2020 and beyond.
2019 Reflections
This past year proved to be a significant one in the world of access control. “As an industry, we’ve been anticipating mobile credentials for over a decade,” says Peter Boriskin, chief technology officer, ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions Americas. “Mobile adoption has been increasing steadily over time, but 2019 was the tip- ping point. Growing capabilities in the res- idential space continued to drive customer expectations in the commercial space, and Apple’s launch of mobile student IDs also played a significant role in this shift. The mere fact that it is now proven to be pos- sible put people’s minds at ease and re- moved a lot of the fear factor.”
Jim Primovic, director of Campus EAC Sales, ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions Americas, has the unique vantage point of seeing access control trends as they hap- pen on university campuses, which must meet the demands of students who expect the latest technology while also providing a safe and secure learning environment.
“In 2019, we saw many campuses get- ting their infrastructure up to speed to support mobile credentials,” Primovic said. “There are thousands of use cases across any given campus that are currently set up to support magnetic stripe or smart- card credentials. Campuses that had the foresight to install future-proof solutions that enable a seamless transition to mobile were prepared, but many other campuses had a significant undertaking in upgrad- ing their infrastructure. In 2020, we will start to see broader deployment of mobile across all points of campuses.”
Another important trend was the use of analytics and intelligence to manage security.
“Today, we are able to take a more pro- active approach to security threats, which
enables us to prevent tragedies from oc- curring,” said David Corbin, director of product management – Access Control Accessories, ASSA ABLOY Electrome- chanical Specialties Group. “The ability to converge building information systems with other systems provides a more ho- listic look at the entirety of a property. With limited budgets, a curb-to-core strat- egy with multiple layers of security is the most effective way to predict what could go wrong in your facility and eliminate threats before they become viable.”
The Future is
Already Here
While it may not seem as futuristic as it once did, we are getting closer to the high-tech capabilities that previously only seemed possible on television. For example, new applications for existing technologies such as ultra wideband (UWB) will enable hands-free access to entry and exit points.
“Using ultra-wideband technology, we can tell if a credential holder is just walking by a door or is actually walking toward the door, with intent to enter,” Boriskin said. “This provides the security
needed to enable access from a credential in your pocket.”
This will also impact energy efficiency.
“If the door to a retail store opens ev- ery time someone walks by, you are not only wasting the energy required to open and close the door, but also the heating or cooling that is escaping from the build- ing,” Corbin said.
Ultimately, the biggest changes in the coming years require a different mindset when it comes to security. Gone are the days when access control was used only to increase security.
“Access control has shifted focus from solely security to a comprehensive, seam- less user experience,” Primovic said. “What was once a battle of convenience versus security has shifted to a balance of conve- nience and security. I believe that mobile bridges the gap to move both forward.”
Similarly, access control can now be used to support new ways of working, such as co-working and hoteling, a more mobile workforce and unattended delivery.
“We’ve started seeing different indus- tries leveraging our smart locker technol- ogy to assist in their access control needs,”
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 | SECURITY TODAY
TRENDS 2020
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