In 2020 we witnessed a seismic shift in the way organizations approach and manage security. Businesses increasingly adopted a contactless mode of work to avoid the spread of COVID-19, and this encouraged the increased use of access control technology.
Societies have evolved from the use of traditional keys for access control and security. With significant technological breakthroughs, every part of our lives is being impacted by digitalization, bringing higher degrees of ease and convenience, and the access control industry is no exception.
Here are some top access control trends we have seen so far in 2021 which are shaping the world of physical security and access control.
Cloud-Based Solutions
The cloud is the invisible cornerstone in the revolution of access control. Cloud computing has completely transformed how businesses conduct their day-to-day businesses and even how they see the big picture. From collecting and storing data to managing and processing it, cloud solutions are powering systems and driving down costs while offering greater scalability and convenience.
Imagine your business has stored the access control data of 100 employees in a computer, and that device breaks down, leaving the data irretrievable. You would then have to go around and collect 100 access control cards to re-register their data in the system.
This would involve creating a new database and reprogramming 100 fresh access control cards. But a cloud-based system frees you from all this exhausting work and hassle. Instead, you have remote access to data, and will receive instant notification for any failure, avoiding manual handling and time-consuming processes.
Mobile Credentials
Companies are adopting mobile access control rapidly and the incorporation of mobile-based credentials is arguably the result of organic evolution. A large population of the world uses smartphones, and many are hooked on their devices at all times. With mobile credentials, you can eliminate the inconvenient use of keycards.
Keyless technology is now becoming increasingly popular and is one of the most popular contactless access control solutions used today. With this technology, you can hire and register a new employee into the system ahead of their arrival. This extra layer of security can easily be integrated with other smart building systems.
Biometric Solutions
This model facilitates ‘zero touch’ access. It uses biometric readers that assess various biological characteristics such as iris patterns, blood flow, and fingerprints. This solution is highly popular for granting physical access. These solutions are fast, and they work best in large traffic areas like lifts, gates, and doors.
Facial recognition is taking the largest market share when it comes to biometrics, as it is being widely implemented for access control and identity verification. Biometric technology has existed for a long time but limiting factors such as accuracy issues, privacy concerns, and high costs have hindered its use. But with improved quality and reduced prices, this technology is gaining immense popularity. It offers a modern and touchless access experience to users, which is high in demand in the post-COVID world.
Subscription-Based Models
Cloud-based solutions have been popular in the access control industry for quite some while and this year it was replaced by subscription-based models. These models are affordable for users as the up-front costs are much lower and the charge per user is fixed for each month.
This software is hosted by the cloud, but a third-party provider manages and maintains it. This model grants users the flexibility and the control to manage their access control effectively. In older systems, updates needed to be programmed manually and a whole IT team was needed to manage the project.
Flexible Business Models
Organizations have altered their business models to best fit the rapid and profound changes in the global security environment. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of scalable, agile, and flexible business models and expenditures that are welcoming of change and can easily adapt to it.
This calls for seamless and fast integration of evolving access control technologies. Maintenance routines, technical support, and cloud packages will always remain crucial to businesses.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Security breaches and privacy threats have been increasing for last past few years, making multifactor authentication essential for many organizations. For example, a business may have a system first using facial recognition to identifies every employee when they come on site, followed by fingerprint sensors, and lastly, a pin code is sent to the employee’s phone to check further credentials.
Multi-factor authentication involves multiple ways to provide user authentication. Factors like safety, flexibility, and convenience impact access control in different ways in different work environments, and technology is meeting these various challenges.
Key Takeaways
In 2021, we’re seeing security and access control trends influenced by users’ safety, flexibility of use, and convenience. New technology is being developed to align with these demands and make the experience better for users while keeping employees and assets safe. In 2021, we’ve seen an impressive evolution of access control technologies and emerging trends that have completely transformed the security landscape.
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