ADVANCES IN ACCESS CONTROL
Access control systems operate by replacing mechanical keys and locks with electronic access credentials like key cards, mobile phones, or biometric data. Entry into a building is automatically granted when a user is identified through their unique encoded digital data, or during pre-determined access times for authorized users.
These systems can be managed remotely whereby a system administrator has the ability to grant or disable access at any time – giving them a higher degree of control over who can enter and exit a restricted area. Moreover, they can be connected to video surveillance for an extra layer of security and monitoring.
Many modern access control systems are Cloud-based. Cloud-based access control stores your data remotely on a third-party server. This data can be accessed remotely via a web browser, or a web-based app or portal. Crucially, cloud-based systems allow system managers access data using any device with an Internet connection, regardless of whether they’re on the premises or not.
CLOUD MANAGEMENT OF CREDENTIALS
Cloud-based controller solutions use the power of cloud hosting to selectively restrict access or operations. This means that the homeowner can control who has access to the residence, and when they have access, without the need to be in the same building or even the same geographic location. Access is usually granted through the use of a mobile or desktop application.
Since Cloud-based access control systems are on the Cloud and designed for non-technical system managers, they're easy to use and manage. They enable managers to modify the system from anywhere with Internet access. This makes it easy to add and delete users, update access credentials, view reports on entry times, and change a series of parameters though a simple GUI.
ACCESS CONTROL OPTIONS
EVALUATING EACH SYSTEM BASED ON USER REQUIREMENTS
One of the most important factors in the selection of an access control system is the size and scope of the deployment. In any application that has more than a few doors, a networked access control system is a good option. Compared to standalone systems, which feature isolated security on each door (like a physical lock and key), a networked access control system centralizes management, making it easier to add or remove credentials from the system, while providing detailed reports and audit trails.
Access control technology is an important part of a building’s physical security system. Ultimately, however, no system is successful unless it is designed in such a way so as to be in alignment with the owner's lifestyle and priorities. An access control system must accord with the homeowner's sense of reasonable security and freedom of movement. In a well-engineered system, these two concerns need not be in conflict with one another.
ACCESS CONTROL SOLUTIONS
THE IDEAL BLEND OF SECURITY, COMFORT AND FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
Being able to monitor and control who can enter and access your residence is a foundational element of physical security. As doors and gates have become an integral part of most smart homes, owners and integrators have had to consider the impact that this type of automation has on a homeowner's sense of security. Locks that can be controlled by smartphones and tablets offer additional flexibility and freedom of movement, but also concerns about the potential risks associated with an integrated network-connected control systems.
A sophisticated access control system addresses these concerns by providing flexible support for the widest range of credential technologies, while also ensuring that the devices and software used have been proven cybersecure. The most recent generation of door entry access devices have been designed with these concerns in mind. When combined with a Cloud-based intercom app, homeowners are able to achieve the integration of multiple functions: video, communication and access control.
READERS FOR CLOUD-BASED SECURITY PLATFORMS
An access control system consists of several components, but one of the most critical is the access control reader. These are possibly the most visible part of an access control system and have to satisfy several criteria. Apart from fitting in well with the décor and space available near to the doors they control, their data integrity must be secure, they must be durable and resilient, and be easy to upgrade if there is a need to apply firmware updates and add additional functionality.
Fortunately, most Cloud-based access controllers are flexible in terms of their ability to integrate with a wide range of manufacturers, styles and communication protocols. Common security measures include 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) for authentication, data integrity, and encryption with a highly secure MIFARE DESFire EV3 credential.
SMARTPHONES AND MOBILE ACCESS
Mobile access control takes mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, and wearable electronic devices and allows them to function as a user’s credentials to enter offices or other business facilities. In the majority of cases, mobile access control is powered by Bluetooth (BLE), allowing phones to communicate with a reader placed on a door. A secure Bluetooth connection can be established from a few feet away, giving Bluetooth access a noticeable edge over traditional RFID card technologies, which have an average read range of about an inch.
Additional technologies like Near Field Communication, or NFC, can be used in mobile access control as well. NFC allows for communication between a reader or lock and a mobile device, but unlike BLE, supports a range of communication that is limited to a few inches.
HOSTED INTERCOM WITH ACCESS CONTROL
Access control and app-based intercom systems have both leveraged the flexibility of smartphone apps to provide users with greater control over door entry points. Some systems are unified, offering both intercom, door entry and access control in a single platform. Other systems provide an intercom system that integrates with most access control systems, but require the use of a separate app to perform any management of the access system.
In either case, both types of systems operate similarly and offer the ability to communicate with a visitor form either inside the residence or while away from home. When a user receives a door call on a smartphone, the app provides information about the specific door location and a preliminary image of the visitor. Users can then choose to speak with the person and open the door if desired.
ADVANCES IN ACCESS CONTROL
Access control systems operate by replacing mechanical keys and locks with electronic access credentials like key cards, mobile phones, or biometric data. Entry into a building is automatically granted when a user is identified through their unique encoded digital data, or during pre-determined access times for authorized users.
These systems can be managed remotely whereby a system administrator has the ability to grant or disable access at any time – giving them a higher degree of control over who can enter and exit a restricted area. Moreover, they can be connected to video surveillance for an extra layer of security and monitoring.
Many modern access control systems are Cloud-based. Cloud-based access control stores your data remotely on a third-party server. This data can be accessed remotely via a web browser, or a web-based app or portal. Crucially, cloud-based systems allow system managers access data using any device with an Internet connection, regardless of whether they’re on the premises or not.
SMARTPHONES AND MOBILE ACCESS
Mobile access control takes mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, and wearable electronic devices and allows them to function as a user’s credentials to enter offices or other business facilities. In the majority of cases, mobile access control is powered by Bluetooth (BLE), allowing phones to communicate with a reader placed on a door. A secure Bluetooth connection can be established from a few feet away, giving Bluetooth access a noticeable edge over traditional RFID card technologies, which have an average read range of about an inch.
Additional technologies like Near Field Communication, or NFC, can be used in mobile access control as well. NFC allows for communication between a reader or lock and a mobile device, but unlike BLE, supports a range of communication that is limited to a few inches.
CLOUD MANAGEMENT OF CREDENTIALS
Cloud-based controller solutions use the power of cloud hosting to selectively restrict access or operations. This means that the homeowner can control who has access to the residence, and when they have access, without the need to be in the same building or even the same geographic location. Access is usually granted through the use of a mobile or desktop application.
Since Cloud-based access control systems are on the Cloud and designed for non-technical system managers, they're easy to use and manage. They enable managers to modify the system from anywhere with Internet access. This makes it easy to add and delete users, update access credentials, view reports on entry times, and change a series of parameters though a simple GUI.
HOSTED INTERCOM WITH ACCESS CONTROL
Access control and app-based intercom systems have both leveraged the flexibility of smartphone apps to provide users with greater control over door entry points. Some systems are unified, offering both intercom, door entry and access control in a single platform. Other systems provide an intercom system that integrates with most access control systems, but require the use of a separate app to perform any management of the access system.
In either case, both types of systems operate similarly and offer the ability to communicate with a visitor form either inside the residence or while away from home. When a user receives a door call on a smartphone, the app provides information about the specific door location and a preliminary image of the visitor. Users can then choose to speak with the person and open the door if desired.
READERS FOR CLOUD-BASED SECURITY PLATFORMS
An access control system consists of several components, but one of the most critical is the access control reader. These are possibly the most visible part of an access control system and have to satisfy several criteria. Apart from fitting in well with the décor and space available near to the doors they control, their data integrity must be secure, they must be durable and resilient, and be easy to upgrade if there is a need to apply firmware updates and add additional functionality.
Fortunately, most Cloud-based access controllers are flexible in terms of their ability to integrate with a wide range of manufacturers, styles and communication protocols. Common security measures include 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) for authentication, data integrity, and encryption with a highly secure MIFARE DESFire EV3 credential.