Compared to access control cards or keyfobs, mobile access control has certain advantages. When integrated with the access control system, mobile technology allows remote management and provides a highly effective emergency response.
Compared to access control cards or keyfobs, mobile credentials have certain advantages, for example ease of issuance and the capability to add additional authentication requirements, such as biometrics – without the need to purchase biometric readers. When integrated with the access control system, mobile technology allows remote management and provides a highly effective emergency response.
More and more, mobile technology is used in various aspects of the daily life, from watching TV to ordering food to hailing taxis. When it comes to physical security and access control, mobile solutions create significant efficiencies. Below we list the four key benefits of using mobile in security.
Jin Hui, Regional
Manager, North Asia,
Gallagher
Ease of issuance
With mobile credentials, the card issuer and holder don’t have to be present at the same place during provisioning and issuance. “At universities, in particular, this can save huge administrative efforts and time at the beginning of a semester, when large numbers of students are arriving on campus at the same time and require access into lecture theatres and halls of residence,” said Jin Hui, Regional Manager for North Asia at
Gallagher.
Increased security
Smart devices are less prone to identity theft and cloning. Further, they have additional security features. “FIDO authentication, for example, is trusted by many leading technology organizations around the world. It uses public key cryptography with the private key stored securely on the phone to create strong authentication that is resistant to phishing and other common attacks,” Jin said.
Organizations utilizing mobile security have the flexibility to add additional security using multi-factor authentication via the smart phone’s inbuilt functionality. By adding a pin, biometric or facial ID to external doors, high-risk areas, or on all days, provides a cost effective way to layer security onsite.
Remote management
When mobile technology is well integrated with the access control system, it allows security operators to remotely, via their smart devices, manage day-to-day security issues such as unlocking doors, managing alarms and disabling cardholders in the event of a lost credential.
“By freeing security operators from the control room, they can easily respond to security events from anywhere on site, as and when they arise,” Jin said. “This technology is critical in an emergency situation where operators need real-time security information but may not have access to the control room.”
Efficient emergency responses
Mobile solutions can play a critical role in emergency planning and response. In an evacuation, for example, mobile technology can be used to verify the safety of cardholders and reduce the time spent mustering. Utilizing Gallagher’s Mobile Evacuation (a feature available from Command Centre v8.20), wardens operating mobile technology linked directly to their security software have full visibility of movement on site, can move cardholders within Command Centre to safe zones and see which cardholders have not yet reported to the evacuation zone and may need to be followed up with.
Further, mobile technology is extremely useful during an emergency lockdown. In the event of a crisis at a school, for example, teachers can lock down the entire campus from their mobile devices and notify law enforcement of the situation. Push notifications can be sent directly to faculty and students’ smart devices, giving them critical safety information.
“Challenges in a lockdown situation include the length of time it can take to initiate the lockdown and providing effective communication to people on site. Mobile security solutions can ensure a secure, fast lockdown process while ensuring people have the information they need to keep themselves safe,” Jin said.
Indeed, mobile technology has gained more attention from security users. Yet actual adoption has not caught up. This may be because of certain users’ concerns towards mobile solutions. The aforementioned benefits of using mobile in security, namely ease of issuance, increased security, remote management, and effective emergency response, should help organizations see that the genuine benefits of adopting mobile technology in their security systems.