Major solution providers see market adoption of cloud-based access control in commercial sectors.
More and more systems are migrating to the cloud across industries, and access control is no exception. In fact, several major solution providers see market adoption in the commercial sectors as network connectivity improves and the convenience of the cloud becomes more apparent.
Speaking to asmag.com recently, James Segil, VP of Access Control for Motorola Solutions, explained that the company continues to see a number of technological developments and trends in cloud-based access control, all of which greatly benefit customers. He listed three main trends in this regard.
Stronger interest in remote management
Remote management has remained critical since early 2020 as it enables businesses to keep their buildings secure when no one is on site. This will remain a key feature for cloud-based access control as it allows for productive hybrid work models and flexible scheduling.
“With access to real-time activity reporting, remote management gives organizations visibility into what’s happening even if they’re not on-site and maintains agility by letting them make adjustments on the fly (e.g., activating remote lockdown capabilities from their phone in the event of an emergency),” Segil said.
This becomes relevant as concerns about COVID-19 continue to remain in many parts of the world, and people are forced to maintain social distancing and other health care guidelines. With remote monitoring, businesses can ensure the enforcement of these guidelines without interrupting operations.
Automated integrations
Another trend that Motorola sees is automated integrations. While integrated systems have been popular for years, new developments have opened the door to automating operations for greater efficiency.
“By connecting what used to be disparate building systems like access control, parking management, room scheduling, visitor management, and tenant experience apps, automations streamline processes to make operations more efficient,” Segil explained. “Instead of logging into and configuring five different building systems, integrations allow building managers to control all five from one interface.
Integrated building management systems not only create better workplace experiences but can also increase ROI across an entire enterprise. For most companies, security has always been a loss-making division, but with automated, integrated access control systems, security teams are able to offer more value.
Analytics and video technology
Lastly, advanced analytics and video access control continue to grow in popularity. Traditional access control systems can tell you which credential was used at an entry, but you can’t visually verify what’s happening without the addition of video.
“With a video camera embedded directly into the door reader, hardware such as Openpath’s Video Reader Pro lets security teams see what’s happening right at the door,” Segil said. “While video-based access control doesn’t replace the need for commercial video management systems throughout the building, it is a powerful way to supplement an existing system. The future of physical access control requires businesses to be able to do more with less investment, and video readers are an essential part of that strategy.”
The future of access control technology and analytics tools will also prove that ingesting data from other security platforms is necessary to strengthen security posturing, giving organizations a more comprehensive view of security across every platform, access point, and location.
Benefits are several, but awareness required
While the cloud is not a new technology, and many customers already use it for some applications, it is just starting to see mass adoption in the commercial real estate industry. As with any disruptive technology, it is essential to educate customers and ensure they are comfortable in their journey of adopting cloud-based technologies.
“It is also critical to meet customers where they are - so understanding what customers’ specific security needs are and then educating them on how to meet those needs using cloud-based tools and services requires patience and perspective,” Segil said.
With the right awareness efforts and adequate technology, cloud-based access control systems will have more takers in the coming years. As more systems get integrated, and technologies like AI become more popular, access control solutions will have a bigger role to play in commercial buildings.