2024 has finally arrived. Following our previous article on video surveillance trends for the new year, let’s now look at some of the top 2024 access control technology trends predicted by major players, and draw a comparison between them.
2024 has finally arrived. Following our
previous article on video surveillance trends for the new year, let’s now look at some of the top 2024 access control technology trends predicted by major players, and draw a comparison between them.
Alcatraz
Alcatraz cites artificial intelligence not only as a top trend for 2024 but also as a “cornerstone of modern biometric access control systems,” saying it can analyze patterns, detect anomalies, and improve predictive security measures. In particular, Alcatraz looks at AI from an ethics perspective, noting that ensuring AI algorithms are fair and unbiased is paramount, and that the industry must address algorithmic bias and discrimination, which can inadvertently impact certain user groups.
AI has a lot to do with data, some of which may be private and confidential, and keeping them as such is key. On that note, Alcatraz cites data privacy as another prevailing trend in access control, especially at a time when data breaches and privacy concerns are on the increase. According to the company, this has prompted biometric access control systems to focus more on securing user data and adhering to strict data privacy regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, Europe and GDPR, UK), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA, California), Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA, Illinois), Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier (CUBI, Texas), and WA-HB 1493 (Washington State).
Finally, Alcatraz cites the trend of open standards, saying while integration between access control and other devices or system has been important, in 2024 the emphasis is on “no integration” as the days of complex, time-consuming integrations are giving way to plug-and-play solutions. The no-integration approach means that even small businesses can adopt biometric access control systems without extensive IT support, the company says.
ZKTeco
Like Alcatraz,
ZKTeco cites AI as a top trend for 2024, saying the company has incorporated AI into their biometric algorithms to improve biometric access control’s accuracy and performance. In particular, ZKTeco sees the potential of generative AI such as ChatGPT. “As a technology-based company, we at ZKTeco have embraced these advancements, incorporating AI to enhance our solutions in numerous ways,” said Swift Wu, GM of the International Department at ZKTeco, in an earlier interview with asmag.com, adding: “The integration of GPT-4 into our systems is one such initiative. GPT-4, with its impressive language understanding and generation capabilities, offers potential benefits for our solutions, such as improved user interaction, more intuitive system controls, and enhanced data analysis. We are optimistic that the integration of GPT-4 with our existing solutions will result in improved user experiences and more efficient system operations,”
ZKTeco further cited cloud as a major trend, saying cloud-based SaaS platforms are becoming mainstream. The company is expected to launch several SaaS platforms for access control, visitor management, and time-attendance services as part of their effort to provide cloud-based services, with more to come in the next few years.
Genetec
Genetec also listed cloud as a major trend, noting that modernizing access control will remain a top priority in 2024 for end user organizations, many of which will shift to a hybrid-cloud model and deploy cloud-ready access control solutions. The company also sees hybrid-cloud adoption increasing in 2024, with recent research showing that 44 percent of organizations already have over a quarter of their physical security deployment in a cloud or hybrid-cloud environment. Meanwhile, echoing Alcatraz, Genetec expects greater demand for open access control solutions, saying more than ever, organizations want the freedom to add and connect the best technologies out there including building management systems, life and safety solutions, human resource management software and mobile credentials, to name a few.
Lastly, Genetec cites cybersecurity as a major trend, saying in 2024 more organizations will implement cybersecurity tools that enhance automation and proactive risk detection – these could include monitoring cybersecurity dashboards to identify real-time vulnerabilities or using decision-support solutions to streamline and track maintenance tasks. According to Genetec, the physical security industry has made strides in strengthening cyber resilience, but hardening physical security systems is a baseline necessity and an ever-evolving specialty.
Gallagher
Indeed, AI and analytics are a common theme running through companies’ access control trends predictions. In their 2024 security trends report,
Gallagher mentions that modern access control systems have become so much more than stand-alone products securing doors: they’ve evolved into sophisticated ecosystems providing not just enhanced physical security, but the kind of operational insights critical for making better decisions – for example, understanding peak arrival/departure times and pinpointing access bottlenecks can help businesses adjust staffing levels and coordinate smoother hours of operation. A lot of that has to do with AI, with Gallagher citing research data as saying AI is expected to see an annual growth rate of 37.3 percent from 2023 to 2030, with 25 percent of companies currently reporting reliance on AI for operational optimization and to compensate for understaffing.
Gallagher also touched upon the cloud trend, saying functionalities that are simply not feasible in exclusively on-premises systems will become a reality through the cloud, whether it be a hybrid offering where customers can choose the parts of a system they manage or through a trusted vendor to manage. Finally, Gallagher mentions cybersecurity, especially from the perspective of “cyber-physical” attacks where physical losses are incurred by cyber breaches that prevent systems from altering the event. As time goes on, these types of attacks may become more common especially in the corporate arena, with Gallagher citing the example of access card cloning. The company concludes that cybersecurity isn’t a destination – it’s a continuous journey, and only those prepared to evolve alongside the threat landscape will be able to take their customers on that journey with them.