TDSi, a UK access control systems supplier and system integrator highlighted six major trends in the access control sector in a recent report. The last few years have seen a huge shift in the integration of security. This year is shaping up to be no different with the access control sector following the technology evolution. A number of technologies, such as near field communications (NFC), biometrics, PoE and wireless systems are maturing will dominate greater percentages of the market this year – mirroring much wider trends in the technology sector.
TDSi, a UK access control systems supplier and system integrator highlighted six major trends in the access control sector in a recent report. The last few years have seen a huge shift in the integration of security. This year is shaping up to be no different with the access control sector following the technology evolution. A number of technologies, such as near field communications (NFC), biometrics, PoE and wireless systems are maturing will dominate greater percentages of the market this year – mirroring much wider trends in the technology sector.
1. NFC
As a recognized standard, NFC promises to offer open connectivity (in a similar vein to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) enabling far more types of technology to successfully interact with one another. Whilst the concept is tried and tested it's the unquestionable dominance of smart devices that have fuelled the possibility and interest in using the technology in security and access control applications. Smart mobile devices already encompass highly sophisticated technology, with some utilizing facial recognition for secure device access. This in turn offers great opportunities for them to be used to help confirm identity. It could also be highly convenient for users, using something that they carry to authenticate access control.
2. Biometrics
Biometrics systems are continuing to evolve and the price point of more complicated systems will continue to fall. Facial recognition has become more accessible and cost-efficient in recent years. But systems developers are also looking at other biometric markers. An emerging technology is heartbeat readers. Like fingerprints or the shape of the human face, the electromagnetic signature of the human heart is unique and offers a new way to prove identity. Rather than having to present biometric data at an access point, systems could be attached to the body, automatically sending approval to entry doors and allowing authorized individuals to freely move between unrestricted and restricted areas with minimum fuss.
3. Cloud-Based Systems
Integration of access control systems continues unabated and following the IT sector, there are moves to make use of cloud technology to host systems and store access control data. Survey figures suggest that 65 percent of new security products will be delivered via cloud by 2014.
4. PoE
There is also a growing move towards PoE, which makes installation easier, quicker and neater – benefiting end users and installers alike by saving costs. This theme is continued with a growing trend towards wireless systems. In the past there had been reservations about using wireless systems with regards to security. The perception by some is that there is a greater risk of system hijack, but as the ubiquitous use of Wi-Fi usage has shown, properly protected, and configured, systems can use encrypted wireless signals. There is also a growing emergence of hybrid Wi-Fi/wired systems which minimize wireless dead spots.
5. Energy Saving Systems
Energy saving is continuing to be an added bonus to integrated access control systems. There has been a distinct move recently towards installing access control systems with switch mode power supplies, which saves money on the running costs of the control systems themselves.
6. Industry Standards
With all the exciting developments in technology that are going on in 2013 it's easy to overlook the IEC and ISO standards. The latest IEC 60839-11-1 is set to be an important one for the access control industry if it passes the voting stage later this year. This is an important piece of legislation which will affect the manufacturing and interoperability of thousands of access control systems. Like many standards a number of stakeholders need to agree before it becomes available, but in a sector that is noticeably less regulated than the intruder and fire markets, it offers a step forward from the current underused and outdated EN standards.