Among the latest trends seen in mobile access control, support for digital wallets definitely ranks on top. This article takes a closer look at digital wallet integration and how it boosts the mobile access control experience.
Mobile access control has over the years gained popularity among end user entities across verticals. Among the
latest trends seen in mobile access control, support for digital wallets definitely ranks on top. This article takes a closer look at digital wallet integration and how it boosts the mobile access control experience.
Increasingly, access control is trending towards mobile. Instead of using a keycard or fob, the user simply taps their mobile device – be it a smartphone or smart watch – to the reader, and the door opens. This makes the entrance experience more user-friendly and intuitive.
Today, more and more mobile access control solutions offer support for digital wallets. A digital wallet or mobile wallet is an app on the smart device that securely stores the user’s digital credentials and data. Common mobile wallets today include Apple Wallet, Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet. Wallets can store anything from credit and debit cards to boarding passes. And now, they can store access credentials as well.
“Several trends are shaping the current evolution of mobile access control. One of the biggest shifts is the rise of mobile wallet integration. Credentials stored in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet are moving mobile access from app-based to platform-native identity. This matters most for organizations that want to avoid requiring a third-party app download on an employee's personal phone,” said Aaron McGhee, Senior Product Manager at Interface Systems.
How wallet integration works
Wallet integration in mobile access control typically works like this. The organization's access control system issues to the user an access credential, which usually contains a unique identifier, cryptographic keys used for authentication, and permissions indicating which doors the user can access and when. The user receives the credential through e-mail or an app, authenticates with the organization and adds the credential to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Digital wallets often work in conjunction with the NFC (near-field communication) protocol, whereby the user taps the phone against the reader, and the door opens.
Benefits of wallet integration
There are several advantages to digital wallet support in mobile access control. One of them is user familiarity, as most users already use digital wallets to make purchases or board a plane.
“Mobile wallet support allows access credentials to be securely stored in native mobile phone wallets, such as Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. This enables users to access buildings and secure areas through a familiar experience, such as contactless payments,” said Julia Bruzzese, Product Marketing Manager at Genetec.
“People already use their phones and watches for payments and travel, so putting a credential where they’re already comfortable removes a lot of the friction that used to slow adoption. The user brings their phone or watch close to the reader, and the credential is presented securely. We see that as meeting users where they are, rather than asking them to manage another app. It is well suited for enterprise environments where consistency and security are important,” said Kumar Sokka, CEO of Acre Security.
Mobile wallets also offer improved security, as credentials stored inside the wallets are protected by secure hardware and modern cryptographic protocols, making them much more difficult to clone. For administrators, wallet integration can be quite beneficial as it allows instant credential issuance, enabling new employees or visitors to receive access remotely; and remote revocation, where lost or stolen devices can have their credentials revoked immediately, reducing security risks.
Disadvantages of wallet integration
Benefits aside, there are also some disadvantages to wallet integration in mobile access control. One of them is compatibility limitations. Not every mobile device has native wallet support. Older smartphones without NFC and devices running unsupported operating systems are some examples. Some Android devices also do not support Google Wallet features. End user entities with mixed device fleets may need to support multiple credential formats.
Infrastructure upgrade costs may present another challenge. To enable wallet-based mobile access control, existing access control systems may require upgrades. These may include installing NFC-compatible readers, updating the access control software and purchasing mobile credential licenses. These upgrades can represent a significant investment.
Finally, some users may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with digital wallets. User unfamiliarity with digital wallets is a common adoption challenge, particularly in organizations with a diverse workforce. Although many people already use digital wallets for payments, a significant number have never used them – or have never used them for access control. This can create hesitation and increase support needs during deployment.
Mix of both wallets and dedicated apps
To address these challenges, support for both mobile wallets and dedicated mobile apps is often the most flexible approach. Rather than choosing one technology over the other, organizations can offer both and let users or administrators select the option that best fits their needs.
In fact, many mobile access control solutions in the market today already support both digital wallets and apps.
“HID Mobile Access creates opportunities for people to use their phone or wearable to securely access buildings, secure spaces and more, and it supports both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet as well as a dedicated app so organizations can meet users on whatever device and experience they prefer,” said Sanjit Bardhan VP and Head of Mobile at HID.
“Our wallet credentials are compatible with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, which lets users store the credential in the wallet they already carry without relying on a separate app. We also offer Bluetooth credentials that reside in a dedicated app, giving customers the option to deploy hands-free access that does not require taking the phone out of a pocket,” McGhee said.