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Mobile access is changing the way we interact with buildings and how we manage their security. As smartphones become mobile keys, users are able to unlock buildings or rooms across multiple sites at a lower cost than alternative credentials, as ASSA ABLOY explains here.
According to IFSEC Global’s recent Wireless Access Control market report, users view the benefits of mobile access as a powerful triad of convenience, cost and security. The security of a mobile credential offers enhancements over a smart-card or fob, because biometrics are built into almost every modern smartphone via fingerprint or face ID unlocking.
Human behaviour is also on the smartphone’s side. How quickly would a student or employee notice a missing plastic access card? Everyone is more careful with their handset. Facilities staff are left frustrated when users lend or share credentials, while far fewer users are willing to pass on their phone, even for 5 minutes.
Streamlining security management with the smartphone
Around two-thirds of organisations plan to adopt mobile access control within two years, or already have. According to Omdia, mobile credential downloads grew by 220% between 2018 and 2019. This growth path is likely to continue. From a security management point of view, enhanced convenience is the major driver.
Mobile credentials can be amended over the air, without any need for dedicated updaters or asking a user to check-in their credential. Nobody is left waiting around for access permissions to update. Furthermore, when a security administrator cancels a mobile key, it vanishes immediately from a user’s phone.
Cost efficiencies also accrue by switching away from plastic credentials: Mobile keys remove any need to source and print smart-cards, badges or fobs.
Aperio wireless locks
All these advantages are available in a building equipped with Aperio battery powered locks from ASSA ABLOY. Aperio mobile access is built on Seos, a next-generation platform with class-leading cryptography and authentication, plus unrivalled privacy protection. Unlocking an Aperio device is easy and intuitive: users simply present their phone at the reader, just as they would a smartcard. They don’t even need to open an app.
Aperio locks are compatible with all major RFID credentials, as well as with Bluetooth and NFC mobile wireless protocols, too.
These locks can operate with all credential technologies simultaneously, which means building users need not stick unanimously to one format and security managers do not have to implement a mass transfer to a single technology.
All these benefits are now available in the Aperio E100 electronic escutcheon and will be offered with more Aperio devices in the near future.
And for buildings equipped with these locks, the cost of upgrading to smartphone keys may be zero: Aperio wireless locking technology has mobile access built-in.
Mobile access: The future of access control management?Mobile access is changing the way we interact with buildings and how we manage their security, argues ASSA ABLOY.
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