The global access-control market is projected to reach a total value of $10.4bn by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 10.6%, according to research by Markets and Markets.
Access control technically includes the time-honoured mechanical lock and key, but when people talk about access control in the modern security industry, they mean sophisticated electronic turnstiles, gates, wireless locks and other barriers increasingly incorporating aspects of IT and physical security.
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Keys can be lost, stolen and copied, leaving assets vulnerable and requiring an expensive change of locks. Happily, when an electronic access card is lost or stolen, access rights can be withdrawn immediately, rendering the card inactive. Should thieves gain access before a theft is noticed, operators can identify when they breached security and – if there are multiple access points – where in the building they are at any given time.
Modern access-control systems also offer flexible access rights. For example, while all staff can generally gain access through a building’s main entrance, access to certain internal areas may be restricted to those with relevant authority. Access can also be restricted to specific time periods.
The plastic access card has long been the dominant form of identity verification. While they still govern access for most installed systems, biometric solutions – usually authenticating identity through facial, fingerprint and iris recognition – are becoming more reliable, affordable and widespread.
Often accused of being a conservative industry the access control sector is finally emulating its CCTV counterpart in embracing IP, open-platform technology, the internet of things and integration with, and interoperability between, building systems. Mobile access – gaining access using smartphones – is one burgeoning trend with numerous operational benefits.
November 28, 2019
Mechanical lock technology may be too passive for modern hospitals, but that does not mean you should abandon keys altogether, says ASSA ABLOY. Read More
November 25, 2019
Users of the Inner Range Inception system can now use biometric credentials to gain entry, as well as traditional access cards. Read More
November 22, 2019
Universities push traditional access control to its limits. The more you ask of it, the tougher it gets, says Assa Abloy. Read More
November 18, 2019
Designed to prevent the likes of retail outlet staff from worrying about managing keys or fitting mechanical pin locks on locked doors, ASSA ABLOY is offering its Code Handle battery-operated lock with a slimline handle. Read More
November 14, 2019
Arcules and Siemens Smart Infrastructure (SI) have partnered up to provide its Integrated Video Surveillance Service to modern enterprises. Read More
November 12, 2019
In the PSi Premier Awards that took place on the 5th November, Paxton’s PaxLock Pro wireless electronic door handle was named access control product of the year. Read More
October 30, 2019
While more and more vendors are now offering facial recognition features in cameras as standard, the public debate about the technology continues. Read More
October 28, 2019
The legality of deploying automatic facial recognition has come under scrutiny in the UK in recent months, as Ron Alalouff reports. Read More
October 21, 2019
For all their flaws passwords remain the main alternative to biometrics. David Balaban of Privacy PC compares these two techniques to shed light on their imperfections and weak links. Read More
October 21, 2019
Senior leaders in the electronic security sector on how innovation will transform business models for installers and integrators, accelerate convergence and provide security teams with powerful new capabilities. Read More