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.
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 Happily, when an electronic access card is lost or stolen, access rights can be withdrawn immediately, rendering the card inactive.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.
July 7, 2020
Assa Abloy explores why wireless locks offer a useful option to extend an access control solution, with notable benefits for facility managers, installers and end users. Read More
July 2, 2020
Find out how Amthal Fire and Security blended modern access control solutions to the Edwardian decor at Kenilworth Court. Read More
June 19, 2020
We sit down with Gregory Blondeau to find out more about the company’s new Touchless Check-In solution, as well as why he believes security professionals are now so much more than simply ‘guards and gates’. Read More
June 18, 2020
Abloy discusses Incedo Business, the universal access control ecosystem that incorporates software and hardware into a single management platform. Read More
June 12, 2020
To support installers on guiding their customers to ensure buildings are COVID-secure, Paxton is set to introduce a number of initiatives, including free bespoke learning, new products and a new guide to the process. Read More
June 10, 2020
Assa Abloy details the latest update to the company’s access management portfolio, Incedo Business. Read More
June 4, 2020
Vanderbilt has introduced Facial Recognition Terminals with Temperature Detection by ZKTeco into its access control portfolio. Read More
June 3, 2020
Not all data breaches come from remote hacking attempts. Gaps in the physical security of your on-site servers may lead to the potential of critical breaches too, says Assa Abloy. Read More
June 2, 2020
Intelligent access control and intruder detection system from Inner Range, Integriti, now has a simplified licensing model, reveals the company. Read More
June 1, 2020
IFSEC and FIREX have partnered with Skills for Security to deliver an exclusive programme of digital training and career development: Training Week. Read More