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 Happily, when an electronic access card is lost or stolen, access rights can be withdrawn immediately, rendering the card inactive.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.
January 10, 2020
IFSEC Global sits down with Ben Fryer, Sales Manager at Automatic Systems, to understand some of the trends he’s witnessing in entrance control and what visitors can expect to see on the company’s stand at IFSEC 2020 in May. Read More
January 6, 2020
Assa Abloy explains how its CLIQ Web Manager software can allow users to integrate their access control features with existing business software. Read More
December 18, 2019
Designed for sensitive sites to ensure strict entrance control, the ClearLock 635 and 637 security doors from Automatic Systems have recently received LPCB certification. Read More
December 16, 2019
Assa Abloy's Code Handle solution provides an intuitive solution to the issue of theft for an upscale fashion boutique in Belgium. Read More
December 13, 2019
IFSEC Global meets Bill Hobbs, Vice President of Sales at 3xLOGIC, to gain a better understanding of the company’s products and business solutions. Read More
December 10, 2019
Accessible via its new website, installers now have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and understanding by using a new online training tool from Paxton. Read More
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