Dramatic leaps forward in technology capabilities and security requirements, combined with the trend to converged access solutions on smartcards and NFC-enabled mobile devices, are moving many organizations to upgrade their access control systems.
Migration pays off in a much higher level of security, as well as operational efficiencies and cost-effectiveness, especially for organizations that add other applications to their contactless access control cards and mobile platforms.
Time for change?
Although migration does involve change, advanced technology has multiple benefits. For example, with multi-technology cards and readers, plus field-programmable cards and systems, disruption to the day-to-day workflow is reduced. The benefits serve both employees and the organization, not only in the immediate term, but also for years to come through a more secure and user-friendly environment that will serve as a platform for future applications.
For the purposes of this blog, I’m going to look at when the right time for your organization to migrate to high-frequency access control systems is, and how it can be done in the best way, with minimal disruption to your operational processes.
Organizations often delay any changes due to concerns about budget and the impact on workflow. However, there are several key indicators that can help determine when to migrate.
One reason can be a merger or acquisition, which often involves rebranding and/or the merging of administrative and other systems. At some point in the process, the organization will usually need to issue new credentials. This would be a perfect time to migrate to a more secure and sophisticated system with enhanced capabilities.
Equally, due to rapid growth, or decentralized administration systems, and/or multiple physical locations, an organization may end up with several different access control systems. Since new technology offers the ability to issue or change credentials remotely, it’s now possible to integrate access control into one system that is centrally managed. Standardizing all locations and employees on one system can increase security and improve resource management.
Going a step further to mobile access control delivers the benefits of over-the-air remote provisioning and management of secure identity credentials.
We’ve all seen enough news headlines to know the implications of a security breach, and it is often the unfortunate reality that sometimes it takes a breach to move an organization to make the investment in a new access control system. Ideally, an organization should migrate before there is a problem, especially if the system is still low frequency, which can be easily cloned.
Phased migration
Let’s now look at how best to migrate. First and foremost, the best way to migrate to a new access control system is in phases. It is difficult, or often impossible, for all the readers and badges to be changed simultaneously. Fortunately, high-frequency smart cards and readers have technology that allows a secure, phased migration from an old to a new system.
Multi-technology cards bridge the gap between just about any legacy system and today’s secure, contactless technology. A single smart card can securely house up to four different access control technologies, including Wiegand, magstripe, low frequency, high frequency, or contact chip.
Multi-technology cards can also work well if an organization only wants to upgrade security for a specific department or group of professionals. For example, an organization with buildings protected primarily by low frequency cards could issue a combination of high/low frequency cards to executives, IT professionals, or others who need access to more sensitive areas. The low-frequency readers can remain at all the standard building entrances, but a high-frequency reader (possibly with biometrics) can be installed at the entrance to a secure laboratory within the building, for example.
By doing this, those employees with the higher levels of security clearance can use their badges to enter the secure areas, but the low-frequency chip in their cards will still let them use the standard access points in the building.
Low to high frequency
Another way to handle migration is to install readers that use both the old, low-frequency and new, high-frequency technologies. This provides a high level of flexibility for an organization to develop a migration plan that serves its unique requirements. High-frequency readers, as we have looked at before, can provide access to multiple types of credentials, including the ones you are moving from and the ones you are moving toward.
For organizations that want to upgrade from low to high frequency, for example, the company can replace all of their low-frequency readers with a combination of low- and high-frequency readers. Then, rather than switching out all of the cards at once, high-frequency cards can be issued as replacement cards or for new employees. This will offset the cost of swapping out all of the cards at once. When choosing readers, ensure that they support the older technology such as 125 kHz HID proximity or magstripe, as well as the latest RFID technology (see my earlier blog on the best reader for your organization).
While migrating from old to new systems is always a significant undertaking, it’s cost-effective and manageable thanks to new technology. Companies and institutions have the opportunity to move from 20-year-old physical access controls, to cutting-edge, secure, contactless technology and next-generation fixed and mobile platforms. An organization could invest only the security level needed for today’s environment, however, it may be better to invest in a more scalable solution now, anticipating industry changes towards greater security requirements.
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@Harm – Thanks for explaining the migration process. It’s really important to understand how technology could secure our business and make our life easy. Deciding on how to migrate and when to migrate is a call that we have to make.
When is the right time to migrate is the next question? After you’ve experienced a breach? When you have enough ‘spare cash’ (when will that ever be!) or making money to get it done soon?
We had an experience here that I would advise everyone out there considering migrating to take into consideration. We had a card swipe system in place that was very dated and one day we had an issue with access to a secure computer room because the reader at that location had failed. Because of the age of the system we could not replace this reader and the entire system had to be upgraded in a rush, and this server room spent a couple weeks with an unlocked door. So you can end up in some pretty uncomfortable situations if you… Read more »
That’s a compelling example of what can happen if you don’t upgrade in a timely manner. By doing the job in a rush when the door failed, did it cost you more?
@Robert Brown, Yes it did, we had to get techs out to survey and assess our system and end up paying a lot of an overtime rate for them to get in there and get this done. A little planning could have gone a long way on this and in the end the emergency part of this cost us.
High frequency access control system should be introduced in a company on top priority basis. As security should come first, the manufacturer should install the system as soon as possible though there is budget constraint.
could not agree more, and yes, you are right… but this days Co. try to save first… and as result… they postpone it… with explanation until economy get in better shape…