Developments in physical/logical convergence are opening new encounters for businesses and Government entities. Together, these point to 7 trends that are generating opportunities for security system integrators.
- Federal mandates drive adoption in certain industries-logical access control is newer than physical access control, but certain industries are required to have logical access control.
- Government user requirements-Smart cards have been updated in the recent years and certain requirements have been expanded to include physical access to doors used by the same government employees.
- Smart cards go mainstream-Costs of smart cards have been decreased, making them a viable alternative to traditional proximity cards.
- The opacity standard-In the past, high level security meant it took longer to approve an entry. Today, a new standard has changed this. OPACITY aims to offer high levels of security without adding delay by using a faster algorithm.
- Advances in biometric technology-Some organizations choose biometrics, eliminating the need for users to carry smart cards. Others use biometrics in combination with smart cards or proximity cards. However, traditional biometrics have had certain drawbacks in the past. Several companies are making advances by improving both the enrollment rate & reliability.
- Tighter integration of physical & logical access-Some enterprise customers operate seperate physical & logical access control systems that share a single credential. Others have taken integration in another direction and have them both operating as a single, seamless system.
- Cloud-based computing drives greater interest in logical access-Many companies are choosing Cloud-based computing as a way to save on IT costs and and minimizing IT personnel at each location.
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