Often, the decision about which type of access system to choose may be determined by an organization’s current — or legacy — system. A company may have already spent hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars on access control equipment and would find it difficult to scrap it all for a new system.

Other times, a corporate IT department will play a role in the decision. This is because most security functions now require a computer network to transmit data. And IT folks are very particular about what and how much data is transmitted across their networks. While the bandwidth required by an access control system is small compared to that required by a video surveillance system, IT will want to be sure its network is safe from outside hackers.

This is where the convergence of logical and physical security comes into play. Cyber security is becoming more important in both Canada and the U.S. There are currently more than 10,000 attacks daily on government and financial networks in the two countries.

It is no longer unusual to require multiple authentications before gaining access to an office or the network. Previously, a user name and password were acceptable. Now, private and public IT departments may require another security layer such as biometrics. Fingerprint scanners are the most frequently used biometric devices. Although they have been around for years, only recently has the reliability of biometric devices significantly improved, while the costs have dropped.

There are some other relatively new additions to the access control arsenal. One example is an edge device that sits on the network and records data at the entry location. These devices, which include readers and controllers, are great for use at smaller or remote locations. Faster computer processors and less expensive memory chips are the driving forces behind these devices.

The demands of remote sites or areas where cabling is expensive or difficult to install, have led to an increase in the use of wireless readers. Wireless technology has allowed for the placement of readers where they may have previously been impossible to install.

As for making the switch from legacy systems, access control equipment manufacturers are making transition readers that can read multiple card technologies. These readers allow organizations to integrate new, modern equipment without having to completely replace an existing access system. This eases the burden on organizations allowing them to make the change as their budget and staffing permit.

The tools we use and the way we install and manage access control is changing rapidly. That change will only accelerate as technology evolves and the need for access control grows.

Daiva Wood has over 15 years of experience in the security industry. She is currently manager for strategic products, access control for Boca Raton, Florida-based ADT Security Services.

Yanik Brunet has been with Kantech, a brand of Tyco Security Products, for more than 12 years. He is currently the North American sales manager, based in Vancouver, B.C.