The Future of Office Security: Convergence Cloud-Based Access Control
August 5th, 2024 by admin
When it comes to securing your office or workplace, access control is critical. Being able to control who can enter which areas and at what times is essential for protecting sensitive information, equipment, and assets. It also helps deter theft, vandalism, and other security breaches. While traditional access control systems based on locks and keys have been used for decades, the future lies in cloud-based access control solutions.
What is Cloud-Based Access Control?
Cloud-based access control utilizes IP networked locks, readers, and other hardware that connects to cloud servers over the internet or your internal network. Rather than having localized software and hardware just for operating the access control system, everything is managed remotely through the cloud service. This provides tremendous advantages over traditional systems.
Advantages of Cloud Access Control
Scalability and Flexibility
One of the biggest benefits of cloud-based access control is its incredible scalability. Since the system is managed through cloud servers, it can seamlessly scale up or down as your access control needs change. Adding or removing users, doors, or access privileges is just a matter of making updates in the cloud software.
This flexibility extends to being able to manage access across multiple locations or buildings from a single cloud interface. Traditional systems require separate hardware and administration for each separate facility.
Real-Time Visibility and Control
With cloud access control, you have real-time visibility into access events and can make changes to user permissions remotely through the cloud at any time. There's no need to be on-site to update the local access control system. You can also receive alerts for certain access events or anomalies.
Lower Upfront and Operating Costs
Bypassing expensive control panels, servers, and software for on-premise access control leads to much lower upfront capital costs with cloud solutions. You simply pay a service fee to the cloud access control provider, which is often just an operating expense. There are also lower costs for installation since cloud systems utilize PoE (power over ethernet) locks that only require a single ethernet cable rather than separate power and data cables.
Automatic Updates and Backups
When you deploy on-premise access control systems, you are responsible for all software updates, patches, backups, etc. This administrative overhead is eliminated with cloud systems that automatically update the cloud software and backup data for you.
Leading Cloud Access Control Solutions
Schlage offers a complete cloud access control ecosystem built around its NDE series of wireless locks and cloud-managed mobile app credentials. The ENGAGE cloud service allows you to remotely manage users, permissions, schedules, and more across all facilities.
ISONAS Pure Access Cloud
ISONAS has pioneered true cloud-based access control by combining its IP reader controllers with cloud-hosted software. The Pure Access Cloud provides an intuitive centralized interface for managing all access control across your organization.
Brivo OnAir
Brivo is another pioneering cloud access control solution. In addition to cloud-managed access control, Brivo offers video surveillance and mobile credentialing options that integrate with the core OnAir access system.
While the technology varies, the core concept remains the same - IP-connected hardware managed through cloud software. This provides a flexible, scalable, and cost-effective solution for securing your office or workplace.
The Future of Access Control is in the Cloud
As cloud computing and IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity become more ubiquitous, cloud-based access control represents the future of physical security. The advantages of this approach are simply too compelling to ignore - lower costs, real-time control, seamless scalability, and reduced maintenance.
For businesses, cloud access control enables comprehensive security that can extend across all locations, users, and doors through a centralized cloud platform. User permissions and access rights can easily keep pace as the organization expands, downsizes, or goes through other changes.
On an individual facility level, cloud access control delivers a secure, easy-to-use solution for managing employee and visitor access. The latest cloud-integrated IP access control units have tamper detection, encryption, and other robust security features to protect the credentialing system itself from threats.
Some of these units, like the Schlage RCK15 wall mount IP reader controller, combine cutting-edge technology with a sleek low-profile design suited for modern workplaces. This specific unit features:
- Secure communication using TLS 1.2 encryption
- Tamper detection via an accelerometer sensor
- Support for smart/mobile credentials like Bluetooth and NFC
- Flexibility for interior, exterior, metal, and non-metal installations
- Easy commissioning via mobile app configuration
- Local mode for faster response and reduced network traffic
- Single PoE connection for both power and data
Such IP-connected units eliminate the cost and complexity of running separate electrical and data wiring to each opening. Their scalable architecture can start small but easily expand as your organization grows.
Embracing the Cloud Migration
While cutting-edge cloud access control technology is compelling, many businesses may have lingering concerns about making the jump from traditional systems. There are strategies to help manage this migration, such as deploying cloud solutions for new facilities or phases of growth while maintaining existing legacy systems.
Additionally, top cloud providers have focused on ensuring credential portability to protect your investment in cards or fobs. For example, ISONAS offers an option for compatibility with your existing third-party credentials during the cloud migration.
The future of office and facility access control is in the cloud. For a secure, flexible, and cost-effective solution, businesses should start exploring how to embrace this digital transformation. Traditional lock-and-key systems are giving way to cloud-based access control that provides real-time visibility and management across all buildings, users, and openings.
If you're looking to implement a cutting-edge cloud access control system, Convergence Solutions can help. As a leading provider of physical security solutions, Convergence Solutions partners with top cloud access control manufacturers to design and deploy the ideal system for your needs. Contact them today to learn more.
Posted in: Cloud Applications