5 Trends in Access Control to Watch in 2021 and Beyond

The pandemic and the disruption it caused last year continue to upend assumptions in 2021. Nevertheless, as organizations plan security solutions to protect their physical premises, several trends have emerged that are driving access control decisions in 2021 and beyond. 

It’s safe to say that crafting a resilient, flexible security solution for your physical facilities is more important than ever. Beyond the typical reasons, lower touch solutions, occupancy levels, increasing difficulty in finding staff are all driving the need for efficient, scalable access control solutions for your Houston, TX organization. Read below for five trends to know as you strategize your security plans. 

SEE MORE: Why Open Architectures Are Critical for Access Control

1. Cloud-Based Solutions

Almost every software solution is moving to a cloud-based architecture. Physical access control is no exception, and cloud solutions have seen wide adoption in multi-location organizations. The reasons are straightforward. Cloud-based solutions scale easily, with no local servers to deploy. They are easier to manage with web and app interfaces from anywhere with internet connections. And cloud software models employ the same APIs as other cloud applications to make integration with other security solutions far easier.

2. Mobile-Based Credentials

Physical credentials like fobs and cards are easy to steal and lose. However, smartphones are an item everyone carries, and their sophisticated hardware and software allow for strong encryption essential for robust security solutions. Mobile-based authentication grew 150% from 2017 to 2018, and it will only accelerate. Mobile credentials are easy to use, manage, and revoke, and they are highly secure with strong encryption capabilities. 

3. Multi-Factor Authentication

Multi-factor authentication requires more than one credential to gain access to something, relying on the concepts of something you have, are, and something you know (like a physical token and a fingerprint). Many use it for login access to popular services today, from email to financial accounts, and the same concepts are being applied for access control. Multi-factor is easier to integrate with mobile-based credentials on general-purpose smartphone platforms, a factor that will drive the increasing adoption of both trends. 

4. Biometric Access Control

Biometric access control solutions have existed in highly secure facilities for years, but mass adoption was hindered by high cost, accuracy, and privacy issues. With the advent of secure facial recognition with advanced smartphone cameras, biometric access can take a different track. In addition, the latest smart security cameras utilize advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence for facial recognition, creating more options for multi-factor authentication using mobile and surveillance camera solutions. Biometric facial recognition also offers the opportunity to implement low-touch access control. 

5. Subscriptions-Based Models

Just as business and computing models have shifted heavily from hardware purchases, software licenses, and integration to cloud-based application subscriptions, the trend has come to access control solutions. The latest cloud-based solutions integrate hardware and software and offer organizations a subscription-based pay-as-you-go model that reduces large up-front capital investments in new hardware and software and the need to manage them. Look for this trend to accelerate rapidly with all types of security solutions. 

ASAP Security Services has vast experience across Texas with sophisticated security and surveillance systems in both the public and commercial sectors. To learn more about access control and security solutions, set up a consultation with our team by calling (877) 418-ASAP, filling out our contact form, or starting a live chat with us below. We look forward to working with you!