With an open-standards architecture and connectivity to mobile/cloud platforms, controlling access becomes cheaper, faster and more secure than ever.
The connected workplace is experiencing new vistas of possibilities from blending access control with mobile and cloud technologies. The approach establishes a common understanding of trusted identities so that organizations can control what benefits each individual staff is authorized to receive.
Today’s access control solutions can incorporate everything needed to connect to and interact with a building’s other security systems, services and enterprise applications. They also boost building security and performance while giving users the same kind of digital experiences in the workplace and at home.
Getting to this point has required that such solutions be built on open architectures and standard communications protocols. This ensures product interoperability and flexibility, while making it simple and economical to upgrade to access control systems that can serve as the foundation for creating more connected-building experiences.
A key specification in this journey is the Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) that improves security while adding real-world efficiencies. Its interoperability enables organizations to integrate systems from multiple manufacturers to protect their critical data.
OSDP also streamlines installations and upgrades while eliminating the expense of replacing readers if a new access control solution is implemented. Further, the open standard improves service and maintenance by encouraging continuous monitoring of system uptime and enabling readers to be remotely configured or upgraded. This also means that system administrators no longer need to physically visit and diagnose malfunctioning devices.
Out with the old protocols
OSDP is replacing antiquated and vulnerable clock-and-data and Wiegand protocols. Organizations that do not move to OSDP-based access control solutions leave themselves extremely vulnerable to security threats and miss out on valuable benefits.
OSDP uses the Secure Channel Protocol to increase security and features, making it possible for data to be collected, shared and acted upon. This is possible since the protocol uses bi-directional communication for configuration, status monitoring, tampering detection, and other important functions.
OSDP also creates an open and interoperable access control architecture and also ensures that system functionality can be flexibly-enhanced as needs change and new threats emerge. It also reduces installation costs by enabling multi-drop installation, supervised connections to indicate reader malfunctions and tampering; and scalability to connect more field devices.
Doorway to future capabilities
Many readers that do not support OSDP can be upgraded to the capability. Bluetooth and OSDP capabilities can be added to existing readers through upgrade kits available on the market.
To meet the security needs of today’s dynamic world, the new generation of readers provide out-of-the-box support for OSDP. They support a wide range of credential technologies, including mobile IDs via native Bluetooth and Near Field Communication (NFC) capability. Importantly, they also employ Apple’s Enhanced Contactless Polling (ECP) to support credentials in Apple Wallet.
The new generation of readers will also improve security through the use of cryptographic keys on certified EAL5+ secure element hardware, and they will offer capabilities such as iBeacon support, and technologies that enable them to automatically recalibrate tuning to optimize read range performance.
Upgrading to the next generation of physical access control technology will enable building owners and managers to future-proof their security systems in a way that has never before been possible. It will ensure they are equipped with the dynamic tools they need to counter new and ever-changing threats while also implementing ongoing enhancements as needed.
