Introducing Access Control 3.0

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Michael Nicholson, Business Development Manager for the UK & Ireland at 2N explains why we have now moved into a new era for access control

The term ‘Industry 4.0’ is now understood and used all over the world. It no longer requires any explanation

Until very recently, access control has always followed a completely separate path, primarily because it has always been driven by different objectives – security and convenience rather than, for industry, productivity and profit. Access control also has a much, much longer history.

The first industrial revolution started around 1760, with the transition to new manufacturing processes, initially in England. By then, access control had already been around for, probably, 6,000 years at least. It started with the invention of the first lock and key device. No one knows exactly who got there first (the earliest we know of was found in the ruins of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria), but we can guess at the transformative impact that it must have had in the ancient world. It launched the first access control ‘revolution’ (let’s call it ‘Access Control 1.0’).

That simple lock and key model did evolve over the centuries that followed. The Egyptians, for example, developed wooden pin-tumbler locks, and the Romans were the first to use metal – which enabled stronger, smaller keys which could easily be carried in a pocket. Much later, in 1848, modern flat keys were introduced by Linus Yale Sr. – but these were still pintumbler locks.

We were well into Industry 3.0 – which digitised industry through the development of computing and communications technologies – by the time the second access control revolution (‘Access Control 2.0’) arrived. The year was 1983, and Charles Walton received the first US patent for a passive RFID (radio frequency identification) device to enhance security in door-locking systems.

This qualified as a ‘revolution’ in access control because it fulfilled three key criteria: a) It was not a minor or incremental change – it was a fundamentally new way of operating. b) It had a transformative impact on access control. c) It was adopted at scale, all around the world – so its effect was felt globally.

My contention is that we have, in the last few years, moved into a new era for access control which fulfils the same three criteria – and which we should therefore call ‘Access Control 3.0’.

Access Control 3.0 is defined by seven core elements:

IP technology: 2N launched the first IP intercom, the 2N Helios IP Vario, in 2008. This did not kick off Access Control 3.0, but it was a necessary first step. IP technology has transformed access control since then, enabling the development of smart, flexible, fully customisable solutions – which can also be integrated into complex, comprehensive security systems. The kinds of innovative solutions that are commonplace today would simply not be possible without it.

Mobile credentials: It seems so natural to us now, but phones have replaced watches, cameras, calculators, calendars, CD players, TVs, books, newspapers… and, most recently, credit cards. Keys will soon be added to this list, with IP technology facilitating the emergence of mobile access control. Driven by the convenience it offers, industry forecasts indicate exponential growth in mobile credentials over the next few years.

Multi-user technology: To offer a complete residential access solution, both IP intercoms and access readers must be included in order to maximise the potential and allow for multi-user

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access: an intercom for guests and visitors who need to be authorised, and access readers for pre-registered tenants and staff who don’t.

Remote management: IP technology has also enabled access control systems to be managed remotely, in real time. This has made a huge difference in residential buildings, where building managers are able to monitor, maintain – and fix – a large number of devices from one place.

Cybersecurity: The truth is that access control has not always been front of mind when it comes to cybersecurity, but more and more companies now appreciate that if access control systems are compromised, the daily operations of the building – and, consequently, its residents – could be at risk.

Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG): This is not a technological development, but ESG is as important for the access control industry as every other sector. Proving your track record on sustainability, supply chain integrity, diversity & inclusion, employee welfare and local community relations is a defining part of this era.

Privacy and the protection of personal data: Mitigating the risk of personal data being misused is now a primary concern for access control companies. It is a significant barrier to the development of biometric-based access control, including facial recognition technology, because regulatory compliance (including people’s right to have their personally identifiable information deleted or ‘forgotten’) is much more complicated than it is for mobile credentials.

Several of these elements also apply to Industry 4.0, which is why, for the first time, there is a direct link between the revolutions in access control and those in industry.

The question is whether all of this is enough to qualify as a ‘revolution’ in access control, and therefore justify the title of ‘Access Control 3.0’?

Think back to the three criteria I outlined earlier:

Does Access Control 3.0 represent fundamental change? Yes, the changes introduced by IP technology and the move to mobile access control are unquestionably transformative rather than incremental.

Has it had a transformative impact on access control? Yes – on both security and convenience, the two eternal objectives for access control.

Have mobile credentials, multi-user technology, remote management etc. taken over the world? The honest answer to this question is “not yet” – but there is no doubt that we are on the cusp of this kind of widespread change. In residential buildings, for example, we expect to see an acceleration in the trend of homeowners integrating access control into their home automation systems. As more and more people start to appreciate the full potential of smart intercoms and answering units, these devices are being transformed into the central control panel, regulating everything from the lights, airconditioning and music system through to the garage door and lawn irrigation system. They are also being connected with security systems to deter intruders while, at the same time, allowing couriers to deliver packages even when no one is at home.

These kinds of solutions are already popular. Very soon, based on the current pace of change, they will be the norm.

So while the Access Control 3.0 era is probably still in its infancy, things are accelerating fast. It took 6,000 years to move from locks and keys (Access Control 1.0) to RFID devices (Access Control 2.0). It took less than 40 years from that point to the emergence of Access Control 3.0.

As Access Control 3.0 continues to evolve and mature, our industry is already looking ahead and investing into the next big technological innovations that will drive transformative change. What might that future look like? It’s not yet clear – but it’s going to be fun to find out.