IFSEC panel discussion with man on microphone, three speakers and seated audience

The Future of Access Control: IFSEC 2017 Panel Discussion

IFSEC was a great show for us this year, with our new stand design and stunning turnstiles attracting a lot of attention and creating some new opportunities.  IFSEC also presented an opportunity to participate in a panel discussion looking at what’s next in access control, and Shane Naish (Operations Director, IDL) took part alongside Gareth Ellams (Managing Director, Assa Abloy Access Control) and Spencer Marshall (Director of Sales, HID Global) in a session moderated by John Davies (Managing Director, TDSi).

John summed up where access control is heading with his statement that “access control isn’t about doors any more.  It’s about the movement of people and how we work”.  It is an accepted fact that access control provides security, monitoring and enforcing authorised access to protect an environment’s assets and personnel, so now we have to look to innovate beyond this and use the opportunities presented to support the intentions of improved user experience and the broader business objectives of the managing body.

The companies represented on the panel had driven a large number of innovations in the sector, some of which are centred around the opportunities resulting from wireless technology.  HID patented a Twist and Go reader using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology with device gestures that can be used for example for parking ID. The drive to deploy secure locks in an access control system as simply as possible has resulted in Assa Abloy’s development of the wireless, encrypted Aperio product.

Our Fastlane Speedgates utilise secure ethernet connections to provide more functionality for the turnstiles and integrations, but also can provide data which is of use to the building manager and security team. Aside from integrations such as a lift destination system, our turnstiles provide data on the movement of people through portals (sets of Speedgates).

You can read more about the panel discussion here.