Guide to Mobile Access Control
Several advantages and disadvantages heralded the evolutions of mobile access control. People have computers in their palms with the arrival of smartphones in the first decade of the 21st century. Thus, people find phone calls as an afterthought. As a 2019 report observes, many Americans check their phones 96 times daily. With this, people use their phones to enter systems and facilities. Therein lies the evolution of mobile access control.
However, mobile access control is not about smartphones alone. Mobile access control systems use other portable electronic devices, including wearables and tablets, as access credentials. However, the most common types of mobile electronic credentials are smartphones.
Advantages Mobile Access Control Has Over Key Cards
Higher Security
Employees can be cavalier about losing key cards or have them stolen since they have no intrinsic value. The situation is not the same as mobile devices. There is a security threat in a lax attitude with the presence of cards. When it comes to facial recognition access control software, people can also use a mobile phone in two-factor authentication. There is also encryption wrapped around the card payload through mobile credentials. Therefore, another encryption layer can enhance the basic card encryption when the reader transmits the mobile credential. The other encryption layer can secure the transmission of the card payload to the reader.
Convenience
People can easily forget key cards or clip them onto their belts. People may not likely access the building when they forget a key card at home.
Less Contact
It is typical of workers to handle their phones, and they are almost attached to them physically. Keyless entry can eliminate key cards, which yields one less object to the touch – an object that someone else might have handled recently.
Cost
Eliminates the materials and time expense of replacing stolen and lost key cards.
The Future of Mobile Access Control
New computers can put on and off themselves, and people can use smartphones for their security purposes beyond access control. This case includes:
Virtual Buttons
The power and ability to include virtual buttons to an application to perform functionality that the administrator specifies and distributes only to those permitted to use them.
Presence Detention
During an on-site incident investigation or an emergency, security can track the staff or location both in the present and past.
Mass Notification
Users can send notifications to specific users or particular areas by combining geofencing and location services.
The Connection Between Access Control Readers and Smartphones
There is a need for mobile phones to have one or a combination of the following technologies to use as a keyless entry system. These are WiFi, Bluetooth Low Energy, or Near Field Communication.
Bluetooth Low Energy
One of the most common types of communication used in the security market is Bluetooth low energy. It is not surprising since of the enormous significance it has over the traditional Bluetooth technology that needs manual pairing between the devices. There is a chance to connect and unlock without the inconvenience of having to pair the devices when people use Bluetooth low energy.
