GSN January 2016 Digital Edition

provides multiple upgrade options
to ensure government agencies can
meet their security needs while
remaining within budgetary constraints.
Beyond Security
Today’s software-based access control
systems offer capabilities that
go outside of the traditional security
realm to contribute to overall
operations. In one example, a school
system needed a better way to manage
student traffic between modular
temporary classrooms in use during
construction of a new facility and
the main school building. A main
concern was with children from
the modular classrooms using restrooms
and other facilities located in
the main building throughout the
school day. Administrators seeking
a more efficient means to track student
movements beyond conventional
hall passes issued proximity
devices for use in access readers in
the portable classrooms and at all
entrances to the main school building.
This enabled monitoring of
students’ locations, with a predetermined
amount of time allotted for
both ways between their classroom
and the main building. If a student
failed to report back within that
timeframe, the system issued a general
alert. This is just one example
of how access control solutions can
expanded to address requirements
beyond security.
Mobile and Wireless
Today it seems as if everyone has a
mobile device of some kind, so it’s
no surprise that wireless and Wi-
Fi technology have made their way
into access control, as evidenced by
the number of wireless readers that
have emerged. For government applications,
this allows wireless access
control solutions to be deployed at
remote locations, as well as to protect
moving locations such as trains
or buses. Near field communication
(NFC) and other location-based
data also
present interesting
opportunities
for
access control,
although
adoption and
evolution of
these technologies
will
25
take time. Both wired and wireless
technologies will have a place in
the future, so it is important to consider
how these technologies will
interface and/or integrate, particularly
given the growth of the BYOD
(bring your own device) model.
For government applications, the
advanced technologies behind today’s
access control solutions enable
users to monitor facilities and
share data across multiple systems,
expanding the capabilities of access
control. As a result, networked systems
offer the potential for innovative
applications that deliver heightened
situational awareness and
greater overall security. As these
solutions and technologies evolve,
they will offer even greater functionality
and the flexibility to address
the unique security and budgetary
requirements of each specific
government application.