PSIJuly2018

PANEL
“Electronic access
control is creating
adding value and
improving end user
experiences but - this
being said, there will
always be consumers
and situations that
will require a
traditional key locking
system”
(from previous page)
you simply want to get into your house the
process is a pain. Is there a solution? I think the
new generation of passive, Bluetooth locks that
are now coming to market have a really strong
chance of converting the mainstream. This is
because they don’t require you to remove your
phone from your pocket, they automatically
perform a ‘handshake’ with the lock and then all
it takes is a touch to unlock the door. That
means taking the two-step process of using a
key and turning it into a single step. So long as
this technology is combined with a robust
mechanical locking platform then you have a
solution that is secure and highly functional.
Axelle Coulange –
Master Lock Europe
For a couple of decades now
the access control industry
has understood the need to
respond and adapt to the
evolving use of technology.
Digitalisation is not new, we
have been observing it for a couple of years, it
has just recently accelerated and the adoption
rates among consumers is increasing.
Electronic access control is creating adding
value and improving end user experiences but -
this being said, there will always be consumers
and situations that will require a traditional key
locking system. That is why we are always
offering both methods when we meticulously
design our range of electronic locking systems.
Andy Bromley – CSL
In theory the current trend of
moving away from keys for
access control makes perfect
sense. Instead of using
physical keys, coded key
boxes or manual intervention,
digital solutions can utilise
apps or text messages to provide secure,
controlled and audited access to any door
equipped with an electronic release mechanism.
However, these newer innovations still pose
some challenges, the principle one being that
for many installations there is a reliance on a
single path of communication. Any systems that
are “Internet Connected” rely on this to allow
information to be transferred reliably and
securely. If the connection goes down and there
is no back-up in place, the system can be left
totally unusable. In our industry we know that
“always on connectivity” is vital and a reliable
back-up option is paramount to any new
innovations that come to market. Fully
encrypted and GDPR ready connections must
also be in place for systems such as Access
Control. If any were compromised, the
consequences could be severe and therefore
high level installations are always required. In
terms of security, functionality and cost related
to traditional keys, these can all be exceeded by
the latest products. Despite this, reliability is
still a concern and needs to be understood
before we can fully embrace these innovations.
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