Insights
Addressing the Unique Access Control Requirements of Enterprise-Level Companies
July 31, 2023
In today's security landscape, organizations require comprehensive solutions that go beyond access control. Integrated security systems have gained significant popularity due to their ability to combine multiple security functions into a unified platform. These systems integrate access control with video surveillance, intrusion detection, and alarm systems, providing a holistic approach to security management. The benefits of integrated security systems include centralized control, improved situational awareness, streamlined operations, and enhanced incident response capabilities. By consolidating various security functions, organizations can optimize their security infrastructure and achieve a higher level of protection.
The Limits of Legacy Access Control Platforms
One of the main challenges faced by enterprises is that their access control platforms are typically designed for legacy systems. These platforms primarily support RFID readers, which are becoming outdated technology. RFID cards pose security risks as they can be lost, stolen, borrowed, or easily duplicated, potentially compromising access control measures. Moreover, the environmental impact of RFID cards and disposable lanyards, which contribute to plastic waste, is increasingly concerning. To adapt to evolving security needs, enterprises must embrace modern access control credentials like biometrics and mobile access, which provide enhanced security and eliminate the risks associated with traditional RFID cards.
The Future of Physical Access Control Systems: From SMB to Enterprise Level
As technology continues to advance, the future of physical access control systems holds great potential. The industry is witnessing a shift towards biometric authentication and mobile credentials. Biometric technologies, such as fingerprint and facial recognition, offer higher security and greater convenience. Mobile credentials stored on smartphones eliminate the need for physical cards and simplify access management.
Many people are already becoming accustomed to the level of convenience and high security that biometric and mobile credentials can offer—largely thanks to a “contactless” shift in public preferences brought on by the COVID pandemic—and it won’t be long until RFID cards are seen as a thing of the past. Therefore, enterprises and large organizations would do well to ensure their security platform can keep up with the times.
The BioStar 2 Advantage for Enterprise-Level Security
One innovative solution that aligns with the future of integrated physical access control systems is BioStar 2. Developed by Suprema, BioStar 2 is a web-based open integrated security platform designed to work seamlessly with Suprema access control devices. It is a scalable platform suitable for businesses of all sizes, ranging from SMBs to multinational enterprises and government organizations. By leveraging BioStar 2, organizations can achieve a higher level of security, streamline access management, and integrate various security functions into one unified system.
Following are a few examples of how BioStar 2 solves special security requirements for large companies and government organizations:
Biometric and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): BioStar 2 is compatible with biometric access control terminals that use Suprema’s industry-leading fingerprint and facial recognition credentials. Very high-security sites can even go the extra mile by requiring any combination of two or more different kinds of credentials, and even setting up multiple access levels to ensure only authorized personnel can enter the most top-secret areas of their facilities.
BioStar 2 currently accepts the largest variety of MFA credentials in the entire industry, being compatible with fingerprint, facial recognition, RFID card, PIN number, mobile access and QR code and barcode credentials. Owing to this market-leading feature that only Suprema can currently offer, BioStar 2 is used to secure ultra-high security data centers around the world.
Support for both Centralized and Distributed System: The physical access control industry is still largely divided on whether centralized or distributed systems are most preferred. When access control is centralized, one unified system is used to control multiple locations. On the other hand, a distributed system has the main controller physically separated from the door access end units. Both methods have their merits and specific cases where they may be preferred. Large and complex sites, such as public infrastructure, may need to use both centralized and distributed access control to secure different parts of their facilities, which can pose logistical problems.
BioStar 2 is the only security platform that simultaneously supports both centralized and distributed access control systems. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Korea South-East Power Co. both use BioStar 2 to manage access control in different sections of their facilities via a combination of centralized and distributed systems.
Flexible Architecture: When enterprises wish to add new kinds of systems to their security network, it can pose a problem if their existing platform is incompatible. BioStar 2 is vastly extensible, using API based flexible architecture that easily integrates with custom solutions developed and controlled by third-party branches and agencies. For example, BioStar 2 can be used to manage visitors and conference room reservations via the RealPass-N plugin. A more bespoke example can be seen in Miami-based Centner Academy, where BioStar 2 was integrated with an indoor gunshot detection system to ensure the safety of students and staff.
In conclusion, BioStar 2 is the only integrated security platform that provides the most important features which the largest and most high-security organizations require: multi-factor authentication for both biometric and mobile access, and simultaneous support for both centralized and distributed access control systems. With highly extensible plugin architecture and T&A management added in for good measure, BioStar 2 is capable of handling the most rigorous physical access control needs for companies of any size.
For more information about BioStar 2, please visit the BioStar 2 webpage, or contact a Suprema representative.
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