Access control at Intersec 2017: ASSA ABLOY discuss the latest solutions

As public and private sector organisations around the world seek cost-efficient wireless access control solutions that do not compromise on security, the spotlight falls increasingly on wireless technologies.

In the run up to Intersec 2017, Security Middle East interviews Thomas Schulz, Director Marketing and Communications DAS EMEA at ASSA ABLOY, on what we should expect to see from ASSA ABLOY at the show – including the latest trends in IoT-powered, wireless access control for businesses and homes.

You have chosen “Stay connected, stay secure!” as your theme for Intersec 2017. Can you explain why?

Thomas Schulz: The increasing connectedness of our security devices has turned access control into a real-time technology. Monitoring, the ability to adapt in an instant or to change access permissions on the move, is now possible with many connected devices. The more easily we can access a real-time flow of information, the faster we can respond, in both commercial and domestic settings. This is a major benefit of the “Internet of Things” from a security perspective — whether we’re talking about critical infrastructure protected by our CLIQ® key-based wireless access control solution, or a home secured by a Yale connected smart door lock.

What key market trends in access control do you expect to see in 2017?

We are seeing a major shift from wired to wireless access control, and that will continue through this year. Evidence for the market’s move to wireless includes some of our own research — published with IFSECglobal.com in “The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016” — which found 29 per cent of premises using a wireless or hybrid wired/wireless access control system, with 5 per cent  of premises already fully wireless.

Why wireless? Because this technology is easy to install and to maintain. With wireless locks, it’s also cost-efficient to bring electronic access control much deeper into a site than would be possible with wired access control — boosting convenience, control and security in the process. Our wireless product portfolio includes card- and key-based battery-powered locks for stand-alone use and for integration with other systems. We continue to be a global market leader in the wireless sector, as was again recognised by our place in the annual A&S Security 50.

We also see increasing emphasis on integration and interoperability. Customers now expect an access control system to work seamlessly with their CCTV, alarm, HVAC and other building management systems, even if those systems are made by different manufacturers. That’s why it is becoming increasingly important to build technologies that adhere to open standards, such as the OSS Standard Offline, as we do with our Aperio® wireless locks.

Which ASSA ABLOY product lines meet this increasing demand for integrated solutions?

Our Aperio® battery-powered wireless locks integrate seamlessly with third-party access control systems from several market-leading manufacturers, allowing companies to extend access control to more doors without breaking the bank. Visitors to Intersec 2017 can see live integrations with Nedap and Axis systems at the ASSA ABLOY booth. Aperio® components include online and offline wireless cylinders and escutcheons, wireless security locks and dedicated server rack locks. Homeowners, too, enjoy the convenience and added security of an integrated platform. Yale smart residential door locks can work as part of many third-party smart-home ecosystems, enabling the control of multiple home security functions, including our front door lock, from a single app.

Do you have major innovations in key-based access control to announce?

Yes, for CLIQ®, which is our security locking system based on high-end microelectronics, programmable keys and cylinders, and robust, weatherproof components. New innovations bring the power and functionality of CLIQ® to a mobile phone. The CLIQ® Go app enables managers of small and medium-sized businesses to administer security and access rights on the move, from anywhere in the world. A few taps of a screen is all it takes to revoke, supervise or amend an individual’s access rights. In addition, CLIQ® Connect was highly commended in the 2016 Detektor International Awards. It enables more streamlined workflows for a larger organisation’s mobile workforce. The new Connect app pairs a programmable CLIQ® Connect key, via Bluetooth, to the cloud-based CLIQ® administration software, allowing mobile workers to update their access permissions in the field with just a smartphone.

The Internet of Things (IoT) continues to grab consumer mindshare. How have ASSA ABLOY approached the growing smart home market?

We already have the widest range of domestic smart door locks on the market — many distributed internationally by our long-established Yale brand, which has built decades of trust in home security. The Yale range features both stand-alone and integration-ready connected locks, including ENTR®, which allows users to unlock their front door with a smartphone, PIN code, remote control or fingerprint. Being able to open your door remotely for a guest or a child who has arrived home earlier than expected is both safer and more convenient. ASSA ABLOY’s smart door locks are compatible with all major global door formats. These innovative locks can also work with multiple smart-home platforms, including Samsung SmartThings, the UK’s O2 Home, innogy SmartHome in Germany, Pronet in Turkey and many others — allowing homeowners to control several domestic functions from a single app or interface.

To see how the latest wireless technologies are helping homes and businesses to stay connected and stay secure, visit the ASSA ABLOY Intersec 2017 showcase: Sheikh Saeed Hall 2, Stand H12.

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