Companies Moving Toward Smart Card Based Access Control

Dec 18, 2007 3:02 PM

           

The access control market provides endless opportunities for smart card applications, although it is still considered an expensive option and less user-friendly compared to some of the available authentication methods. In the next few years, a fall in prices and increased interoperability of smart card-based access control system expect to make access control more attractive in the corporate security sector.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, World Corporate Security (Physical and Logical Access) Market, finds that the market earned revenues of $120.4 million in 2006 and estimates this to reach $235.0 million in 2012.

In the next four to five years, private sector companies with a focus on security and multi-applications are likely to move toward smart card-based access control systems, which are able to converge several functions on one card while offering sophisticated authentication methods.

Smart cards in access control are increasingly used in leisure and entertainment facilities and educational or research institutions. In fact, some developing countries leap straight to this technology, forgoing the older magnetic stripe cards.

"Low-cost contactless options have seen increased uptake in large-scale events all over the world, particularly in the U.S., Europe and Asia," says Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Michelle Foong. "These include sporting events, major conferences, live performances as well as other events where crowd control and security are key considerations."

While the benefits of access technologies are unquestionable, many small- and medium-sized enterprises are unable to justify an infrastructure that supports a smart card platform for access control. With the availability of cheaper alternatives, many setups are content with their existing system and do not wish to migrate to smart cards. Even within bigger companies, the migration from legacy systems will take a few more years, unless there is a strong business case to support the move.

Barriers to migration are even higher in logical access control, where smart cards do not plug-and-play into PCs and networks as easily as other options such as universal serial bus (USB) and one-time passwords.

Positive spillover effects of government mandates, initiatives and increased mobility of workers are resulting in a greater need tor secure access to corporate resources. Various government initiatives such as the U.S. Common Access Card (CAC), and Civil Service Card in Singapore and Indonesia raise awareness and educate the market about the benefits of secure and scalable systems such as smart cards.

"In countries where government agencies actively use smart cards for door access, there has been a marked increase in private sector adoption of smart cards in access control," Foong notes. "Over time, the drop in prices and the move to more open and standardized platforms will encourage more applications in the private sector."

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2008 Penton Media Inc.

SUBSCRIBE

Select an Issue April 1, 2008 March 1, 2008 February 1, 2008 January 1, 2008 December 1, 2007 November 1, 2007 October 1, 2007 September 1, 2007 August 1, 2007 July 1, 2007 June 1, 2007 IP Security Supplement May 1, 2007 April 1, 2007 March 1, 2007 February 1, 2007 January 1, 2007 School Security December 1, 2006 November 1, 2006 October 1, 2006 September 1, 2006 August 1, 2006 July 1, 2006 June 1, 2006 May 1, 2006 April 1, 2006 March 1, 2006 February 1, 2006 January 1, 2006 December 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 October 1, 2005 September 1, 2005 August 1, 2005 July 1, 2005 June 1, 2005 May 1, 2005 April 1, 2005 March 1, 2005 February 1, 2005 January 1, 2005 December 1, 2004 November 1, 2004 October 1, 2004 September 1, 2004 August 1, 2004 July 1, 2004 July 1, 2004 June 1, 2004 May 1, 2004 April 1, 2004 March 1, 2004 February 1, 2004 January 1, 2004 December 1, 2003 November 1, 2003 October 1, 2003 September 1, 2003 August 1, 2003 July 1, 2003 June 1, 2003 May 1, 2003 April 1, 2003 March 1, 2003 February 1, 2003 January 1, 2003 December 1, 2002 November 1, 2002 October 1, 2002 September 1, 2002 August 1, 2002 July 1, 2002 June 1, 2002 May 1, 2002 April 1, 2002 March 1, 2002 February 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 December 1, 2001 November 1, 2001 October 1, 2001 September 1, 2001 August 1, 2001 July 1, 2001 June 1, 2001 May 1, 2001 April 1, 2001 March 1, 2001 February 1, 2001 January 1, 2001 December 1, 2000 November 1, 2000 October 1, 2000 September 1, 2000 August 1, 2000 July 1, 2000 June 1, 2000 May 1, 2000 April 1, 2000 March 1, 2000 February 1, 2000 January 1, 2000 December 1, 1999 November 1, 1999 October 1, 1999 September 1, 1999 August 1, 1999 July 1, 1999 June 1, 1999 May 1, 1999 April 1, 1999 March 1, 1999 February 1, 1999 January 1, 1999 December 1, 1998 November 1, 1998 October 1, 1998 September 1, 1998 August 1, 1998 July 1, 1998 June 1, 1998 May 1, 1998 April 1, 1998 March 1, 1998 February 1, 1998 January 1, 1998 December 1, 1997 November 1, 1997 October 1, 1997 September 1, 1997 August 1, 1997 July 1, 1997 June 1, 1997 May 1, 1997 April 1, 1997 March 1, 1997 February 1, 1997 January 1, 1997

This month in Access Control

• Opening Up About Door Closers
• An Enterprise Approach
• The Framework For Open Systems
• On A Higher Plane
• More from April's issue