Access control software sits at the core of the security suite in the digital workplace revolution. And although the primary purpose of such software is to control physical access to doors and people, there is even more value in going beyond the mere act of locking and unlocking.

It’s important to understand: One piece of software alone does not guarantee anything. Your security system is more than just your software.

Organisations with strong security policies and infrastructure in place will have the most success with their chosen access control software.

The future of access control software

“The future of access control is more access and less control.”Lee Odess 

This notion of a future where we are focused on “letting the good people in” rather than “keeping the wrong people out” was emphasized this year at one of Nedap Security Management’s keynote presentations at ASIS Europe. But it’s a sentiment that’s widely shared among security professionals.

What was once the main benefit of access control—keeping bad people out—is now only the bare minimum. Business leaders, stakeholders, and end users are all expecting more out of their experiences in the built environments. This means that integrations will play a bigger role than ever.

So what does this mean for organisations worldwide? For starters, having an updated technology infrastructure is no longer a nice-to-have but a must-have.

Best of breed as the gateway to the future

Can your organisation say with certainty that it’s ready for a best of breed access control software solution? Choosing the right software could very well be your gateway to a future where the logical and physical worlds come together for seamless security.

“End users are demanding solutions that provide convenience and security in equal measure, alongside questions over integration and open standards, remote connectivity and the cloud.”IFSEC’s take in Trends, Opportunities, and Challenges in Physical Access Control 

With the growing change of mentality around physical access control and the user experience, solutions such as AEOS that is based on open standards and easy to integrate with could be the right match for organisations looking to bring best-of-breed technologies under one roof. In fact, then we could look at the access control software as “the brains” of the access control system.

Value creation through access control

As access control technology evolves and innovates, there are several initiatives that lead the way:

  • Automation
  • Integrations
  • Mobility Operations
  • Data Management/Compliance
  • Centralisation

In short, access control software should help you maximise security on your premises, gain more control over who enters a space and under what conditions, and fully comply with industry-related legislation and requirements.

Have you ever wondered what your peers expect from their own access control software? Well, we asked them. Based on third-party research commissioned by Nedap Security Management, security and facility leaders in 152 multinational enterprise companies were asked about the ways that access control adds value to their business. We welcome you to see the insights for yourself and download the report.

The better question might be, what can your access control software expect from you? 

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“The quality of the access control software is important, but on its own it’s not successful.”

Daryn Flynn Nedap UK