Feature Security Matters Webinar Read more online at www.securitymattersmagazine.com
48
Entry points
On Thursday 20 May at 10.30 am, Security Matters ran the latest
instalment of the magazine’s popular webinar series. Sponsored by
HID Global, ‘How Mobile Access Plays a Pivotal Role in a Safe and Secure
Return to Work Strategy’ covered all the major discussion points centred
on access solutions in a post-COVID world. Brian Sims reports
WE’RE NOW just over 18 months
on from the COVID-19 pandemic first
taking hold. Most countries in Europe
have been through several waves of
necessary lockdowns that have seen
places of employment closed and
employees working from home where
and when possible.
After all this time, a physical return to
the workplace is certainly being viewed
as an exciting prospect by some, but
perhaps feels like a daunting one for
others. Even with vaccinations and a
relaxation in the social distancing rules,
organisations must now assess in detail
how they can ensure employees and
visitors feel safe at all times.
In essence, this means adapting to
new requirements, implementing new
procedures and using new technologies
and tools such that individuals – be they
full-time members of staff, part-time
workers or visitors – can trust that the
host organisation is looking after them
to the very best of its ability.
Operational policies may emanate
from CEOs and Human Resources
teams. Ultimately, though, it’s going to
be the building and facilities managers
who will need to turn policy into a
practical and workable reality.
Bearing all of this in mind, access
control technology is necessarily a prime
area of interest and also a keen focal
point for this entire process.
Research findings
Indeed, it’s this very topic that was
addressed in detail by HID Global on
the latest Security Matters webinar.
Presenter Henrik Hjelte (the
Stockholm-based product marketing
manager for mobile access at HID
Global) began his engaging presentation
with an overview of recent research
before outlining what mobile access is
and how it works. Hjelte then reviewed
its benefits, Best Practice techniques and
how to introduce mobile access into a
legacy physical access control system.
The 40-minute presentation concluded
with an overview of the potential for
integrating mobile access with third
party building management apps.
“Before the pandemic,” asserted
Hjelte, “we were talking about security
and convenience of system use and
how to deploy access solutions.
This has since pivoted towards
the safe return to work. Joint
HID Global-ASIS International
research has shown that the
main access control challenges
are the pandemic response, user
convenience and new threats.”
HID’s own mobile access solutions
are currently deployed to over 4,000
customers in upwards of 100 countries.
The business works with over 100
technology partners to fulfil dedicated
integration projects.
“Boarding passes are now being
stored on mobile phones,” observed
Hjelte. “So is payment software. Plastic
cards are being replaced by digital
solutions. Why shouldn’t this be so in
the access control domain as well?”
A management portal is used to
manage users and credentials. “The
mobile ID is a virtual credential that’s
sent to the mobile device. On the latter
sits the app. The mobile device is held
up to a reader. That initiates opening of
the door. There’s no contact involved.”
What are the high-level benefits to
be gained? Hjelte said: “From a
user’s perspective, they have fewer
items to carry. Lost or forgotten
cards are no longer a problem.
Mobile adds to the perception
of being inside an innovative
environment. The system works
in the background. In terms of
operational efficiency, physical
credential management is
transformed into a digital experience.
Over-the-air credentialing of visitors
and remote workers is real. It’s a
sustainable process with reduced waste
and a lower carbon footprint.”
Authentication levels
From a security standpoint, mobile
access can provide higher levels of
authentication. At HID Global, Seos
technology is used to secure the
On Demand
service
You can watch this
Security Matters/HID Global
webinar on demand for free
by using the following link:
tinyurl.com/2bexubhd
/www.securitymattersmagazine.com
/2bexubhd
/www.securitymattersmagazine.com
/2bexubhd
