Door Industry Journal - Winter 2019

115 THE door industry journal winter 2019 Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk Locks & Building Hardware evidence against this, cloud-based systems are progressively being seen as the best equipped systems for cyber attacks (providing the correct procedures are put in place, i.e. two-factor authentication). For an internally managed system, facilities may need a large amount of resources, time and even budget to keep it running smoothly. Updates, in particular, can be a timely and precise process, and when done manually on-site, there’s the chance that a lax approach or a common mistake could cause huge security repercussions. Looking back to the example of a school entrance and those that operate access control from an on-site server: It is possible for users to implement multiple layers of security to their on-site infrastructures by themselves. Yet, in reality, many lack the expertise and experience to enforce this. With schools, in particular, stretched IT teams and budget issues can sometimes result to a more lenient or less meticulous operation. This increases the possibility that their access control systems become vulnerable to cyber attacks, highlighting the weaknesses of these systems compared to those that are handled by third-party organisations. With cloud-based systems, the maintenance is taken away from internal teams, saving time and resources and giving peace of mind that updates are being handled by expert teams. This extra layer of security is why schools, among other facilities, across the UK are beginning to make the switch. Traditional benefits Aside from being the best protection for cyber attacks, cloud-based systems are offering decision makers a number of other benefits. Doors and physical locations aren’t the only areas where these cloud-based systems can improve security. The nature of these cloud-based systems allow for additional use in some unusual but highly beneficial scenarios. Forklift operators, parking gate users and those that require access to drug cabinets (whether based in hospitals or on-duty ambulances) can all do so with integrated cloud solutions. Accessibility isn’t the only benefit to facilities either. Cloud-based systems offer decision makers full flexibility in terms of how they can adapt to a building. This flexibility allows for huge scalability options, enabling a building to grow with its access control system – without presenting any additional security issues. Effortless access control The importance of building security has always been paramount to those involved with access control. Now, with physical security and cybersecurity both needing to be considered, it’s imperative for facilities to keep up with the IoT movement by using access control systems that can protect their facilities from multiple security threats. The effortless nature of cloud-based systems is simplifying (but progressing) access control processes for facilities across the UK. For many, the cloud is much more than an industry trend, it’s a revolutionary stance on access control. Sources: 1 https://www.isonas.com/why-isonas/use-cases/ 2 https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS44891519 For more, visit www.allegion.com .