68 • SECURITYSYSTEMS
Cloud-based Access
Control: Improving Security
in More Ways Than One
» » ACCESS CONTROL HAS ALWAYS
been at the forefront of building security.
Traditionally, access control systems have
come in the form of conventional lock
and key methods, electronic systems or a
combination of the two. Today, cloud-
based systems are changing the market
landscape, providing secondary security
benefits to users across the UK.
Trevor Ball, business development
manager UK & Ireland at Allegion UK,
provides insight into the physical security
and cybersecurity benefits associated
with the cloud.
All buildings need to regulate their
building security, from government-
owned educational and healthcare
facilities right through to small
commercial properties.
With this in mind, balancing security
features with other factors has always
been a challenge. Facility managers and
decision makers alike have to account
for accessibility and usability alongside
safety and security – not to mention
budgets and building capabilities. With
this, and the fact that many traditional
securitysystems can sometimes be
demanding to manage, it’s clear as to
why facilities are beginning to implement
cloud-based systems into their security
strategies.
THE IMPORTANCE OF
CYBERSECURITY
The construction industry has not
always been first to implement ‘cutting
edge’ technologies. From an external
viewpoint, many forget the extensive
standards that decision makers must
abide by – with these considerations
sometimes slowing the process for
technology adaptation. For those that have
combined traditional security methods
with electronic systems, new security
demands must still be considered.
One of those new demands is
cybersecurity, which in its simplest
of terms, is the protection of internet-
connected systems, whether this be in
the form of software, data or hardware. As
with most internet-connected systems,
today’s access control systems are also
at risk to cyber attacks – with potentially
detrimental consequences to building
security. With this being a new area
for some (consider schools or small
commercial facilities), questions are now
being raised on how to effectively secure a
building from two angles both physically
and electronically.
Take a school entrance for example.
With various access points across the
building, schools can be known to use
fobs or keycards as a way of granting
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access and monitoring movement.
However, with many of these access
control systems being operated from a
local internal server, they can become
vulnerable to cyber attacks. These
access control systems require internal
maintenance, updates and data back-
ups. If a slight mistake is made with the
data that’s being handled on-site, it could
lead to a less secure digital infrastructure.
One cyber attack later and, suddenly,
the physical security of the school is
compromised. So what’s the answer to this
growing issue?
THE RISE OF THE CLOUD
Today, cloud-based systems can offer
a wide range of UK facilities enhanced
security with full integration into their
access control systems. In fact, worldwide
spending on cloud computing is expected
to grow by 23.8% this year, with spend
expected to reach $210 billion USD
in 2019. In an increasingly digital age
the growing need to protect a facility
physically and electronically paired with
the benefits that cloud-based solutions
offer, is why these numbers for worldwide
spenditure on cloud computing are
rising.
Cloud systems essentially store and
access data online, taking it away from