From traditional keys to smart devices, managing access control remains a pivotal aspect of campus security. As educational institutions are increasingly looking to adopt modern access control solutions and future-proof their current systems, it is essential they assess credential interoperability with locks and other access security hardware they already use on campus, to avoid costly losses on investment.
In today’s market there are many smart and mobile credential solutions that only run through proprietary systems. Campuses that are running multiple different security systems may run into limitations with interoperability and restrictions on hardware options if they decide on a mobile credential provider that is closed and only works with necessary proprietary reader upgrades.
Open platforms, on the other hand, empower users to take control of the solution. Enabling smart mobile credentials to function across various hardware components and applications. Sentry Mobile Access, powered by Doordeck, is an example of an open access control software platform that unlocks interoperable mobile NFC credentials for a combination of disparate hardware or third-party applications. Sentry Interactive is the only mobile credential provider that offers a secure reader-less access control solution that can aggregate disparate access control systems, of any age.
Traditional campus building access control hardware has security vulnerabilities down to not being up-to-date. Some reader hardware still in use in campus buildings is 10, 20, even 30 years old. Software is the opposite to hardware, it’s dynamic and is continuously updated, bugs are identified and fixed without any interruption or downtime for a building. Sentry Interactive has leveraged this by turning the user’s smartphone into the active NFC reader. Instead of the user holding the passive credential, it is attached, wire-free, next to the door.
Sentry Interactive acknowledged that a user’s smartphone is the most advanced and best specced reader out there. Therefore they decided that instead of the rip and replace of readers to upgrade, they’d turn the user’s smartphone into a reader that never needs upgrading or becomes obsolete. This also means, all that’s required is a simple software update to the mobile application to fix any security concerns if they arose.
Sentry Interactive’s NFC Mobile credentials can be activated for a portfolio of hardware without the need to upgrade any systems or readers. This provides one mobile credential that students, faculty, and staff can use to access multiple doors and buildings that are controlled by different access control systems across a campus. If students, faculty and staff aren’t willing to give up their trusty key cards just yet, with Sentry Mobile Access, the current systems stay exactly how they are, therefore they have the choice of either using their old key cards or enjoying the added convenience of being able to use just their mobile.
If you are looking to future-proof your campus access control security and slowly transition your campus to a reader-less mobile NFC credential solution, but don’t want to disrupt your current system infrastructure, or face budget constraints. Sentry Interactive has a solution.
Contact a member of the Sentry Interactive team today: