What is NFC technology?
NFC stands for Near Field Communication. It allows for the exchange of digital information, secure transactions and connection of electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearables) through just a touch. Most commonly known for tap-to-pay, we have leveraged NFC technology within our mobile app for the most secure door access.
NFC Security
The communication range is short, of a maximum of about half an inch between the NFC tag and NFC reader. The short communication range of NFC technology makes for a much more secure exchange of sensitive data, ideal for secure payments or in Sentry Interactive’s case, secure door access.
Active NFC vs Passive NFC
Active:
- Active NFC devices have their own power source and can both send and receive data.
- They are capable of more complex interactions and can store and transfer information.
- Examples include smartphones equipped with NFC technology, which can initiate transactions, exchange data, and interact with other NFC-enabled devices or tags.
- Active NFC requires power to operate, typically in the form of a battery.
Passive:
- Passive NFC devices do not have their own power source and can only send data when activated by an active NFC device.
- They rely on the energy induced by an active NFC device to operate and transmit their stored data.
- Passive NFC tags are commonly used in applications such as contactless payment cards, access control systems, and product identification.
- Because they don’t have a power source, they are often smaller and less complex than active NFC devices.
The most secure NFC reader is already in your pocket
We use our NFC-enabled mobile application as a versatile active NFC door reader. A simple software update can ensure the highest levels of security are implemented for access control. This means that to upgrade to mobile NFC credentials, existing door readers don’t have to be replaced.
Tap-to-unlock in under a second
Our readerless mobile credentials, powered by Doordeck, can our Smart Access Tile in under a second. Both Android and iPhone users enjoy rapid unlocking speeds, our NFC solution works outside of proprietary mobile wallet apps.
Ready to embrace NFC for your building’s access control
Future-proof your access control today, maximize user convenience, and retain building occupancy with the most secure mobile NFC access solution.
Connect with a member of our team within 24 hours.
Get a system audit for integration.
Deploy and activate mobile credentials within days.
Access control system integrations
Our NFC technology powered readerless mobile credentials are interoperable with all major pre-installed and new PACS. Manage physical credentials as well as mobile credentials in the one system and unify your access control.
Seamless, secure, and reliable NFC access
Sentry Interactive’s readerless mobile access credential solution is engineered for comprehensive security, utilizing a standards-driven development process to decrease risk. ISO certification and GDPR compliance testify to the system’s trustworthiness. Military-grade encryption protects user access data in the cloud, while audit logging and privacy regulation compliance further secure the data.
Frequently asked questions
NFC stands for Near Field Communication. It allows smartphones, tablets, wearables, and other electronic devices to exchange data, complete secure transactions, and connect with each other through a simple tap. It operates at very close range — a maximum of around half an inch — making it well suited for secure applications like contactless payments and door access control.
Yes. The extremely short communication range of NFC — around half an inch — is a key security advantage, as it greatly reduces the risk of data being intercepted during transmission. Sentry Interactive’s NFC-based mobile access solution is also secured with asymmetric encryption, ISO certification, GDPR compliance, and full audit logging to protect user access data.
Active NFC devices, such as smartphones, have their own power source and can both send and receive data. Passive NFC devices, such as access cards or tags, have no power source of their own and only transmit data when energised by an active NFC device. Sentry Interactive’s Smart Access Tile is a passive NFC tag that is activated by a user’s smartphone to unlock a door.
No. With Sentry Interactive’s readerless NFC mobile access solution, your smartphone acts as the NFC reader rather than hardware mounted on the door. A software update is all that’s needed to enable the highest levels of access control security, meaning existing door hardware does not need to be replaced or upgraded.
Yes. Sentry Interactive’s NFC mobile credentials are interoperable with all major pre-installed and new physical access control systems (PACS). This allows you to manage both physical and mobile credentials within your existing system without starting from scratch.
