ACCESS CONTROL
Flexibility is the name of the cloud game How cloud technology fits a wide range of access control applications by Steve Connor, Sr. Product Manager, Identiv PACS
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lexibility — as the concept applies to security systems like access control — can mean different things to different organizations. Many business owners demand a flexible system that can scale up or down as needs change, allowing for natural growth, regardless of where business trajectory leads them. Or, in other cases, an administrator may want the ability to start with one access control setup, then add or subtract features as they determine what works best for their business practices. The great news is that all of these features are available through the
38 | February 2020 | IN SECURITY
use of the cloud, making the myriad aspects of access control simpler for businesses of all shapes and sizes. The cloud brings several new concepts to reality for the access control industry, making it easier to ensure secure access for a diverse set of applications. Access Control as a Service The cloud facilitates access controlas-a-service (ACaaS), which enables users to take advantage of the latest technologies in access control with lower upfront and infrastructural costs. Instead of purchasing the wide array of infrastructure and technologies needed to support
an access control system, they can leverage off-site storage and processing capabilities and pay a provider for the amount that they need as a subscription style, operational expenditure. Additionally, because of the software-defined architecture, users gain the added flexibility of being able to control, manage, maintain and update their solution at any time and from any location through a web-based interface. Leveraging ACaaS means that users can benefit from a comprehensive access control system with less direct maintenance on their part. Administrators no
