Access control systems and biometricsStandard interface simplifiesintegration with biometricsolutions

The markets for both biometric solutions and access control systems are growing rapidly. So an access control system with standard interfaces enables the best of both worlds, allowing other systems and solutions to be easily integrated. This gives end users more freedom to choose the type of identifi cation and/or verifi cation appropriate for their organisation‘s riskprofi le.

The ways that access control systems can identify people include pin code, access card, mobile phone and biometric information. In particular, the use of biometric solutions has grown signifi cantly in recent years. These days, for example, one in ten doors

with access control has a biometric reader. Common biometric solutions include fi ngerprint, facial, iris and palm pattern recognition. They’re no longer used solely in environments with stringent security requirements, but increasingly in low-risk environments too.

A varied offeringJust as there are many access control system suppliers, the market for biometric solutions is also fragmented. As well as two market leaders there are many smaller suppliers too. This large and varied offering provides unparalleled opportunities. But, at the same time, it gives suppliers, installers and end users the challenge of how to deal with such a choice.

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Simple biometric integrationIt’s important that biometric solutions can be added to access control systems quickly, effectively and, most importantly, simply. Fei Liu, specialist in biometric systems at Nedap, explains why a standard interface is important to achieve this: „A standard interface is a piece of code developed by the supplier. Because it’s open, and biometric systems suppliers also tend to use an open interface, they can be linked with an adapter.The interfaces don‘t change with software updates. So the link between the integrations continues working, even after system updates. The integrations stay up-to-date and are long-lasting“.

In this way, suppliers of open access control systems give their installation partners the ability to choose the supplier for the biometric solutions they want to integrate. These partners can then devise unique, integrated biometric solutions that allow them to respond flexibly to their customers‘ rapidly changing demands. Because, while the end user may be satisfied with fingerprint recognition today, they may want facial or iris recognition tomorrow.

Each party’s expertise is maximised„An important benefit of this method of integration is that each party makes optimal use of their expertise,“ says Fei Liu.

Biometric solutions providers, for example, have extremely specific knowledge on how to verify someone’s identity based on their physical features.

Whereas installation partners understand their customers‘ specific challenges and requirements.To respond to these, they can choose from any biometrics supplier to integrate new biometric solutions with an open access control system.

Fei Liu adds: “Our access control system responds in the same way, whatever type of identification or verification is used – from an access card to a pin code or fingerprint. The supplier of each identification or verification solution takes responsibility for that area of expertise. And we, with our knowledge of security

policies, authorisations and zoning, concentrate onproviding our specialist access control expertise. Itmeans that any, or all, of the identification or verification solutions available can be integratedseamlessly, with the support of experts from everyfield, into one single system.”

Freedom of choiceAll of this also presents huge benefits for end users wanting to use the latest security techniques and solutions, explains Fei Liu. „By selecting an access control system that can integrate with any biometric solution, they expand their freedom to choose the type of identification and/or verification that suits them best. Also, as the supplier of an open access control system, we regularly launch new versions of our software program with new integration capabilities, forexample for biometrics. This allows end users to respond more rapidly to new risks and threats and gives them a reliable, state-of-the-art security product“.

In conclusionWith the rapidly growing range of biometric solutions, the world of access control is also changing. Nedap is responding by developing an open biometric interface, which will give installation partners and biometric solution providers the possibility to easily integrate these new solutions with their access control system.And, with this, they can satisfy the continuous and rapidly changing demands of end users.

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