The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016 sponsored by
The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016 Written by Adam Bannister, editor, IFSEC Global.com Two years ago IFSEC Global.com and ASSA ABLOY published a white paper on wireless access control. Called The Wireless Access Control Market in 2014 it surveyed security professionals, facilities managers and commercial building owners, enquiring about the kinds of systems they had installed. It researched and recorded gripes about wired systems, end-user perceptions of wireless systems and opinions in the market about the reliability and cost-effectiveness of using battery-powered locking components. The 2016 report examines further issues around wireless systems including training requirements, from where wireless systems are sourced and wired versus wireless access control from a security and cost-effectiveness perspective. This time, however, we re also looking in depth at an issue touched upon in our 2014 report: how electronic access control can secure openings and areas other than standard doors and entrances. The possibilities include IT servers, safes, outdoor structures and others. We also polled survey respondents comprising heads of security, facility managers, IT professionals and others on mechanical locks and keys. How many commercial premises still rely on mechanical keys in 2015? Do they undermine security in ways that digital locks do not? And is this 8,000-year-old technology in its death throes, or is there still a place for the humble lock and key? Blake Kozak, principal analyst with the Security and Building Technologies Group at research consultancy IHS, has kindly provided independent insights throughout the report. ASSA ABLOY s portfolio director for digital access solutions on the EMEA portfolio Markus Henkelmann also interprets the report s results at various junctures. CONTENTS The existing installed system... 3 Training & wireless access control... 4 Sourcing a wireless access control system... 4 The decision to upgrade... 5 Electronic versus mechanical locks... 7 Access control beyond just doors... 10 Summary, key facts & solutions... 11 2 The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016
1 The existing installed system Of the security professionals, facility managers and other access control stakeholders we polled just one in 20 operated a fully wireless access control system. A further 24% had a combination of wired and wireless systems. Discounting those without any kind of electronic access control, the numbers with fully and partially wireless systems are 6% and 27% of installed electronic solutions respectively. Does your organisation/business already operate an electronic access control system? n Yes, a traditional wired system using access cards/tags 57% n Yes, a combined system of wired and wireless doors using access cards/tags 24% n Yes, full wireless access control 5% n No, we currently don t have an electronic access control system 14% Analysis from IHS Adoption of wireless systems has been slow in emerging countries for reasons including cost of labour, education and cost of equipment. The cost of labour in many countries remains low enough that the additional cost associated with many wireless locking systems cannot be justified. And educating integrators and installers can be a difficult process in countries where their manufacturer relies heavily on partnerships and may not have a direct presence. Depending on the placement of electronic locks and the number of cycles, battery life can create a need for additional maintenance costs that do not come with wired systems. Blake Kozak, principal analyst Those who did operate a wireless system were asked to what extent integrating it with an installed system was a challenge. With building systems everything from HVAC systems and lighting controls to CCTV and fire detection becoming increasingly interconnected and datagenerating, the era of the smart building has arrived. Unsurprisingly, then, 86% of respondents with a wireless system had attempted to integrate it with CCTV, lighting, HVAC or other building functions. 5% 24% 14% 57% Interestingly, 80% rated the integration task no more difficult than somewhat challenging, with 42% finding it fairly easy. Naturally, How challenging integration was with other integrating access control your wireless systems was seen system as even with? easier, on average.... the existing 13% access control 32% >1% system 55%... CCTV, lighting, HVAC and other building functions... biometrics or other access control software/hardware 20% 38% 42% 15% 25% 43% n Very challenging n Somewhat challenging n Fairly easy n Couldn t integrate >1% 3% Analysis from IHS Wireless locks are often specially designed for integration with other systems, with only a few suppliers of electronic locks offering their own standalone ecosystems. As a result, the integration capabilities and ease of use can be a significant benefit. Blake Kozak, principal analyst Our survey threw up yet more interesting stats around integration processes: 14% of respondents with a wireless system had not attempted to integrate it with CCTV, lighting, HVAC or any other building functions 15% had not attempted to integrate their wireless system with biometric or other access control software or hardware Just 1% had not attempted to integrate it with their existing access control system 3% of those who had attempted to integrate their wireless system with biometrics or other access control software or hardware were unable to do so Offered the chance to comment further, one respondent noted that some premises have archaic systems that cannot be integrated with modern systems and the cost of total replacement is prohibitive. 3 The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016
2 Training & wireless access control The general verdict on how onerous training requirements are for wireless systems was inconclusive. Those who claimed that some training or very little training was involved accounted for similar proportions of survey respondents. Of course, perceptions of what constitutes a lot of or some training will vary considerably across respondents. an Aperio cylinder being fitted in under two minutes companies can save lots of time, effort and cost compared to fitting wired systems. How much training was required when you installed the wireless system? Nevertheless, only 21% considered the level of required training to be a lot. One respondent said they subcontracted the work out, while another said no training was supplied to the operators. So far, much of our emphasis has been on the very limited training requirements for installing wireless locks, says Markus Henkelmann, portfolio director for digital access solutions (EMEA) at ASSA ABLOY. Because installation can be very rapid we have posted a YouTube video showing n A lot 21% n Some 42% n Very little 38% 38% 21% 42% 3 Sourcing a wireless access control system System integrators are the resounding choice when it comes to sourcing a company s wireless system. Garnering 64% of responses integrators eclipsed construction companies and locksmiths by some margin. From where did you source your access control system? n System integrator 64% 11% 3% n Other 22% n Construction company 11% n Locksmith 3% 22% 64% 4 The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016
4 The decision to upgrade What would persuade the 71% with no wireless system currently installed to abandon wires for their next upgrade? For more than half of those polled, easy integration with third-party systems like CCTV, alarms, time and attendance, lighting and HVAC would help. This was mentioned more than any other factor. However, easy integration with third-party systems was not far ahead of the next four options, all of which generated a response rate between 38% and 46%. They were: quicker, easier, less disruptive, cheaper maintenance; easier integration with existing access control systems; easy, quick, minimally disruptive installation; and battery life in excess of two years. Even the lowest ranking choice negating double-data entry and dual-system management on site was still of interest to one in five potential future customers. Clearly, a wide range of benefits could persuade people to go wireless, as long as they can find a system that reliably offers these advantages. Which of the following benefits would make you interested in upgrading to wireless access control? (Tick all that apply) n If easy integration with third-party systems like CCTV, alarms, time & attendance, lighting and HVAC were possible 53% n If maintenance was 29% 17% 53% quicker, easier, less 22% disruptive and cheaper 27% 46% 46% n If the new system could 30% integrate easily with your 43% existing access control 33% system 43% 38% 43% n If installation was easy and quick with minimal disruption 43% n If battery lifetime was more than two years 38% n If it was available for low-, medium- and high-security doors 33% n If I didn t need to replace existing mechanical locks 30% n If little or no additional training for operators was required 27% n If it was available for other applications (eg lockers, server racks etc) 22% n If it removed double-data entry and dual-system management on site 20% None of the above 17% But do system operators and technology buyers yet to upgrade to wireless actually believe that such systems offer a compelling enough business case to warrant the investment? Perhaps not always. Among survey respondents still using mechanical locks, 26% suggest it is too expensive to upgrade to any kind of electronic access control or that they cannot justify the decision financially. And some key issues are specific to wireless technology. Asked whether they thought wireless was at least as secure as wired access control, those without wireless systems were more or less split down the middle: 51% agreed that wireless is only as secure as wired systems; 49% that wired systems were more secure than wireless. It s reasonable to surmise, based on this data, that there are lingering doubts about the security credentials of wireless access control among half of system operators. t 5 The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016
t Misconceptions around the security credentials of wireless access control remain prevalent, says Markus Henkelmann, portfolio director for digital access solutions (EMEA) at ASSA ABLOY.. Customers are not yet sufficiently aware of the certifications awarded to wireless systems. For example, ASSA ABLOY s Aperio range includes battery-powered locks certified for security doors, using EN, DIN and CE certifications, and locks that communicate door status automatically to the system. This is something the industry has to communicate better. Asked whether they agreed that wireless access control is a cost-effective alternative to wired access control, security professionals polled were rather more positive on average, with 69% saying yes. A slim majority 54% disagreed with the proposition that cloud-based management of access control can be considered secure. Given the frequency, severity and media profile of recent cyber hacks, these doubts are understandable. Whether they are fair, however, remains a point of contention across the IT and security industries. At 55% a near-identical proportion also disagreed that external software hosting for access control is secure and cost-efficient. Analysis from IHS Privacy and security still top of the list of concerns regarding cloud-based deployments. Recent data breaches at Target, Apple icloud, AT&T and the personal email of CIA Director John Brennan have certainly kept the issue under the spotlight. Although data breaches are more commonplace than in the past, governments have been looking to offset costs by using third-party data centres and cloud solutions. Although cloud-based management may present additional challenges and concerns, locally-based systems must be updated and maintained frequently by properly trained staff, which brings additional cost and liability. Furthermore, locally-based systems are not elastic, so organisational system requirements cannot be quickly optimised. Overall, properly installed cloud-based management systems by vetted integrators will meet the security requirements of most end users. One of the primary challenges with cloud-based management (especially in EMEA) is cross-border data privacy laws, not the actual integrity of the cloud system. Blake Kozak, principal analyst Do you agree with the following statements? n Yes n No Wireless access control is at least as secure as wired access control 51% 49% Wireless access control is a cost-effective alternative to wired access control 69% 31% Cloud-based management of access control solutions is secure 46% 54% External software hosting for access control is secure and cost-efficient 45% 55% 6 The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016
5 Electronic versus mechanical locks Many of us have lost house keys at least once in our lives. In most instances we ll gamble almost invariably successfully that anyone who finds them won t have nefarious intentions, nor will they know to which property they now have access. This is a judgement call a security manager in similar circumstances must make too. The cost of replacing a lock can be considerable. A lost smart card or fob, on the other hand, can be disabled almost instantly and cheaply. If the credential is somehow used to gain unauthorised access, then time of access can be discerned. One survey respondent pointed out that with key locks you will not have track or control uses of a particular door. Similar responses included: The difficulty to log and track keys and users increase the risk of loss further and more key duplication ; mechanical keys cannot be monitored as to who used it to open a specific door ; and there is [no] access trail for mechanical locks. A fairly emphatic 86% of those polled considered losing mechanical keys to be a major security risk. Another respondent drew a useful distinction: Lost keys are dependent on the key and the door. Due to the nature of the security department, the keys we deal with are grand masters and operate all doors, so lost keys are a security risk [for us]. Sixty-seven percent also agreed that mechanical key systems fail to offer a high level of security and control. Less important, but still irksome, is the hassle involved in mechanical key administration. A strong majority (77%) considered handling keys to be difficult and time-consuming. In light of these apparent deficiencies, respondents who predict that few business premises will have mechanical locks 10 years from now and it s a majority, 62% have compelling reasons for doing so. One survey respondent insisted that mechanical locks are now getting phased out. Today s young generation need faster access and mobility. Another suggested Luddite attitudes were delaying an inevitable migration: For keybased locks to finally die a generation of backward-thinking and risk-averse property managers needs to retire. Not everyone agrees that this ancient technology is in terminal decline in commercial environments or even that it should be. Several respondents suggested that mechanical locks still had some significant advantages: With disciplined management, you can be sure of having more control over mechanical keys. They do not object to being locked up overnight Insurers insist on mechanical locking out of hours. You should not rely on electronic locking as there is a small risk of mains and battery failure, especially over a weekend or a holiday Quality of key locking devices and the nature of key control are important. In an environment where electrical power failures are common and power surges destroy sensitive electronic equipment, the cost of upmarket electronic access control becomes high t Which of these statements about traditional mechanical locks do you agree with? n Yes n No Lost keys are a major security risk 86% 14% Key handling is difficult and timeconsuming Mechanical key systems do not offer a high level of security and control Very few business premises will have mechanical locks 10 years from now 77% 23% 67% 33% 62% 38% 7 The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016
t Analysis from IHS Although electronic locking systems will continue to see strong growth, IHS does not expect the mechanical locks market to decline. Globally, mechanical cylinders are projected to grow by about 4.6% by volume in 2016. Blake Kozak, principal analyst A combination of old and new technologies was preferred by some: The loss of any key mechanical or access card is a security risk. There are specific areas where both electronic and mechanical locks can be utilised in tandem. Each depends on the security requirement and the access required to an area I truly believe a good combination of both mechanical and electronics is the best solution For providing a high level of security, from my point of view, a general lock system should combine traditional mechanical locks and a modern access control system Mechanical locks are a good failsafe system when bolstered with the provision of electronic surveillance Other salient comments covering the difference between electronic and mechanical lock management included: The issues relate to the operation of mechanical key suites, not the actual locks eg root-cause analysis indicates individuals failure to comply with procedures in place Any key out of sight could be a copied key Door resistance to foul trials is as important as the type of key Despite pervasive concern about the limitations of mechanical locks and a widespread belief that their decline is inevitable, only 22% of those with mechanical locks admit to having plans to upgrade at least some of their doors to electronic access control. The most common reason why some doors are not secured with electronic access control although still less than 50% of respondents, who could tick as many options as they wanted is the lack of a business or security need to monitor who is moving between these areas and when. Not far behind was the justification that the door controls access to/movement between low security areas. There are many reasons why electronic access might prove useful in a building. It s not just about security, high versus low, says Markus Henkelmann, portfolio director for digital access solutions (EMEA) at ASSA ABLOY. For example, in universities using our wireless locks, admin staff can use electronic access control to create fine-grained access to different areas of the building. Some areas can be made open to everyone, including visitors issued with temporary smart cards. Offices can be restricted for staff use only. Students can use one RFID smart card to access library services, communal areas and so on. Intriguingly, 10% of respondents agreed with the statement: I don t think the electronic access control is technologically compatible with the door. Exactly the same proportion feared the aesthetic appeal of the door would be damaged by the installation of modern technology. Perhaps these were buildings of historic character. In fact, ASSA ABLOY sells electronic cylinders that are completely unobtrusive, says Henkelmann. They have a discreet design and the RFID reader built into the knob. Plus wireless components in our range can be fitted without any need for drilling and to just about any door. Several further, more specific, reasons were offered to explain why electronic access control was not currently in use for certain entrances: External access doors and special areas only! Fire exit doors Mechanical keys act as a secondary lock on top of the electronic access control Needs physical locks only, as needs access by one to t Why are some of your doors not secured with electronic access control? (Please tick all that apply) There is no business or security need to monitor who is moving between these areas and when The door controls access to/movement between low security areas Too expensive/cannot justify it financially 43% 35% 26% We plan to upgrade at least some doors to electronic access control eventually Installation of access control would damage the door s aesthetic appearance I don t think electronic access control is technologically compatible with the door 22% 10% 10% 8 The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016
t two persons only Access control has to fail open or fail shut I don t want the lock to fail Mechanical keys needed to provide sufficient security and guaranteed access on power/battery failure [Installing electronic access control on these doors would only] satisfy technology buffs hunger for advanced technology when not needed The nearly one in 10 respondents who secure every single door in their building electronically were concentrated in sectors with high security needs such as healthcare, automotive and other manufacturing, government, security services, finance, transport and education. Thirty-one percent of those surveyed have very few doors secured mechanically. A further 13% have between a quarter and half of their doors secured in this manner. Clearly the sector s growth potential is not limited to upgrades of existing installations. Mechanical locks are still widely used, despite the well-known problems. But access control vendors will need to be sufficiently persuasive. I think the key for access control manufacturers is to communicate the truth: that many of the most commonly voiced objections to wireless locking systems are not based on facts, explains Markus Henkelmann. For example, there are wireless locks, including in ASSA ABLOY s range, that are fully certified for fire door and security door use. From a logistical point of view, upgrading from mechanical to wireless locks is very straightforward. Installing a wired system is much more hassle. Are many of the doors in your building secured only with mechanical, non-electronic locks and keys? n Yes more than 50% 46% n Yes between 25 50% 13% n Yes but very few 31% n No none at all 9% 31% Analysis from IHS Despite the strong growth of electronic locks over the past several years, most doors remain unprotected by electronic systems. IHS expects that most external doors will remain wired systems for the foreseeable future, while interior doors, file cabinets, carts and other deployments will increasingly use wireless electronic systems. Blake Kozak, principal analyst 9% 13% 46% 9 The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016
6 Access control beyond just doors It was noteworthy that respondents were confident that modern systems could readily withstand a wide range of climatic stresses, with 65% believing that an electricitydependent technology could protect gates, sheds and other outdoor structures better than the humble padlock. Perhaps the agriculture sector represents a huge, largely untapped market for electronic access control? One enthusiastic advocate for the technology intimated that one integrated system across the site(s) to provide useable management data would be ideal. Another was more circumspect, saying: The choice should be horses for courses: keep things simple and question whether the cost will outweigh the practicality. Should the following non-door applications generally be secured with electronic access control in your opinion? n Yes n No Server racks GettyImages/ASSA ABLOY One huge advantage offered by wireless access control is the ability to secure more than just room doors, building entrances and turnstile barriers. Asked whether they thought electronic access control is appropriate for applications like server racks, safes and outdoor structures, a majority answered yes for every specific example given. Nevertheless, a sizeable proportion demurred in each case. Server racks won the biggest majority, perhaps because IT infrastructure is seen as warranting an IT-powered solution. Below that, there wasn t much difference between the responses to safes; outdoor structures; cabinets and lockers; and machines. This research is certainly reflected by interest in our Aperio KS100 server cabinet lock, says ASSA ABLOY s Markus Henkelmann. With co-location growing in popularity, customers increasingly look to reinforce datacentre security with their own electronic access control so they can track exactly who has access to their servers and when. 10 The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016 Cabinets and lockers Safes Machines Outdoor structures (eg gates with padlocks) 78% 22% 57% 43% 69% 31% 56% 44% 65% 35% Analysis from IHS In deployments beyond doors, IHS expects mechatronic locks to see the most growth. Globally, we forecast that these devices will see volume growth of about 24% in 2016 as security personnel strengthen security to adhere to strict compliance regulations, which often require audit trails. Mechanical keys simply don t offer this level of tracking. Blake Kozak, principal analyst
Summary, key facts & solutions Written by ASSA ABLOY Given the critical advantages wireless technology has over both mechanical locks and wired access control, we would expect to find the market moving steadily towards wireless. The data in our latest survey, which was conducted a year later, certainly backs up that expectation. The 2014 report found that 23% of businesses used a fully wireless or hybrid wired/wireless system for access control. Fast forward two years and that figure has risen to 29%, with 5% already having adopted a fully wireless solution. The installed base for wireless is growing rapidly, it seems. This latest survey confirms that a majority of end users recognise the effectiveness and ROI potential of wireless systems. Back in 2014 some 63% thought integration with existing systems would not be complicated and disruptive, 65% believed a wireless upgrade would not be expensive and 84% did not expect onerous maintenance costs. Two years later and 69% agreed that wireless access control is a cost-effective alternative to its wired equivalent and wireless locks have indeed been instrumental in reducing the cost of installing electronic access control. This message appears to be getting through. There s a widespread perception that the ongoing costs of wireless systems are also lower, with 69% agreeing that wireless access control is a cost-effective alternative to wired systems. Analysis from IHS Access Control & Fire Wireless locks remain one of the fastest growing segments of the electronic access control industry, especially in mature countries. The US, France, Germany, UK, China, Japan and Australia are a few of the largest markets in terms of revenues. And markets in Latin America, Southeast Asia and parts of Eastern Europe continue to see growing interest in these products. Blake Kozak, principal analyst Further key data points arising from the report include: Wired access control systems (57%) are still much more prevalent than wireless (5%) or hybrid wired/ wireless (24%) systems, suggesting replacement or expansion of installed systems is a significant potential future market for wireless sales For those with experience of the process, integration of wireless systems is not seen as a major challenge, whether it s a new access control installation or an upgrade to a building management system: 80% judged the integration task to be no more difficult than somewhat challenging, with 42% even finding it fairly easy 11 The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016 Training may be an issue that concerns some potential customers: over half of respondents had to run at least some training for their new wireless system While system integrators are definitely the go-to suppliers for customers seeking a new access control system the other response contingent, covering a range of supplier types, was large too (22%) Multiple benefits need to be in place to make a switch to wireless attractive, including cheap maintenance, easy integration and minimally disruptive installation there s no one magic bullet that will make people switch (see Section 4 on page 5 for full list Familiar uncertainties around the security of wireless access and cloud-based system management remain: almost half of respondents believe that wired systems are more secure, despite the fact that wireless locks including in the Aperio portfolio are certified for security doors, fire doors and so on Cost-efficiency continues to be a key strength of wireless technology, with 69% of survey respondents believing it to be a cost-effective alternative to wired access control Mechanical key loss is a significant security risk in the minds of almost most (86%) professionals, and along with burdensome key administration (77%) is seen as a major weakness of mechanical locks Yet despite the widely perceived weaknesses of physical keys, only 22% of those with mechanical locks have plans to upgrade cost and a failure to see the need for access control on lower-security doors being principal reasons why However, 62% of professionals surveyed think few business premises will have mechanical locks within a decade, which, if true, represents a major opportunity for wireless access control in the coming years Server racks (78%) and other non-door applications of wireless access control (including cabinets at 57%) are attractive to many potential customers, backing up our 2014 research, which found 73% of professionals interested in these flexible applications of wireless access control A key challenge for wireless access control manufacturers and resellers is matching the right solution to the customer s needs. For example, providing certified products to customers (49%) nervous about the security credentials of wireless versus wired technology. Or, to others, showing the wide-ranging facility management benefits of adding access control to lower-security areas.
A number of wireless access control solutions are available on the market, including from ASSA ABLOY Aperio Available on the global marketplace, ASSA ABLOY s Aperio Technology enables a wide range of access control providers to costeffectively integrate non-wired doors with mechanical locks into new and existing access control systems. Doors will merely need to be equipped with battery-powered Aperio locks with RFID readers and linked to the access control system via a communications hub for online integration, or via update on card for offline integration. As a result, security and facility managers now have greater control, can easily respond to organisational changes and will only need to monitor a single security system, while users will only require a single RFID access control card. SMARTair SMARTair is an access control system that offers an intelligent, yet simple, step up from keys. SMARTair is the cost effective alternative to a full high-security system. Wireless doors are more cost effective than standard wired access controlled doors. Customers are convinced that replacing a lost card is much cheaper than replacing a key. And it can be done quicker. SMARTair access control doors can simply be reprogrammed. There is no need to replace locks and cylinders. CLIQ CLIQ is a security locking system with high-end microelectronics, programmable keys and cylinders. The system offers a variety of combinations of mechanical and electronic systems to match different security and flexible access needs. Available on the global marketplace, it provides flexible access and key management solutions for all kinds of locking applications. A wire-free system, each key can be programmed and updated individually to allow access to specific areas at specific times and dates, accommodating constantly changing access requirements and ensuring maximum flexibility. The power is provided by a battery inside the programmable CLIQ key. 12 The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016