Selva Selvaratnam

HID's annual assessment is intended to help organizations understand the latest security advances HID Global®, a worldwide leader in secure identity solutions, recently issued its outlook on technology trends for 2015, as well as other anticipated developments across key vertical industries in the secure identity marketplace. The annual assessment is intended to help organizations understand and take advantage of the latest advances to improve security, convenience and the user experience. “This past year laid the foundation for what we expect to be an exciting 2015 for our customers and partners as they continue to benefit from the flexibility, adaptability and new capabilities made possible with award-winning Seos® technology,” said Dr. Selva Selvaratnam, senior vice president and chief technology officer with HID Global. “Whether it’s moving campus IDs onto smartphones, or centralizing all identity management for protecting doors, data and cloud-based applications, or securing electronic medical prescriptions and ATM transactions, we will see the transformation of our customers’ experience using secure identities during the coming year, and beyond.” Driving new capabilities across markets are a set of six key technology trends that Dr. Selvaratnam has identified, including: "Whether it’s moving campus IDs onto smartphones, or centralizing all identity management for protecting doors, data and cloud-based applications, or securing electronic medical prescriptions and ATM transactions, we will see the transformation" Increased innovation fueled by interoperable technologies that enable partners to build new solutions (secure print authentication, EV charging station access, and more) that can be accessed with the same smart card or smartphone used to open doors. The adoption of new credential form factors. Additional ways to open doors and other entrance systems. Advances in how to manage identities. Using biometrics to help change security from a barrier to a guardrail. The growing popularity of interconnected devices and the Internet of Things (IoT), where Wi-Fi locks, RFID-enabled devices, online hotel locks, and mobilekeys are all connected ways of interacting or capturing data for the benefit of companies or consumers. In addition, Dr. Selvaratnam highlighted a number of trends to watch across the following eight vertical market segments: Banking and financial institutions:  Physical and logical security will continue to converge into unified solutions, against the backdrop of a mobile transformation in consumer banking, the U.S. move to EMV credit and debit cards, and the early phases of biometric authentication at the ATM. Hospitals and healthcare institutions:  The latest secure identity solutions will play a pivotal role in securing the facility, narcotic prescriptions and personal health information, and will also be used outside the hospital to verify “proof of presence” for home health service delivery. Education:  As the transition from magnetic stripe (magstripe) and proximity (prox) to high-frequency contactless smart cards continues, universities will also move campus IDs onto smartphones and other mobile devices using systems that can manage multiple ID numbers for multiple uses on multiple platforms. Federal government:  Government-wide upgrades to new, more secure access control technology will extend beyond the desktop to the door, using both cards and mobile phones, and rigorous secure issuance requirements will drive the growing need for certified and approved printers. Government ID:  Worldwide demand will grow for end-to-end, highly secure government-to-citizen ID solutions, along with small-footprint, industrial-strength printers that combine flexibility and security, reduce infrastructure investments, and maximize throughput. Transportation:  IP-based access control will grow in importance across the transportation segment, improving security by integrating a physical access control system (PACS) with other solutions on the same network.  Meanwhile, biometric systems will offer an opportunity to increase security and profits in both commercial and personal transportation applications. Enterprise:  Organizations will increasingly need to improve security at the door, for their data, and in the cloud, and will move to converged solutions while simultaneously accelerating the move beyond passwords to strong authentication across numerous physical and logical access control applications. Retail:  The biggest focus will continue to be defending against threats such as those experienced by Target Corporation and other major retailers. Other growth areas include mobile IDs, the Internet of Things, integrated biometric authentication, brand protection solutions that validate the authenticity of goods, trusted “proof of presence” applications for digital out-of-home (DOOH) media campaigns, and instant issuance solutions for branded credit and loyalty cards.

HID Global®, a worldwide leader in secure identity solutions, recently announced the release of its HID Mobile Access® solution, which delivers a more secure and convenient way to open doors and gates while introducing a simple secure identity management process. The solution includes everything necessary for organizations to immediately begin using Bluetooth Smart and NFC-enabled smartphones and other mobile devices as an alternative to keys and smart cards in today’s increasingly popular BYOD mobility environment. The solution also makes it possible for users to unlock doors and open gates from a distance using the company’s patented “Twist and Go” gesture technology. HID Mobile Access is used with the company’s mobile-enabled iCLASS SE® and/or multiCLASS SE® readers, and includes Mobile IDs, HID Mobile Access Apps and access to the HID Secure Identity Services™ portal for managing users and issuing or revoking Mobile IDs.  The mobile-enabled readers are also interoperable with 125 kHz HID Prox and high-frequency technologies including iCLASS Seos®, iCLASS SE, standard iCLASS®, MIFARE®, and MIFARE® DESFire® EV1, which optimizes flexibility for using both cards and mobile devices. “Powered by our award-winning Seos technology, HID Mobile Access opens a new chapter in the creation and management of digital identities for mobile access by making it possible to open doors using the broadest range of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices – without the need for additional sleeves or other accessories,” said Selva Selvaratnam, senior vice president and chief technology officer with HID Global.  “Already proven in a number of successful pilots at major universities and businesses, our HID Mobile Access solution offers more secure, convenient and flexible access control, along with a best-in-class Mobile ID delivery process that is as easy and straightforward as downloading music.” HID Global has created a unique and highly intuitive deployment and management experience with its user-friendly HID Secure Identity Service portal. Administrators simply send users an invitation to download an HID Mobile Access App directly to their Bluetooth- or NFC-enabled phones. After download and registration of the App, Mobile IDs can be immediately issued, provisioned or revoked over the air. The portal was designed for administrator convenience and efficiency, and allows administrators to manage individual or a batch of users for speedy provisioning and ongoing management.  After the Mobile ID has been issued, the user can open a door or gate by either tapping their handset to a mobile-enabled reader or, using their Bluetooth connection and HID Global gesture technology, simply rotate the device to initiate the transaction as they drive or walk up to it. “One of the keys to success over the next several years will be to have an offering beyond traditional access control readers, panels, cards and software and embrace the new position of the industry which includes things such as remote management, mobile and fixed functionality credentials and wireless, reducing administrative burden and increased efficiency and integration with human capital management software,” said Blake Kozak, with the research firm IHS Inc. “Mobile solutions, including secure IDs and a simple yet comprehensive lifecycle management process, are a critical success prerequisite. With the advent of mobile solutions, the access control industry of tomorrow is knocking at the door.” The bundled HID Mobile Access solution is powered by Seos technology, which turns smartphones and other mobile devices into trusted credentials.  Seos technology also preserves privacy by enabling Mobile IDs to be issued, delivered and revoked with end-to-end encryption as part of a unique transaction that protects personal identification data.  With Seos technology at the core of HID Mobile Access, the solution makes it possible to use smartphones and other smart devices for future applications such as PC login, time and attendance, biometrics, EV charging in a unified secure identity system.