Thomas Schulz

The basic principles of access control are well established: only authorized people should have access to secure areas, only at times that can be defined in advance, and only within a system that can identify exactly who went where, and when. Traditional mechanical lock-and-key systems cannot accomplish this — at least, not without loading a huge admin burden onto security staff. But modern, electronic wireless access control has the flexibility to achieve it. What criteria determine the right sort of access control for your organization? It makes sense to assess what is desirable against what is affordable or available in the electronic access control market today. Asking yourself these 5 questions will lead to a wise investment in the right technology: Wireless locks like Aperio work seamlessly with existing systems from over 100 different access control providersDo you want to extend your existing system, or begin from scratch? You are not stuck with locks chosen by a previous management team. Security needs change. Wireless locks like Aperio, for example, work seamlessly with existing systems from over 100 different access control providers, integrated online or offline. You will save time and money extending your current system with a technology like Aperio and users can continue with their existing credentials. Going forward, it makes sense to choose locks built using open architecture, for added flexibility and to future-proof your next investment. Who are the site users and what kind of credentials suit their needs? In many industries, access to premises is required by permanent staff and short-term contractors: your access system needs to be flexible. Different systems offer credentials stored on cards and fobs, or on programmable, battery-powered keys. For example, the new Openow app for SMARTair wireless locking converts a user’s smartphone into a virtual key. You issue and revoke user keys using the intuitive software, an efficient, flexible mobile management solution. What is the structure of the site (or sites) you protect? You will need different locks for high-traffic and low-traffic doors, indoor and outdoor use. Almost everywhere, wireless locks are much easier to install and to maintain than traditional wired magnetic locks — and more cost-effective to run. Certified wireless security locks provide extra protection for sensitive areas needing stringent standards. If you have a mobile workforce or manage dispersed sites, consider the credential management practicalities. For example, programmable keys that are easy to update with a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone app — like ASSA ABLOY’s CLIQ Connect solution — will save your staff time and money. For outdoor access points, you will need gate locks or padlocks certified for operation in extreme conditions Do you want to secure more than just doors? Some wireless systems have locks for cabinets, machines, windows and even server racks (handy if you want an extra layer of control over co-located servers). There will be workflow advantages in monitoring these ‘non-doors’ — medicine stores, for example, or car parks or lifts — from the same admin interface as your doors. Site users will appreciate the convenience of carrying one credential for every access need. For outdoor access points, you will need gate locks or padlocks certified for operation in extreme conditions. For example, CLIQ mechatronic padlocks are currently deployed outdoors at utility sites in Scandinavia and supermarkets in East Africa. Do you need real-time capabilities? Choose an Online system and you can manage and amend access control doors at any time and from anywhere, using the admin software. You can monitor sensitive areas like medicine stores remotely and in real time, and can revoke access rights if a user credential gets lost. In an emergency, remote locking or unlocking of an entrance could be critical. Aperio wireless locks, for example, are integrated with online electronic access and real-time monitoring systems in hospitals, manufacturing plants and student halls of residence. With some systems, including SMARTair, you can combine ‘Update on Card’ and Online updating for different doors within the same installation. The CLIQ Connect app and programmable keys make real-time control over remote sites or teams possible. Wireless access control offers a compelling mix of audit compliance, easy installation, cost efficiency, and seamless integration. It makes life easier for security managers, and is deployed in premises as diverse as power plants and co-working spaces; museums and care homes; banks, schools and skyscrapers.

There’s growing noise around smart homes and smarter security. You’ve probably heard it. But there is a place where access control and more have been smart for decades: the workplace. Home automation and IoT are still playing catch-up with the commercial sector. A new insights report from ASSA ABLOY and IFSEC Global — “The Smart Door Locks Report 2018” — measures just how fast consumer smart technology is running. According to a survey conducted for the report, 61% of households now claim to own at least one smart home device or system. Energy monitors, home CCTV cameras, intruder alarms and smart door locks are the most popular, according to the report. All these functions, of course, have been available to businesses for years.61% of households now claim to own at least one smart home device or system Educating The Smart Home Consumer Paradoxically, report data also questions how much consumers really know about their smarter home. A surprising 42% of those surveyed, for example, were unaware they could control a smart door lock from their phone. In fact, many leading smart door lock models offer this feature, delivered by Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and an app. Despite a wealth of features offered by the latest smart door locks — remote and location-based locking/unlocking; voice activation; timed access; emailed entry alerts; and integration with smart camera and lighting systems — most people still have limited knowledge of their capabilities.  Smart technology is increasingly becoming the new norm in terms of home security  Only 14% of survey respondents described themselves as “very familiar” with what a smart lock can do. Even though most of them probably use smart access control solutions at their workplace. Secure Homes Through Smart Technology Monitoring and security are not the only drivers for smart home adoption. We humans also love convenience, and modern living presents us with problems that smart home technology can solve. Ironically, given the report’s findings, it takes a smartphone to really unlock the convenient possibilities of smarter living. The device that’s “always to hand” is central to the newest generation of smart door locks.A smart door lock is a convenient way for a landlord or agency to offer round-the-clock check-in and check-out If homeowners wish to remotely manage property access for friends and family, many smart door locks oblige. You let in guests remotely, send them a virtual digital key, or provide a temporary or single-use PIN to unlock the door. It is just as easy to revoke a digital key, if you don’t want its owner to come around anymore. This is a significant improvement over sharing physical keys — or hiding one under the doormat. We cannot be totally sure where a metal key ends up and have no way to track or cancel it once it’s “out in the wild”. Commercial access control offers such functionality as standard, of course.  In addition, smart door locks offer more than just stand-alone operation and clever functions. In a domestic setting, magic happens when locks work in harmony with a home automation system, connected by protocols like Z-Wave, ZigBee or Wi-Fi. "Smart" Security On The Move  The smartphone is becoming a remote control for managing a connected life beyond just home (and even workplace) security. According to Accenture, the parcel delivery services market will grow by $343 billion by 2020. Just like home security, convenience is a major driver of change. Homeowners can send guests a virtual digital key to their phones, or provide a temporary or single-use PIN to unlock the door A recent PostNord pilot in Sweden aimed to remove the inconvenience of waiting home for a postal delivery. Selected customers of some major Scandinavian e-retailers could choose to have parcels delivered inside their front door, if it was equipped with a Yale smart door lock.  Home delivery is among potential smart services covered in “The Smart Door Locks Report 2018 ”. When asked whether the ability to receive parcels securely in a porch or lobby would make them more likely to invest in a smart door lock, 79% said it would.It is easy to revoke a digital key, if you don’t want its owner to come around anymore Vacation Rentals And Smart Home Tech ASSA ABLOY research published in 2017 forecasts continued growth in the European vacation rentals sector (at 5.8% CAGR). Smart door locks are also making an impact here, at both ends of the market: for service providers — agents and homeowners — and for travelers. A smart door lock is a convenient way for a landlord or agency to offer round-the-clock check-in and check-out, without creating extra work or staff costs. Both Intersoft, in Croatia, and Hoomvip in Spain have built vacation rentals management systems around an app and the ENTR® smart door lock. Agents issue, revoke, track and manage virtual keys for all their guests, saving everyone time and hassle. travelers use their phones and an app to unlock their apartment. For these visitors the smartphone is already an essential travel accessory. It is a boarding pass, a credit card, a travel guide, and a postcard home... why not a door key, too? And if this key is backed by a trusted home security brand — and a company with vast experience in the mature market for commercial “smart” security — better still.

The shift from wired to wireless access control was expected to gather pace in 2016—and that has happened. This year we at Assa Abloy surveyed a large cross-section of security professionals, seeking their insight into the changing market. Comparing our data with research we did in 2014 showed a clear trend towards wireless access control.   Wireless Access Data Our 2014 survey found 23% of commercial properties using a wireless or hybrid wired/wireless access control system. By 2016, that was 29%, with 5% of premises already fully wireless. We know we’re on the right track: ASSA ABLOY has invested heavily in market and product research, and we will continue. More card- and key-based wireless access control products are releasing through 2017 and beyond. We see a parallel trend in the residential market. Connected smart door locks, as part of smart homes, are becoming more high-profile, vindicating our investment in this sector. Our Yale brand has the largest range of smart door locks on the market.Efficient Security Solutions In 2016, more efficient security solutions have been right at the top of the agenda. Corporate and public sector budgets are tight, and that is likely to continue. On the commercial side, customers increasingly demand access control solutions that integrate with their current building management systems, even if those are made by different manufacturers. That’s why our Aperio wireless locks, cylinders, and escutcheons are built to open standards, for example. On the domestic side, connected living is taking off Connected Living Solutions Solutions must be easy to manage with low installation and maintenance costs, which is a major benefit of wireless access control. On the domestic side, connected living is taking off. More service providers in the domestic market—from energy suppliers to telecoms and security providers—are offering smart door locks as part of connected living solutions to their customers. Access Control In 2016 Looking ahead to 2017, interoperability and compatibility will be increasingly important in commercial access control, as customers expect multiple systems to integrate seamlessly. In smart-home technologies, too: Platforms like Samsung SmartThings, the UK’s O2 Home, innogy SmartHome in Germany and many others are critical to the growth of smart-home security. We also see a growing role for access control solutions in small and medium-sized businesses. Wireless access systems like our SMARTair or CLIQ Go product line make it more affordable and easier to install and run than ever. See the full coverage of 2016/2017 Review and Forecast articles here Save

Everything about wireless access control makes life easier for those who install and operate it A lot of market data crosses my desk at ASSA ABLOY. Sometimes it can be hard to spot patterns or pick out the trends. But not always. Some recent access control market research we commissioned pointed in one direction. Our conclusion? Slowly but surely, access control is becoming a wireless technology As the global leader in door opening solutions, we are able to survey a large, representative segment of security professionals. Comparing our latest data with similar research conducted in 2014 clearly indicates the trend. Our 2014 report found 23% of commercial properties using a wireless or hybrid wired/wireless access control system. Fast forward to 2016 and the proportion has risen to 29%, with 5% of the installed base already with a fully wireless setup. That’s a significant leap, in a relatively short time. Already, 69% of respondents consider wireless locks a cost-effective alternative to wired access control. A whopping 62% even predict that few business premises will still have mechanical locks within a decade. We published the detailed results in a report, “The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016”. Easy To Operate, Easy To Integrate But why wireless? What aspects of the technology appeal in particular to facility managers, integrators and installers? Cost-efficiency, ease of installation, and the compliance requirements for audit trails are often cited by building managers. Everything about wireless access control makes life easier for those who install and operate it. It’s easy to extend an existing third-party access control system by switching mechanical locking cylinders for battery-powered, electronic Aperio® cylinders, for example. You can bring them into the existing, single control panel via communications hubs (online integration) or via update-on-card (offline). Compare that to the full-scale rewiring job needed to add traditional magnetic locks! Key management headaches are eliminated by RFID smartcards, as are the security risks posed by a lost mechanical key — an all-too-common occurrence Equipping doors previously locked using mechanical keys with electronic access control upgrades a site’s security in an instant. Key management headaches are eliminated by RFID smartcards, as are the security risks posed by a lost mechanical key — an all-too-common occurrence, and something 86% of our survey respondents also worry about. EN, DIN and CE wireless lock certification drive still more customers to wireless. Easy, effective integration of wireless lock technologies like Aperio® with CCTV, alarm and other security systems is another major benefit. The era of the smart building is here; locking systems that integrate seamlessly with complementary building management infrastructure are increasingly vital. “Wireless locks are often specially designed for integration with other systems. The integration capabilities and ease of use can be a significant benefit,” writes Blake Kozak, principal analyst at IHS Research, in commentary on our report. Extensive Adoption Across Many Business Sectors Wireless is extensively adopted across many business sectors. In a corporate office setting, the ability for facility managers to amend access rights remotely, to instantly cancel lost cards or to extend an existing wired access control system without disruptive structural alterations are all valuable. Sensitive settings such as hospitals and residential care homes need the real-time information flow that only electronic access control can supply. Online wireless locks provide this much more cost-effectively than any other technology — and are even available with hermetic sealing and anti-bacterial coating. In the event of a security breach at a medicine store of patient records area, wireless locks generate detailed audit trails for locks, users or smartcards that regulatory compliance demands. In student accommodation blocks, lost keys are a recurring security risk and drain on resources — risks and costs that are eliminated by installing wireless access control instead of mechanical locks. Critical infrastructure sites are often widely dispersed or remote (or both). Wireless locks don’t need a mains electricity connection, making them a perfect choice for reservoirs, electricity sub-stations and power generation or distribution facilities. Certified locks and encrypted communications between lock and system ensure security meets the stringent demands of such critical premises. Wireless locks don’t need a mains electricity connection, making them a perfect choice for critical infrastructure sites Aperio Wireless Locks Among our own product portfolio, Aperio® wireless locks integrate with almost any leading access control system, allowing facility managers to take access control much further into a site than would be possible with wired access control. At i2 serviced offices around the UK, Aperio® wireless locks replaced the slow and expensive job of hardwiring every newly sublet office into i2’s central access control system. Aperio® is the access control backbone of a 100% wireless deployment at Ghent’s Hospital Maria Middelares. It enables real-time management and “gold standard” resident care at a new care home in Umeå, Sweden, as well as flexible, online access control at the University of Surrey’s Manor Park campus. SMARTair For Small To Medium-sized Premises SMARTair™ is a stand-alone wireless locking system aimed at small to medium-sized premises, including offices, retirement homes, hospitals, small hotels and universities. Building managers at Frankfurt’s Tower 185 chose SMARTair™ for its easy installation and access rights processing speed. Because SMARTair™ locks are wireless, they consume less energy and emit much less CO2 than wired magnetic locks. It’s no coincidence, then, that Tower 185 was among the first European high-rises to be awarded Gold LEED Certification by the US Green Building Council. The flexibility of SMARTair™ was also a major factor in the Red Cross’s decision to select it for its new Córdoba headquarters. CLIQ key Management Solution CLIQ® is a mechatronic technology, based on patented, high-security cylinders, battery-powered, programmable keys and encrypted electronic communications between cylinders and system. It is widely adopted in critical infrastructure settings around Europe. Its security credentials and the ability for in-house managers to issue contractors with programmable keys are a major benefit to workflow management in these complex organizations. The ability for in-house managers to issue contractors with programmable keys is a major benefit to workflow management in complex organizations In Helsinki, Finland, CLIQ® secures 3,500 interior and exterior doors at 70 different sites for Helsingin Energia, ensuring 400,000 customers have uninterrupted electricity supply. The whole ecosystem is managed remotely from simple, web-based CLIQ® administration software. Industrielle Werke Basel needed a locking system that would equip it to face 21st-century security challenges — as well as padlocks that could withstand extremes of climate and weather. CLIQ® technology ticked all the boxes. Adopting Wireless Beyond Doors Interestingly, our recent customer research also finds the market is already tuned-in to the potential for wireless beyond just doors. Well over half of respondents judged electronic access control well suited to securing server racks, cabinets, lockers, safes, and machines, as well as padlocked outdoor structures. Flexibility makes wireless technology the natural solution. “Interior doors, file cabinets, carts and other deployments will increasingly use wireless electronic systems,” says Kozak. “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.” With audit trail compliance, easy installation, cost efficiency, and seamless integration, wireless access control makes life easier for security managers, installers and system integrators. This, surely, is the secret to its rapid growth. We see it in survey responses and its increasingly widespread adoption across many sectors— and we expect to keep seeing it, as we analyze market trends through 2016 and beyond.

The emergence of smart cities provides real-world evidence of the vast capabilities of the Internet of Things (IoT). Urban areas today can deploy a variety of IoT sensors to collect data that is then analyzed to provide insights to drive better decision-making and ultimately to make modern cities more livable. Safety and security are an important aspect of smart cities, and the capabilities that drive smarter cities also enable technologies that make them safer. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the physical security challenges of smart cities?

Retrofit projects provide new levels of physical security modernisation to existing facilities. However, retrofits come with their own set of challenges that can frustrate system designers and defy the efforts of equipment manufacturers. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the biggest challenges of retrofit projects, and how can they be overcome?

In business and at home, the smartphone is a remote control for our lives. It’s a calendar and a credit card. We book holidays and do our daily banking. With video calling technology, we can even be in two places at once (or make it seem that way). Could there be untapped potential in using mobile phones for access control, too? According to official EU data, by 2016 94% of European large businesses were issuing their workers with some sort of connected mobile device. We seem to use our smartphones for everything. Yet mobile phones are under utilized when it comes to building security and access management. Mobile access Evolving technologies now enable us to manage access rights via mobile phone apps Evolving technologies now enable us to manage access rights via mobile phone apps, open a door with a virtual key credential, and much more. An estimated 44 million mobile credentials will be downloaded by 2021, according to a recent IHS Markit forecast. Smartphones enable wireless access control: Convenience: Part of the reason Apple Pay, Instagram and many more mobile services succeed is for the simple reason, we like to carry less stuff. With secure credentials on your phone, there’s no more need for a fob, a plastic smart-card or anything similar. Security: A screen-lock adds an extra layer of PIN, swipe passcode or fingerprint security. With phones, multi-factor authentication is baked into the credential. And how quickly would you notice if a plastic key-card went missing? Nowhere near as fast as you’d spot your smart phone was gone. Flexibility: Security and facility managers can do things with virtual keys that are impossible with a plastic credential. They can issue, revoke or amend them instantly and from anywhere with secure cloud access via a mobile phone. However briefly a temporary visitor needs to enter your building, the easiest way to let them in is with their phone. Efficiency: Scrap the queues at reception waiting for temporary visitor permits, waste fewer hours in plastic key-card handover meetings and spend less of your budget replacing lost and damaged credentials. Phone-based access control saves businesses time and money. Compatibility: Mobile phones are machines built for connectivity, including with your existing RFID locks. Bluetooth and NFC radio technology are already inside most modern smartphones. Every future viable wireless and contactless technology will be there, too. Another recent analyst report suggested as many as 20% of organizations would use smartphones for access, in place of plastic smart-cards, by 2020. The move to mobile access control seems inevitable. “Other highly security-aware industries like banking demonstrate the advantages of the smartphone,” says Thomas Schulz, Director Marketing & Communications Digital and Access Solutions at ASSA ABLOY EMEA. “Similarly, we see fast-growing interest in unlocking doors and other openings with mobile credentials, and in facility managers administering access rights via their smartphone.” SMARTair Openow solution “To take one example from our portfolio of mobile access solutions, security managers using our new SMARTair Openow solution manage all users’ virtual keys inside a secure app. If an administrator cancels a virtual key, it vanishes immediately from a user’s Openow app.” Schulz points to the new Arkansas State University campus in Mexico, where students and staff have no access cards to collect or validate. Every site user installs and validates their own Openow app and collects keys virtually. Wireless access control Smartphones add convenience and functionality right across our wireless access control product" “Smartphones add convenience and functionality right across our wireless access control product and solutions portfolio,” said Schulz. “Users can unlock our Aperio wireless locks with a Seos mobile credential. Small and medium-sized business managers can run their own access control with no specialist knowledge, using just the CLIQ Go app and their phone.” He further adds, “For companies with a remote workforce, the CLIQ Connect app updates access rights of programmable keys with just a secure Bluetooth connection. Access control from your mobile phone offers so many efficiency advantages. I’d encourage everyone involved in managing access control to take a look.”

ASSA ABLOY will be exhibiting at Sheikh Saeed Hall 2, Stand H12 at Intersec 2017 As public and private sector organizations around the world seek cost-efficient access control solutions that do not compromise on security, the spotlight falls increasingly on wireless technologies — the heart of the ASSA ABLOY showcase at Intersec 2017, in Sheikh Saeed Hall 2, Stand H12. Wireless Access Control Wireless technology is easy to install and maintain, and also makes it cost-efficient to bring electronic access control much deeper into a site than would be possible with wired access control - boosting security in the process. A major move towards wireless is borne out by ASSA ABLOY research published in “The Wireless Access Control Market in 2016”, which found 29% of premises using a wireless or hybrid wired/wireless access control system, with 5% of premises already fully wireless. Integration And Interoperability “In wireless access control, we continue to be a global market leader, as was again recognized by our place in the annual A&S Security 50,” says Thomas Schulz, Director of Marketing, and Communications at ASSA ABLOY EMEA. “Our wireless product portfolio includes card- and key-based wireless access solutions for stand-alone use and for integration with other systems.” “We see an increasing emphasis on integration and interoperability,” he continues. “Customers now expect an access control system to work seamlessly with their CCTV, alarm, HVAC and other building management systems, even if those systems are made by different manufacturers. That’s why it is becoming increasingly important to build technologies that adhere to open standards, such as the OSS Standard Offline, as we do with our Aperio wireless locks.” Innovations In Access Control "We see an increasing emphasis on interoperability. Customersnow expect an access control system to work seamlessly with their CCTV, alarm, HVAC andother building management systems" • Key-based wireless access control: CLIQ is a security locking system based on high-end microelectronics, programmable keys, cylinders, and padlocks. New innovations bring the power of CLIQ to a mobile phone. The CLIQ Go app enables managers of small and medium-sized businesses to administer security and access rights on the move, from anywhere in the world. A few taps of a screen is all it takes to revoke, supervise, or amend an individual’s access rights. Highly commended in the 2016 Detektor International Awards, CLIQ Connect enables streamlined workflows for a larger organization’s mobile workforce. The new Connect app pairs a programmable CLIQ Connect key via Bluetooth, to the cloud-based CLIQ administration software, allowing mobile workers to update their access permissions in the field with a smartphone. • Aperio wireless access control: Aperio battery-powered wireless locks integrate seamlessly with third-party access control systems from several market-leading manufacturers, allowing companies to extend access control to more doors without breaking the bank. Aperio components include online and offline wireless cylinders and escutcheons, wireless security locks and dedicated server rack locks. Live integrations at the ASSA ABLOY booth with Nedap and Axis systems demonstrate Aperio in action. • Residential smart connected door locks: The Internet of Things (IoT) continues to make inroads in the consumer sector, and ASSA ABLOY already has the widest range of domestic smart door locks on the market - many distributed internationally by the long-established Yale brand. The Yale portfolio features both stand-alone and integration-ready connected locks, including ENTR, which allows users to unlock their front door with a smartphone, PIN code, remote control, or fingerprint. ASSA ABLOY smart door locks are compatible with all major global door formats. These innovative locks can also work with multiple smart-home platforms, including Samsung SmartThings, the UK’s O2 Home, innogy SmartHome in Germany, Pronet in Turkey, and many others — allowing homeowners to control several domestic functions from a single app or interface. To see how the latest wireless technologies are helping homes and businesses to stay connected and stay secure, visit the ASSA ABLOY Intersec 2017 showcase: Sheikh Saeed Hall 2, Stand H12. Save

The wireless electronic access control innovations on exhibit will include eCLIO, Aperio and SMARTair ASSA ABLOY to exhibit additions to their flagship card- and key-based access control solutions at Security Essen 2016, in Halle 11, Stand B16. Among the innovative products on show is the eCLIQ locking system, fully electronic access control with programmable cylinders and battery-powered keys. Hardware and software enhancements to Aperio and SMARTair wireless access control are also on show at the ASSA ABLOY stand. Wireless Electronic Access Control Exhibits Innovations in wireless electronic access control exhibited include: eCLIQ: CLIQ is a security locking system with high-end microelectronics, programmable keys and cylinders, built to minimize the security risks associated with lost keys. eCLIQ is the new, fully electronic generation of CLIQ. With eCLIQ, companies can bring electronic access control much deeper into their premises: eCLIQ can be fitted to doors without making any structural alterations. There are eCLIQ solutions for padlocks, mailboxes, elevators, and alarm systems, and eCLIQ components can secure openings both indoors and outdoors: the eCLIQ portfolio includes cylinders able to operate from –25°C to 85°C; the durable, battery-powered eCLIQ electronic key meets the IP67 waterproof standard. Aperio: ASSA ABLOY showcases the latest Aperio technology, battery-powered locks which integrate seamlessly with third-party access control systems from several market-leading manufacturers. Aperio supports various RFID technologies including iCLASS, MIFARE and LEGIC. The range includes online and offline cylinders, escutcheons, locks and dedicated server rack locks. SMARTair: This stand-alone wireless access control system enables small to medium-sized businesses to go keyless quickly and affordably — and without any need to replace existing mechanical locks. The latest generation of real-time system management with SMARTair Wireless Online is showcased. Trends In Commercial Electronic Access Control “Wireless technologies including Aperio, SMARTair and CLIQ are grabbing more and more share in the access control market,” says Thomas Schulz, Director of Marketing and Communications at ASSA ABLOY EMEA. “In fact, our detailed market research discovered that 29% of commercial properties are already using a wireless or hybrid wired/wireless access system. That’s an increase of 5% on similar research findings we published in 2014, a big leap in just a couple of years.” Save Save Save Save

ASSA ABLOY products are shaping customer demands & setting out to change perceptions Access control is changing. At IFSEC 2015 (D1700, Hall S17), ASSA ABLOY showcases the products that are at the cutting edge of the latest trends in the industry. “One key market trend is the move from wired to wireless access control, especially IP-enabled wireless devices,” says Chris Bone, Vice President Access Control Solutions EMEA at ASSA ABLOY. “Our data suggests wireless locks could make up 30% of the total market within a decade, up from around 15% right now. Customers increasingly demand flexibility from their access control systems, but don’t want to compromise on security.” Quick And Easy To Install - Aperio Wireless Locks Market-leading ASSA ABLOY products on show at IFSEC are shaping those customer demands. Quick and easy to install, Aperio® wireless locks are compatible with the RFID card technologies that existing access control systems use. “Standards are becoming increasingly important,” adds Chris Bone. “Customers demand compatibility between new and legacy technologies. They want wireless products, like Aperio®, that can plug right into a range of leading access control systems.” The Aperio® portfolio includes certified locks for a variety of openings, including security doors. Aperio® locks consume much less energy than traditional wired locks, require very little maintenance—a new lithium battery every 2 years, on average—and are the smart choice for any business looking to upgrade its access control system. "Customers want wireless products, like Aperio®, that can plug right into a range of leading access control systems" Standalone Wireless Access Control System - SMARTair SMARTair™ is a simpler, standalone wireless access control system that offers an easy step up from mechanical keys. It’s proven in the field, serving locations as diverse as a prestigious Brisbane school and a small hotel on the Devon coast. The SMARTair™ Pro package is aimed at small to medium-sized premises, and offers four ways for facilities managers to update site access rights — Standalone, Offline, Update on Card and Wireless Online. Administrators can pick a method to suit each door and combine them in a single installation. SMARTair™ Genesis offers small facilities an out-the-box access control system which is affordable and easy to install. Based on the Update on Card offering, the system allows businesses to manage up to 30 doors in a secure, wireless electronic access control system. Cylinder-type Locks - CLIQ CLIQ® technology combines electronic and mechanical security in a wide range of cylinder-type locks. CLIQ® locks are wireless, and powered by a battery inside the programmable CLIQ® key. Ideally suited to premises where security is critical, CLIQ® has proven its value in small offices, National Health Service hospital wards, and public utilities with thousands of cylinders—from Helsinki to Heidelberg. ASSA ABLOY is also setting out to change perceptions. Research conducted last year in conjunction with IFSEC uncovered several common misconceptions about wireless access control. Several survey respondents believed that switching to wireless would be disruptive to current systems, or expensive to implement, for example. “The joint research with IFSEC convinced ASSA ABLOY to launch a campaign to educate the market this year,” says Thomas Schulz, ASSA ABLOY’s EMEA Marketing and Communications Manager, Access Control Solutions. “IFSEC 2015 is the perfect forum for getting the right information to customers and for dispelling some all-too-common myths about wireless access control. We have interactive media on our stand to show customers our wireless technologies in action.”