Are you looking for a secure and centralized way to manage your physical access systems? Consider a cloud-based access control system that provides centralized management, real-time updates, visibility, cloud wiring, diagnostics, and other features at a lower cost than traditional physical access systems. Additionally, modern cloud-based access control systems can be easily integrated with your company’s software to simplify visitor management and door scheduling operations.
Access control refers to any method used to prevent unauthorized entry. Protecting the security of any business is crucial, and technology-enabled access control methods allow us to manage the security of multiple offices from one central location. For example, many access control systems use biometrics to authenticate users, which reduces the risk of unauthorized access to company premises. Furthermore, new users can be added to access control groups or revoked from certain facilities remotely without the need for physical infrastructure.
Traditional physical access control systems require upfront capital expenditure and an in-house security specialist. However, cloud-based access control offers increased scalability and flexibility with real-time monitoring videos accessible from any device at any time. A cloud-based access control system can save you a lot of hassle by eliminating the need for setting up a local server or managing complicated software updates. But what exactly is cloud technology?
What is cloud technology?
A Statista survey shows that 90 percent of respondents find cloud services easy to access and manage. Cloud computing, or cloud technology, is a technology that stores and manages data on remote servers so that you can access your data from anywhere, anytime, using the internet.
It’s a simple and cost-effective solution for enterprises that deal with large data sets, customer data, client contracts, etc. Moreover, there’s no need to spend on the physical infrastructure when you can rent the services from a third-party provider.
How does cloud-based access control work?
Forget the hassles of managing large servers inside buildings with cloud-based access control. A cloud-based access control system runs remotely on a large fleet of servers inside buildings called data centers that connect your devices and readers over the internet.
Don’t want to invest in expensive IT infrastructure? Well, there’s no need to use cloud-based access control systems. These systems offer you centralized cloud access control and key management just sitting in the cloud.
Want to refrain from incurring purchase and maintenance costs? Done. Owned and operated by a third-party provider, administrators, and business owners can now control the system from anywhere, at any time, without worrying about the investments.
How is cloud-based access control being leveraged by various industries?
Research shows that the cloud-based access control market is expected to reach $20 billion by 2027. However, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) were the first to adopt cloud technology as an access control system.
Identity management and access control in the cloud are flexible solutions that come without the cost of an on-premise IT infrastructure. SMBs have switched to cloud-based access control systems as they don’t have the resources to build and manage the physical security solution.
Moreover, enterprise-level organizations are also interested in cloud access control systems. The cloud offers a wide range of benefits such as remote management, cost reduction, and flexibility with timely updates for strengthened security.
What are the benefits of cloud-based access control?
Now let’s take a deep dive into the various benefits offered by cloud-based access control system solutions:
Scalability: Cloud-based access control solutions can easily scale up or down based on the needs of an organization. This means that as the organization grows, the access control solution can grow with it.
Flexibility: Cloud-based access control solutions allow for more flexibility than traditional on-premises solutions. You can change access instantly from anywhere, eliminating the need to visit server rooms and waste time, which is particularly useful for remote workforces.
Cost-Effectiveness: Cloud-based access control solutions are often more cost-effective than traditional on-premises solutions. They eliminate the need for expensive hardware, software, and maintenance, which can be significant cost savings for organizations.
Security: Cloud-based access control solutions offer advanced security features, including multi-factor authentication and encryption. This ensures that only authorized individuals can access the system and data.
Ease of Use: Cloud-based access control solutions are often designed to be user-friendly and intuitive. This means that users can quickly learn how to use the system, reducing the need for extensive training.
Integration: Cloud-based access control solutions can integrate with other cloud-based systems, such as HR and payroll systems, to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.
Off-site hosting centers: Cloud servers are competent computer servers not present on your premises and licensed to you by a third-party provider. In cloud-based access control systems, your data is stored in large data centers that never shut down, making server maintenance (such as restarting the system or installing more memory) easy. Physical servers can be time-consuming and expensive, while cloud access control systems allow you to manage your information via browsers and internet-connected mobile devices.
Automatic updates: Choosing a Cloud-Based Access Control system ensures that you get automatic updates and backups. On-premise access control systems require complex software upgrades every six months, which can lead to downtimes that may last several days. In contrast, cloud access control systems update automatically every week without intervention, creating redundancies in multiple locations to back up data so that it can be restored if it gets corrupted in the future.
Remote accessibility: Administrators and business owners can manage and control cloud-based access control systems from anywhere, anytime globally. Moreover, you can get remote support from the software provider with just a call or click, while on-premises security systems may require a technician if anything goes wrong.
Improved network security: Cloud-based access control systems operate on secure and encrypted communication channels such as HTTPS and TLS. With highly secure data centers, cloud access control systems rely on a minimal hardware footprint at your premises, leading to improved network security.
What are the risks, and how can they be mitigated?
Not everything can be excellent in cloud-based access control systems, and they also pose some risks for businesses. Like, moving sensitive data to an internet-connected cloud environment, enterprises are paving the way for more cyberattacks using malware.
Data leakage or loss can also be an excellent risk for cloud security, as cited by 60 percent of individuals in a report. However, there are ways to mitigate these risks, like conducting a cybersecurity risk assessment to identify all the vulnerabilities in the system’s security. Implementing user access controls can also be an option where users are given access to limited functionalities needed for each role.
Conclusion
More enterprise-level organizations are coming forward to adopt cloud technology and cloud-based access control in the future. Companies like OLOID provide modern cloud-based access control with added benefits of multi-modal authentication, easy self-installation, and retrofitting design with existing badge readers and access control systems. With a privacy-centric design and end-to-end encryption, OLOID keeps you compliant with the latest data and privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA. To know more about OLOID products, click here.
