The coronavirus pandemic — and the resulting digital transformation — has undoubtedly had an impact on the growing access control as a service (ACaaS) market. As the shift to a more virtual world has become a reality, it’s been reported that the influence of the cloud has been, and will continue to be, impactful; and transitioning to the cloud is top of mind for many businesses as 2021 plans become finalized. Security dealers and integrators are no different, with many increasingly adopting a cloud-first approach as ACaaS continues to leverage more of the cloud’s offerings and grow at a remarkable CAGR of 17.18%. So, what is ACaaS?
The Rise of Access Control as a Service
Simply put, access control as a service (ACaaS) merges the benefits of subscription-based software as a service (SaaS) with on-site access control devices; access control hardware remains onsite, and software and servers are removed and stored at data centers, making it possible for users to control access remotely and backup and store data securely.
Essentially, ACaaS allows you to grant the right access to the right people at the right time. As the transition to the cloud continues, a key differentiator that end-users look for in their cloud solution is an unburdensome platform — ACaaS lightens the hardware load organizations have to deploy and maintain.
The Cloud, Social Distancing & Remote Access
By moving the server and infrastructure off-site, the resulting central hub allows access control, permissions, and data to be connected to the infrastructure, enabling users to handle everything in one place during a time when social distancing and widely distributed work forces have become the norm. ACaaS’ booming growth can, in part, be attributed to security dealers and integrators embracing cloud technology on a larger scale to address one of the industry’s biggest pain points: troubleshooting.
With social distancing measures still in place, the need to troubleshoot remotely is critical. As such, Identiv recently launched Freedom Cloud, our newest ACaaS offering for the Freedom Access Control solution that allows users to control, manage, and maintain their physical access control system (PACS) via Freedom’s intuitive browser-based web administration.
Hassle-free, Safe & Secure Data Path
Hosting Freedom Cloud in Identiv’s secure Amazon Web Services (AWS) virtual environment ensures a protected data path while supporting access through any compatible browser on any device. Administrators and users get the flexibility to access the full capabilities of Freedom regardless of their location. The Freedom system also offers the ability to create a mobile onboarding email template that can be defined by the administrator, allowing for the sharing of the iOS or Google Play store link, as well as login information for the mobile app, ensuring a seamless, hassle-free mobile enrollment process.
Pay-as-You-Go Offers More Freedom
Freedom Cloud joins Identiv’s portfolio of ACaaS offerings, including Hirsch Velocity Cirrus. Building on the nearly 40-year Hirsch legacy, Cirrus maintains Velocity’s award-winning reliability, robust architecture, feature set, and ease of use. The modular user interface ensures that anyone with Velocity thick-client experience will easily transition to this Access Control as a Service (ACaaS) version.
The benefits of the “as-a-service” model are well-known: lower upfront costs, direct remote support and assistance, and customization. Freedom Cloud and Cirrus take it a step further by keeping end users at the forefront of technology, while also saving businesses time and money. The pay-as-you-go model preserves cash and adds to the benefits of ACaaS without hassles or risks, a perfect solution for the uncertainty of the pandemic and post-pandemic era.
Get Access Control Help from Your Local ISG Expert
Though 2020 was a very tumultuous year, it was also one that prepared the industry for tremendous growth. Powered by the digital transformation, the future of security and the cloud looks bright.
Discuss your organization’s potential access control needs with the ISG dealer in your area. Discover if access control as a service might be a solution that would work best for you. Also, talk with us about how integration with mobile credentials, video surveillance, visitor management, card issuance and other ISG solutions could also benefit your school or business.
