What is a mobile access control system?

Mobile access control presupposes that mobile phones, tablets and wearable electronic devices function as users’ credentials when they enter offices or other business facilities. As more and more employers encourage the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend, app access control becomes a great tool to add an extra layer of security to any organization. Electronic devices enable biometric authentication without the need to invest in expensive biometric readers.

How does mobile access control work?

In the majority of cases, mobile access control is powered by Bluetooth thanks to which a phone communicates with a reader placed on a door. These days there is no need for pairing the devices manually. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology will take care of that irritating process. A secure Bluetooth connection can be established from the distance of a few feet giving it a noticeable edge over traditional RFID card technologies, which have a read range of about an inch.

Sometimes,  NFC (Near field communication) technology is applied in mobile access control. You have probably heard of NFC thanks to which payment applications function.  Just like in case with Bluetooth, a phone gets connected to a reader. The drawback of NFC is that it does not let you connect from a distance. Its range is only a few inches.  Another thing to remember is that Apple iPhone does not allow third parties to use the technology.

The benefits of mobile access control

By implementing mobile technology, the following benefits are achieved: convenience of use, effectiveness and cost saving. All of the above features go in line with a high level of security.

Because people are so much used to applying their smartphones in everyday life, expanding their use of mobile devices to access control is very convenient. There is no need to take keys or proxy cards. All you have to do is grab your phone or a wristband which has your ID encoded into it, and voila – you can gain access to facilities or documents located on a cloud.

By implementing an App access control employers save costs and time associated with physical printing and distribution of identity badges, buying biometric readers, etc. As authentication moves to the digital realm, many of the processes are done online.

Advantages of mobile access control over other forms of access control

• You can use a smartphone, a tablet or a wristband as a single identifying technology for physical access control with multiple access rights (i.e. parking lot, office, a cloud or an IT system).
• There is no need to carry a proxy card or a fob with you
• It enables biometric authentication.
• Access control credentials are managed online which saves a lot of time.
• Encrypted technology and the fact that access control is cloud-based ensure a higher level of security.
• It can be used with traditional access control to ensure an extra level of protection.

All in all, the adoption of mobile access control yields employers as well as employees a number of valuable advantages and signifies a new era in the access control technology.