Locking out the Bad Guys at ASIS 2015
- By Ginger Hill
- Oct 05, 2015
Probably the most known access security products are locks – from the standard lock and key to the more sophisticated connected locks – these tools are designed to keep people out. And, in this day in age of campus shootings, perhaps there is no better place for locks than college campuses.
Upon returning from ASIS 2015, the news was bombarded with yet another campus shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon that claimed the lives of the innocent. The shooter's father blames guns and how easy it was for his son to get 13 guns in his possession. We can play the blame game all day; however, the fact of the matter is, it happened…again.
While there is not a 100% security solution for this type of tragedy, making it difficult for a shooter to gain easy access to classrooms, dorms and other facilities could buy time for officials to get to the scene or provide enough frustration that the shooter simply gives up. This is exactly what ASSA ABLOY is doing with their IP-enabled campus access control locks with HID mobile access.
Most college students are accustomed to carrying a campus card with them, typically in the form of an ID card; however, what is the one possession that few college students are every without? Their smartphones! So, why not move the smart card's abilities to students' smartphones? Besides, people like to customize their smartphones and by bringing mobile access control to the device and putting it on the device, users are able to customize their access control experience.
The "magration" or seamless transition of security credentials from mag stripe cards to smart cards to mobile access is easily done with IP-enabled PoE and WiFi campus access control locks from ASSA ABLOY Group brands Corbin Russwin and SARGENT, combined with HID multiCLASS SE technology. This allows campuses to use their existing infrastructure to make installation simple while cost-effectively expanding their access control systems.
Locks on campuses will sit from 7-10 years due to budget constraints, so it's important to choose a long-lasting lock that will evolve with technology. Going forward, ASSA ABLOY plans to add Bluetooth connection to their campus access control locks.
About the Author
Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.