Avigilon Access Control Tested

Published Jun 22, 2015 04:00 AM

******** **** ** ******* ** ***-**-*** solution ** ***** ************ *** ****** control.

*** *** **** ** ***** ****** control? ** ****,******** ****** ******** *** $** *******. *******, ******** *** * **** small ******* **** *** *** **** used. ****, ******** *** ** ********* access ******* **** ***** ******** ********.

**** ******* *** ***** ****** ******* reports ** ***** ******* ****** ** **** ** ******* *** ********* ****** ******.

***, **** ****** ********'* ****** ******* Manager (***) [**** ** ****** *********] Professional ** **** *** *** **** or *** ******** **.

**** ***** ***** ********* **** ** cover **-***** ******:

****** ** ***** ***** **** ********** areas:

  • **** ***** ******
  • *******
  • **** ****** ********
  • ********** ************
  • ****** **** ********
  • ********** **********
  • ****** *** ******** **************
  • ********* *** ******** *******
  • *********
  • ***** *********** **** ***

*** **** ******* ********* ** ***** from ******* ****:

  • **** **********: ********** *** ************* ****** **********, getting *** ** *** ******* ** simple. ****** ***** ******* **** ******* building ******, **** ****** **********, *** installing ******** ****** ** ********, ************* of ACM ******** ******** ** * *** cables *** ******* ** ** ******* in *** ********. **** *****, ****** panels *** ********** ************* *** ** done **** ** ******** ****** ********** and ** **** *** ** * logical *********** ** ******** ****.  
  • ****** **** *******: ***** ** * ***** **** for ********* *** ***** ******* **** a ****** *********** *** ******** ***** or ****** ****** *****. **** ******** to ****** ****** *********, ******** ****** ACM **** ********* *** ************* **** support. ********, ******* ** ******* ****** without ******* ********* ** ******* ***** to ****** *** *****, ****** ********* rivals **** *** **** *********** ** who **** **** ****.
  • ****** **** *********: ****** ********* ****** ********* **** propose ********* ******** *********** ********** ** perpetual *********, ****** *** ** * one-time **** **** ** ********** ******** beyond ******* ********. 

**********

*******, ******** ****** * ****** ** fundamental *** ******** ********* **** *** commonplace ** ****** *******:

  • ********** ***** ***********: *** ******* *********** ****** ** buy *** ** ***** *********** **** Avigilon's ****** *** ****** **** ***** surveillance ********. ************* *** ***, *** video *********** ** ** ***** *** ***** should ****** ** ***** *** ****** seperate ********* *** ***** *** ******. Even ****** ******* *** **** ******** of ****** ******, ********* *** ****** events ** ***** ** * ********** and *********** *******.
  • ** *** ********** ****** ********: ********, ***** *** *********** **** ACC ** ****, *** (*** ***** client / ********) *********** **** *** is ***-******** ****** ******** ********** *** painfully ***** **** ****.  *********** ** essentially ******* ** ***** ********, *** no **** ******** ** *** **** *** available ****** ***.
  • ** ******* ******: ******* ***** ******** ** *** disjointed ****** ** ***'* ******* *********. Despite ******** **** ********, ****** **** the ***** ******** **** (**** ********** verification, **** ******, *** **** ********) available ** *** **** ******* ******** kludgy *********** ***** ******** ****. ****** access ********* **** ******* ****** ****** management ** ***** ***** ******** *** many *****.
  • ****** ******: ** ******* *****, **** ** the ******* ****** ** ****** ******, important *********** **** *** ****** (**: video *** ***** ******) ** ********* in * ******* ***** ******, ***** makes ********** **** *** ***** **** difficult.
  • ** ***** ********: ***** **** ***** ***** *** available, **** ** *** **** *** - *** *****. ***** ** ** overlay ** ****** ******* *********** **** cardholder ************ ** ****** ***** ****** matched **** *****.  *****, **** ******* has **** * ******** ** ***** access ********* *** *****.
  • ******** ******* *********: ******** ******** **** ******** ******** integration, ********* ********, ***** ********/******** *** VMS *********** ******* '***-**' ******** ********. However, *** ******** **** ******* ********** ******** are *** ******* ******. ***** *** find * ******* **** ******** ** part ** *** **** ********* ******* to ******** **** *****. 

Competitive ***********

***** *********** ********** ***** ******** **** being *********** **** ******, ********* ****** control *******. ** *** ******** ****, these *** ****** **** ******** *** and ****** *** / *******. 

***** ******** ** ****** ** ***** and *** * ****** ***** *******, we ***** ********** **** ***** ****** try ** **** ****** **** ** the ********, *******, ***** *** ******* major *********** *** *********** ******** **** their ************ ***********.

Version ***********

*** ** ********* ** ***** *****-***** versions differentiated ** ******* ****** **** *** total ****** ** ******* *********:

  • ************ [**** ** ****** *********]: **** appliance ******** ** ** ** ******* in * ***-*************, ****-**** ********* **** factor. *** ******** *** *********, * 16 ****** ******** **** ** * 32 ****** *********.  
  • **********: **** ******* ******** ** ** 2048 ******* ** * **** ******* quad-core ******.
  • ******* *******: * '********-****' *********** ******* ** Enterprise ** **** *********, **** * minimum *********** ** * ***** *** 500 *** ** ******* *** ********. 

*** ********** *** ** ********, ******** part ******* ******** ****** ******** **** 16 ******* ***** *** **** **** are *********. *** *******, ** ** reader ******** *** ******, *** ** reader ******* **** ** *********. ***** is ** ********* ** *** ****** readers ** *** ******* ** ********.

*** ******** ******* ** ** ** concurrent *********, **** ******** ** ***** logs, *** ***,*** ****** ***********. *** capacity ****** *** ***** ****** ** support *** ******** ** *******, *** large *****-**** ********** ****** ******** *** require ****.

Supported ***********

*** ***** **** **** ****** *****-***** door *********** [**** ** ****** *********] from:

  • ******* ********: ******** ******* ******* ******** ******* firmware **** **** ***, ********* *** full ********* [**** ** ****** *********] of **********, */* ******* *** ** Controllers. 
  • *** ***** ***: ***** *** **** *** ******* the **** ******* ****** ******** *** **************, ** **** ******* *** (** to ** ******* *** **********) ***** door ***** ****** [**** ** ****** available].

*** *** ****, ** **** * Mercury **-**** [**** ** ****** *********] that *** ********* ** * ***-**** that** ********* **** *** *** ***** OnGuard ****. ******** *** ********** **** *** was *** ** *****, *** *** system ****** **** *** ********** **-** before ** ****** *** ****** ******** firmware ****** ** *** ******.

Browser *****

* *** ************** *** *** ** that ** ** ******* *****.  ****** many ****** ********* **** ******* ** installed ****** (***** ******** *** **** client), ********'* ******** ** ******** ** web ******* **** ** ********** ********.

*** *********'* ********* ******** ** **** ********* **** an ** *******. ******** * ******* and ******** ******** **** *** *** is *** **** * '*******' ******.

Physical ********

** **** * **** ** *** appliance ****** ** *** ***** ***** below:

*** ********* ** *** ********* ** typical *********** **** * *******, ******** or *****. ******* ***** ****** ** the ****** ** ****** *** *** all ****** ** ****** ******* *** appliance's ** ********** ** *** ***.  Users *** ** *** ****** ******* the *** *********.

System ********

** *** ******** **** ******, ** address the ********* ***** ****** *************** **** * video ** ******** ***** **********:

  • **** ***** ******
  • *******
  • **** ****** ********
  • ********** ************
  • ****** **** ********
  • ********** **********
  • ****** *** ******** **************
  • ********* *** ******** *******
  • *********
  • ***** *********** **** ***
  • ***** ************

**** ***** ******

** *** ***** *****, ** **** the ******* ********** ****** ********* *** to *** ****-**** ******** ******** ** the ******:

*******, ****** **** ******** **** *** granting ****** ** ******* **** ***** is *** ********* **** **** ****. Only ** ***** ******** **, ** open ********** '****' **** *** ***** controls *********.

*******

*** **** ******* ****** ******** ** through * **** ******* ***. ** our ******* *****, ** ****** *** a ****** ********* *** **** ******* like ***** *** ******* ***** *** easy ******:

***** ****** * ****** ********* ********** live ********, ****** ********, *** **** time ***** ** ***** ********* ** pull *** ** *** *** ** the ******** **** ******, *** *** view ****** *** **** ******** ** one ******.

****** *****: ***** **** ***** *** ****** general ***** ** ********, **** ** not ****** **** **** *** *** due ** ****** ** **** *****.** ******* ** **** ** *** 'Identity'*******, **** ******* **** *** ****** box ****** ** '****' ********, *** **** ******** ******** **** the '******' ****** *** ******* ********** a *********, ***** ***.

**** ****** ********

** *** ******* *****, ** **** how **** *** ** **** ** coordinate ****** ********** ** *** **** using **** ****** *** ***** *******:

********** ************

******** *** '*********' ******* **** *** function ******** ** *** *****.  *** example, *** ******* ***** ** ******** in *** ***** ***, *** **** not **** ** *** *** ***. 

*******, **** *********, *** ***** ******** identity *********** ********** **** * ******** token/credential ********* ******* **** *** ********* 'badge' ** ********:

**** **** *** *********** *********, *********** rapidly ******* *** ***** ******* **** be ********* *** * ****** **** a **** ****** ** *****.

****** **** ********

*** ******* ******** ** ***'* ****** door ******** ** *** **** **** are ****** ****** * *** ********* from **** ****** '*****' **********.  ****** multiple **** *** **** *** ******** situated ** *** ********, *********** ** these ******** ***** ******* ***** ****** and ******* **** **** ******* *******.

**** ***** **** **** **** ******** more **** * *** ***** ******* using **** ** ** ********** *** awkward. 

********** **********

******** ** ******** ******** ***** ** similar ** ***** ** ******** ****** engine, *** *** ******** ******* *** accessible ** *** ***** ****** ** less.  *** ***** ***** ******* **** tab:

********** ********* *** ** ******** **** external ********* **** **** ** ****** Directory, *** ******** *********** (****** ******) can ** ********** **** *** ****.  

***** *** ********** **** ******* '******' that ****** ****** ****** *** *********, and ******** ********* *** ** ******* that ***** ** ******* ******** *********** for ***** ********** *** ******** ** specific ***********.

********* *** ******** *******

*** ** *** ********* ***** ******** (albiet ****** ****** ****** ******* *************) is *** ******* ** ******* ***** firmware ** *** *** **** **** within *** *** *********.  ******* ** taking **** ********** ******* ********, ***** can ******* *** ******* ** ******** a ****** '*********' ******:

******** ********* ******** ******* *** **** general *********, ******* *** *********** ****** on *** ******** ********* *** **, prompting ***** ** ******** **** ******* for *****.  ** **** *****, *** update ******* **** **, *** **** Support ******** ******** *** ********* ********.  

*********

*** ******** ******** *** ********* ** 'Reports'. * ********* ** ***-********** ******* are ****** *** ***** *****, *** 'custom *********' ****** ***** ** **** stock ***** **** ******** *******. *** video ***** ***** * ****** ****:

*** ********** *******, ************* ******** *** available ****** *** *** ** *** them ** ******. ** ******* ** general ****** *** ******** ** *** goal, *** ***-********** ******* ***** *******.  

*******, ** ********** ******* *** ******, especially ***** ******** ******** **** ******* systems, * ******* **** ** ******** tech ******* ** ***** ** ** needed. *** ******* ** ***** ****** reports **** *** ****** ** - not ***** ******** ******* - ** a **** ******* ** ********* ********* not ******* ** ***.

***** *********** **** ***

*** **** ********** ******** ** ******** Access ** ***** *********** **** ********'* VMS.  *******, *** ******* ****** **** when **********, **** ********** **** ******** triggered *** ********* *********** ****** ** recorded *****.  ******** **** ********** ******* information ** **** **** ******** *** not *********:

******* ******** ****** ****** ****** *********, as ** '*********' ** ***** ****** are *******. *******, ***** ** ******* by ******* ********* ***********, ** ******* clocks ****** ******* *** *** ********* and ***** ******* *** ********.

*** *********** ** ***

** *******, *** **** *** *********** with ********'* *** ***. *********** ****** data **** *** ** ** ******** manual ****** ***** ******** **************. ****** **** ***** ** ******* in *** *** **** **** **** ACC *** ****** ************* *** ******. Given **** **** ** **** ************* exists *** **** ******** ** **********, actual **** ********** *** ********** **** depend ** *** ****** ** ****** in ******** ** ***.

***** ************

******* *** ******** ******** ** *** video ***********, *** ******** **** *** nested ************ **** ***** ******* **** two ******** *** ****** ** ***** access *********:

  • **************: ***** *** **** ************ ******* *** and ******** ******** ******* ******* ***, SQL, ******, *** ****.
  • ********: ***** *** '****** *****' ***** that ********** ******** ******** *************** ***-*** ****** **** (***** *** cards **** ** ******* ****** ******** access) ** **** *****-***** (***** *** cards **** ** ******* ** ******** readers ****** * ******** ** ***** are ********).

** ***** ****, *** ************* ** Linkage ** ******* ** *** ********** system ** ********.  *** *******, **** of *** ******** '*** *** ****' features *** **** ******** **** ***** Mercury ******** *********** *** *** *** HID ***** ******.

System *****

******** ***** *** **** ** ***-********* appliances ** ******* **** *** ***-******** to **** **** * ******* ****** of *******. **** *** ***** **** ******* ********, **** different ******* ** **** ******** ********* to *******.

** ****** *** '************ *******, ** Reader *******' ***** **** **** * street ***** ** ~$*,*** *** ******.

******** ***********

*** **** ********** **** ** ******* $200 - $*** ********* ** *** number ** ******* ****** *** ***** of ******** ******, *** '*** ****' pricing ***** **** ****** *******.

Integration *****

*** **** ** *********** ** *** appliance ** ** *** ***** ****** is $*, *** ******** ** ********** license *** ******* ** ******* **** the *** *** **** ** ******** submitted ** ******** ** *******.  

** *** ** ** ** ********* with ** *** ***********, *** **** version **** ** ******* **** '****', with '********' ** ***** ********** ***** tie-ins.  ** ** ******* ** *******, users ****** ****** ** *** ******* $65 - $** *** ****** *** the *******.

Dealer **********

*** ** **** ********* **** ******** dealers. ******* *** ******* **** ** limited ** ******** *********.

Avigilon **** *******

** ****, ********'* ********** *** ********* technical ******* ***** ** *** **'* access ******* ********* ***. ** **** than **** *****, *** ***** ** tech ******* *** ******* ******* **** failed ******** ******* ** ***** *********** problems **** ******** ***********. *** ********* ** reached ** ***** ********* ****** ****** support ******** *** ******** *** ******* issues ** *** ****. 

Competitive ********

***** ******** ********* *** ** * fully ********** ********* ** *** ***** management *** ***** ********* *********, ** reality *********** **** *****.  ***** **** door ******** *** ******** ********** *********** is *** *********, ******* ***** * base ******* *** ***************************** ******* ************.

Comments (12)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Sep 07, 2017

I have never commented on IPVM but I had to chime in on this one. Their tech support on the access control side of their business is non-existent. They are non-responsive. Technicians are left on the phone for hours and it can literally take several days for them to return phone calls. How their support can be considered a strength is a stretch.

(5)
(1)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Sep 07, 2017
IPVMU Certified

When this test was published over 24 months ago, tech support for access was responsive as explained in this post.

That aspect may have changed since this test.  Thanks for the feedback.

MW
Michael Wells
Sep 07, 2017

Personally, My techs nor myself have never had an issue with Avigilon Tech Support; surveillance or access control. Granted - access control can be a bit of a longer wait. In the morning I get through fairly quickly. Whereas in the evening you could be waiting a little bit. Once on the phone they have never made me feel rushed or they want me off the phone and always willing to get an answer. I've had really good experience with both sides of their tech support. I can't confidently say the same for other manufacturers. 

(2)
(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Sep 08, 2017

There has been some shifting of support duties inside Avigilon as of late.  For the past couple months hold times have been long, around an hour.  It was quite jarring when their support hold used to be a couple minutes.  It does seem to be improving.  I was told there was a shift of support from Canada to Texas.

(1)
U
Undisclosed #3
Oct 03, 2017

Avigilon support is still based out of Vancouver and Portugal. They lost a bunch of senior techs recently but hired on about 12 new people in the last couple weeks and queue times have been improving.  

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
Sep 20, 2018

A really useful report - thanks Brian.

I'm looking at a project at the moment that may well ne ACM led as they already have ACC installed on site - but a quick read through this and there appears little synergy between the two.

Obviously the report is from a while back - so can anyone fill me in with an update on where Avigilon has taken ACM since the report and what the support is looking like now?

MM
Michael Miller
Sep 20, 2018

Yes.  Lots of integration has happened and it is easy to setup. 

You can release doors from ACC 

You can monitor door events in ACC

You can trigger any ACM event in ACC

In 6.12 (see video below) you will be able to search people in ACC (Identity Search) 

Support has been fantastic. 

 

(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
Sep 20, 2018

Thanks Michael. How would you say it stacks up against Ccure, Lenel and Gallagher in your opinion and is it more cost effective?

MM
Michael Miller
Sep 20, 2018

A lot less expensive then C-Cure or Lenel.  Not sure on Gallagher. We have several 100+ door systems deployed and have not had any issues or complaints from customers.   Identity Search is going to be very nice and is a differentiator. 

MM
Michael Miller
Sep 20, 2018

Also if you are looking for intrusion ACM is integrated with Bosch panels. This gives you a nice interface for all your access and alarm systems which you can manage from any browser. 

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
Sep 20, 2018

Perfect, thanks, Michael. Your comments have helped me decide what path we are following!

Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Oct 24, 2019
IPVMU Certified

Avigilon has released several updates to ACM since this 2015 test, including announcing ACM 6 at the recent Canasa 2019 tradeshow.

Especially with regards to video integration with ACC, the above test is out of date.

IPVM is evaluating an internal update to this test.