Avigilon Access Control Tested

By: Brian Rhodes, Published on Jun 22, 2015

Avigilon aims to deliver an end-to-end solution of video surveillance and access control.

But how good is their access control? In 2013, Avigilon bought RedCloud for $17 million. However, RedCloud was a very small company that few had ever used. Plus, Avigilon had to integrate access control into their existing platform.

IPVM already has major access control reports on Lenel OnGuard Tested as well as Genetec and Milestone Access Tested.

Now, IPVM bought Avigilon's Access Control Manager (ACM) Professional to find out how good or bad Avigilon is.

This quick video overviews what we cover in-depth inside:

Inside we cover these core functional areas:

  • Live Event Status
  • Mapping
  • Live Access Controls
  • Cardholder Verification
  • Manual Door Controls
  • Cardholder Management
  • System and Hardware Administration
  • Appliance and Firmware Updates
  • Reporting
  • Video Integration with ACC

******** **** ** ******* an ***-**-*** ******** ** video ************ *** ****** control.

*** *** **** ** their ****** *******? ** 2013,******** ****** ******** *** $17 *******. *******, ******** *** a **** ***** ******* that *** *** **** used. ****, ******** *** to ********* ****** ******* into ***** ******** ********.

**** ******* *** ***** access ******* ******* ** ***** ******* ****** ** **** ** ******* *** ********* ****** Tested.

***, **** ****** ********'******* ******* ******* (***)************ ** **** *** how **** ** *** Avigilon **.

**** ***** ***** ********* what ** ***** **-***** inside:

****** ** ***** ***** core ********** *****:

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

**** ***********, ** ********* the *** *********** ********* and ********** ** ********* if ******** ****** / video ** *********** **** incumbents **** *****, ******** House, *******, ***.

[***************]

*********

*** **** ******* ********* we ***** **** ******* were:

  • **** **********: ********** *** ************* access **********, ******* *** up *** ******* ** simple. ****** ***** ******* that ******* ******** ******, hard ****** **********, *** installing ******** ****** ** software, ************* ** *** ******** plugging ** * *** cables *** ******* ** IP ******* ** *** software. **** *****, ****** panels *** ********** ************* can ** **** **** no ******** ****** ********** and ** **** *** in * ******* *********** of ******** ****.  
  • ****** **** *******: ***** ** * vital **** *** ********* and ***** ******* **** a ****** *********** *** endanger ***** ** ****** secure *****. **** ******** to ****** ****** *********, Avigilon ****** *** **** competent *** ************* **** support. ********, ******* ** offered ****** ******* ******* contracts ** ******* ***** to ****** *** *****, unlike ********* ****** **** are **** *********** ** who **** **** ****.
  • ****** **** *********: ****** ********* ****** providers **** ******* ********* software *********** ********** ** perpetual *********, ****** *** is * ***-**** **** with ** ********** ******** beyond ******* ********. 

**********

*******, ******** ****** * number ** *********** *** critical ********* **** *** commonplace ** ****** *******:

  • ********** ***** ***********: *** ******* *********** reason ** *** *** is ***** *********** **** Avigilon's ****** *** ****** used ***** ************ ********. Unfortunately *** ***, *** video *********** ** ** basic end ***** ****** ****** to ***** *** ****** seperate ********* *** ***** and ******. **** ****** getting *** **** ******** of ****** ******, ********* for ****** ****** ** video ** * ********** and *********** *******.
  • ** *** ********** ****** controls: ********, ***** *** integration **** *** ** weak, *** (*** ***** client / ********) *********** with *** ** ***-******** unless ******** ********** *** painfully ***** **** ****.  Information ** *********** ******* to ***** ********, *** no **** ******** ** *** logs *** ********* ****** ACC.
  • ** ******* ******: ******* ***** ******** is *** ********** ****** of ***'* ******* *********. Despite ******** **** ********, having **** *** ***** critical **** (**** ********** verification, **** ******, *** door ********) ********* ** the **** ******* ******** kludgy *********** ***** ******** tabs. ****** ****** ********* have ******* ****** ****** management ** ***** ***** features *** **** *****.
  • ****** ******: ** ******* *****, such ** *** ******* window ** ****** ******, important *********** **** *** system (**: ***** *** event ******) ** ********* in * ******* ***** window, ***** ***** ********** back *** ***** **** difficult.
  • ** ***** ********: ***** **** ***** feeds *** *********, **** is *** **** *** - *** *****. ***** is ** ******* ** access ******* *********** **** cardholder ************ ** ****** grant ****** ******* **** video.  *****, **** ******* has **** * ******** of ***** ****** ********* for *****.
  • ******** ******* *********: ******** ******** **** external ******** ***********, ********* failover, ***** ********/******** *** VMS *********** ******* '***-**' software ********. *******, *** ******** that ******* ********** ******** are *** ******* ******. Users *** **** * feature **** ******** ** part ** *** **** appliance ******* ** ******** cost *****. 

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

***** *********** ********** ***** Avigilon **** ***** *********** with ******, ********* ****** control *******. ** *** positive ****, ***** *** things **** ******** *** and ****** *** / improve. 

***** ******** ** ****** in ***** *** *** a ****** ***** *******, we ***** ********** **** would ****** *** ** sell ****** **** ** the ********, *******, ***** are ******* ***** *********** and *********** ******** **** their ************ ***********.

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

*** ** ********* ** three *****-***** ******** ************** ** install ****** **** *** total ****** ** ******* supported:

  • ************: **** ********* ******** up ** ** ******* in * ***-*************, ****-**** minitower **** ******. *** versions *** *********, * 16 ****** ******** **** or * ** ****** appliance.  
  • **********: **** ******* ******** up ** **** ******* in * **** ******* quad-core ******.
  • ******* *******: * '********-****' *********** version ** ********** ** also *********, **** * minimum *********** ** * cores *** *** *** of ******* *** ********. 

*** ********** *** ** versions, ******** **** ******* bundling ****** ******** **** 16 ******* ***** *** full **** *** *********. For *******, ** ** reader ******** *** ******, the ** ****** ******* must ** *********. ***** is ** ********* ** add ****** ******* ** odd ******* ** ********.

*** ******** ******* ** to ** ********** *********, many ******** ** ***** logs, *** ***,*** ****** cardholders. *** ******** ****** are ***** ****** ** support *** ******** ** systems, *** ***** *****-**** enterprise ****** ******** *** require ****.

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

*** ***** **** **** select*****-***** **** ***************:

  • ******* ********: ******** ******* ******* standard ******* ******** **** with ***, ********* ******* *********** **********, */* ******* and ** ***********. 
  • *** ***** ***: ***** *** **** not ******* *** **** popular ****** ******** *** **************, ** **** ******* the (** ** ** readers *** **********) ***** door***** ******.

*** *** ****, ** used ******** **-******** *** ********* ** a ***-**** ****** ********* **** *** our ***** ******* ****. ******** *** ********** into *** *** *** an *****, *** *** system ****** **** *** controller **-** ****** ** pushed *** ****** ******** firmware ****** ** *** device.

Browser *****

* *** ************** *** ACM ** **** ** is ******* *****.  ****** many ****** ********* **** require ** ********* ****** (often ******** *** **** client), ********'* ******** ** accessed ** *** ******* with ** ********** ********.

*** *********'* ********* ******** ** **** accesible **** ** ** address. ******** * ******* and ******** ******** **** the *** ** *** with * '*******' ******.

Physical ********

** **** * **** at *** ********* ****** in *** ***** ***** below:

*** ********* ** *** connected ** ******* *********** like * *******, ******** or *****. ******* ***** access ** *** ****** is ****** *** *** all ****** ** ****** through *** *********'* ** connection ** *** ***.  Users *** ** *** system ******* *** *** webportal.

System ********

** *** ******** **** follow, ** ******* *** ********* ***** system *************** **** * video ** ******** ***** commentary:

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

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

** *** ***** *****, we **** *** ******* monitoring ****** ********* *** to *** ****-**** ******** occuring ** *** ******:

*******, ****** **** ******** used *** ******** ****** or ******* **** ***** is *** ********* **** this ****. **** ** users ******** **, ** open ********** '****' **** are ***** ******** *********.

*******

*** **** ******* ****** inteface ** ******* * user ******* ***. ** our ******* *****, ** showed *** * ****** floorplan *** **** ******* like ***** *** ******* added *** **** ******:

***** ****** * ****** interface ********** **** ********, manual ********, *** **** time ***** ** ***** difficult ** **** *** in *** *** ** the ******** **** ******, the *** **** ****** the **** ******** ** one ******.

****** *****: ***** **** ***** the ****** ******* ***** of ********, **** ** not ****** **** **** the *** *** ** broken ** **** *****.** ******* ** **** is *** '********'*******, **** ******* **** the ****** *** ****** in '****' ********, *** **** ******** directly **** *** '******' screen *** ******* ********** a *********, ***** ***.

**** ****** ********

** *** ******* *****, we **** *** **** can ** **** ** coordinate ****** ********** ** the **** ***** **** status *** ***** *******:

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

******** *** '*********' ******* does *** ******** ******** in *** *****.  *** example, *** ******* ***** as ******** ** *** Event ***, *** **** not **** ** *** Map ***. 

*******, **** *********, *** popup ******** ******** *********** associated **** * ******** token/credential ********* ******* **** and ********* '*****' ** pictures:

**** **** *** *********** available, *********** ******* ******* the ***** ******* **** be ********* *** * system **** * **** volume ** *****.

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

*** ******* ******** ** ACM's ****** **** ******** is *** **** **** are ****** ****** * tab ********* **** **** status '*****' **********.  ****** multiple **** *** **** and ******** ******** ** the ********, *********** ** these ******** ***** ******* mouse ****** *** ******* even **** ******* *******.

**** ***** **** **** that ******** **** **** a *** ***** ******* using **** ** ** cumbersome *** *******. 

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

******** ** ******** ******** users ** ******* ** using ** ******** ****** engine, *** *** ******** records *** ********** ** two ***** ****** ** less.  *** ***** ***** details **** ***:

********** ********* *** ** imported **** ******** ********* like **** ** ****** Directory, *** ******** *********** (called ******) *** ** associated **** *** ****.  

***** *** ********** **** logical '******' **** ****** access ****** *** *********, and ******** ********* *** be ******* **** ***** in ******* ******** *********** for ***** ********** *** creation ** ******** ***********.

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

*** ** *** ********* admin ******** (****** ****** needed ****** ******* *************) is *** ******* ** upgrade ***** ******** ** the *** **** **** within *** *** *********.  Insteam ** ****** **** controller ******* ********, ***** can ******* *** ******* by ******** * ****** 'checkmark' ******:

******** ********* ******** ******* the **** ******* *********, however *** *********** ****** on *** ******** ********* for **, ********* ***** to ******** **** ******* for *****.  ** **** cases, *** ****** ******* hung **, *** **** Support ******** ******** *** appliance ********.  

*********

*** ******** ******** *** available ** '*******'. * selection ** ***-********** ******* are ****** *** ***** tasks, *** '****** *********' allows ***** ** **** stock ***** **** ******** filters. *** ***** ***** takes * ****** ****:

*** ********** *******, ************* defining *** ********* ****** and *** ** *** them ** ******. ** general ** ******* ****** log ******** ** *** goal, *** ***-********** ******* would *******.  

*******, ** ********** ******* are ******, ********** ***** manually ******** **** ******* systems, * ******* **** to ******** **** ******* is ***** ** ** needed. *** ******* ** build ****** ******* **** the ****** ** - not ***** ******** ******* - ** * **** feature ** ********* ********* not ******* ** ***.

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

*** **** ********** ******** of ******** ****** ** tight *********** **** ********'* VMS.  *******, *** ******* proved **** **** **********, only ********** **** ******** triggered *** ********* *********** search ** ******** *****.  Features **** ********** ******* information ** **** **** controls *** *** *********:

******* ******** ****** ****** proved *********, ** ** 'bookmarks' ** ***** ****** are *******. *******, ***** is ******* ** ******* timestamp ***********, ** ******* clocks ****** ******* *** ACM ********* *** ***** servers *** ********.

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

** *******, *** **** not *********** **** ********'* ACC ***. *********** ****** data **** *** ** an ******** ****** ****** using ******** **************. ****** **** ***** be ******* ** *** and **** **** **** ACC *** ****** ************* and ******. ***** **** none ** **** ************* exists *** **** ******** be **********, ****** **** experience *** ********** **** depend ** *** ****** of ****** ** ******** it ***.

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

******* *** ******** ******** of *** ***** ***********, ACM ******** **** *** nested ************ **** ***** systems **** *** ******** not ****** ** ***** access *********:

  • **************: ***** *** **** ************ between *** *** ******** software ******* ******* ***, SQL, ******, *** ****.
  • ********: ***** *** '****** logic' ***** **** ********** advanced ******** *************** ***-*** ****** **** (where *** ***** **** be ******* ****** ******** access) ** **** *****-***** (where *** ***** **** be ******* ** ******** readers ****** * ******** of ***** *** ********).

** ***** ****, *** Collaboration ** ******* ** limited ** *** ********** system ** ********.  *** example, **** ** *** advanced '*** *** ****' features *** **** ******** when ***** ******* ******** controllers *** *** *** HID ***** ******.

System *****

******** ***** *** **** to ***-********* ********** ** servers **** *** ***-******** to **** **** * certain ****** ** *******. **** *** ***** **** ******* versions, **** ********* ******* of **** ******** ********* to *******.

** ****** *** '************ Version, ** ****** *******' which **** **** * street ***** ** ~$*,*** per ******.

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

*** **** ********** **** is ******* $*** - $600 ********* ** *** number ** ******* ****** and ***** ** ******** chosen, *** '*** ****' pricing ***** **** ****** volumes.

Integration *****

*** **** ** *********** an *** ********* ** an *** ***** ****** is $*, *** ******** an ********** ******* *** shipped ** ******* **** the *** *** **** be ******** ********* ** Avigilon ** *******.  

** *** ** ** be ********* **** ** ACC ***********, *** **** version **** ** ******* than '****', **** '********' or ***** ********** ***** tie-ins.  ** ** ******* is *******, ***** ****** expect ** *** ******* $65 - $** *** camera *** *** *******.

Dealer **********

*** ** **** ********* from ******** *******. ******* and ******* **** ** limited ** ******** *********.

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

** ****, ********'* ********** for ********* ********* ******* holds ** *** **'* access ******* ********* ***. In **** **** **** cases, *** ***** ** tech ******* *** ******* ranging **** ****** ******** updates ** ***** *********** problems **** ******** ***********. *** operators ** ******* ** phone ********* ****** ****** support ******** *** ******** our ******* ****** ** one ****. 

Competitive ********

***** ******** ********* *** as * ***** ********** companion ** *** ***** management *** ***** ********* offerings, ** ******* *********** gaps *****.  ***** **** door ******** *** ******** cardholder *********** ** *** supported, ******* ***** * base ******* *** ***************************** ******* ************.

Comments (11)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

09/07/17 01:45pm

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.

Thumbnail pp 5

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 09/07/17 02:03pm

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.

Michael Wells

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 09/07/17 03:26pm

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.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Michael Wells | 09/08/17 12:56am

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.

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 10/03/17 06:12pm

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.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

09/20/18 03:58pm

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?

Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 09/20/18 04:03pm

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.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

09/20/18 04:09pm

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

Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 09/20/18 04:12pm

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.

Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 09/20/18 04:15pm

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.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

09/20/18 04:14pm

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

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