Avigilon Access Control Tested

Author: 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

Most importantly, we summarize the key competitive strengths and weaknesses to determine if Avigilon access / video is competitive with incumbents like Lenel, Software House, Genetec, etc.

******** **** ** ******* ** ***-**-*** ******** ** ***** ************ and ****** *******.

*** *** **** ** ***** ****** *******? ** ****,******** ****** ******** *** $** *******. *******, ******** *** * **** ***** ******* **** *** had **** ****. ****, ******** *** ** ********* ****** ******* into ***** ******** ********.

**** ******* *** ***** ****** ******* ******* ** ***** ******* ****** ** **** ** ******* *** ********* ****** ******.

***, **** ****** ********'******* ******* ******* (***)************ ** **** *** *** **** ** *** ******** **.

**** ***** ***** ********* **** ** ***** **-***** ******:

****** ** ***** ***** **** ********** *****:

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

**** ***********, ** ********* *** *** *********** ********* *** ********** to ********* ** ******** ****** / ***** ** *********** **** incumbents **** *****, ******** *****, *******, ***.

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

*********

*** **** ******* ********* ** ***** **** ******* ****:

  • **** **********: ********** *** ************* ****** **********, ******* *** ** *** running ** ******. ****** ***** ******* **** ******* ******** ******, hard ****** **********, *** ********** ******** ****** ** ********, ************* of ACM ******** ******** ** * *** ****** *** ******* ** IP ******* ** *** ********. **** *****, ****** ****** *** performing ************* *** ** **** **** ** ******** ****** ********** and ** **** *** ** * ******* *********** ** ******** tabs.  
  • ****** **** *******: ***** ** * ***** **** *** ********* *** ***** support **** * ****** *********** *** ******** ***** ** ****** secure *****. **** ******** ** ****** ****** *********, ******** ****** ACM **** ********* *** ************* **** *******. ********, ******* ** offered ****** ******* ******* ********* ** ******* ***** ** ****** who *****, ****** ********* ****** **** *** **** *********** ** who **** **** ****.
  • ****** **** *********: ****** ********* ****** ********* **** ******* ********* ******** *********** agreements ** ********* *********, ****** *** ** * ***-**** **** with ** ********** ******** ****** ******* ********. 

**********

*******, ******** ****** * ****** ** *********** *** ******** ********* that *** *********** ** ****** *******:

  • ********** ***** ***********: *** ******* *********** ****** ** *** *** ** ***** integration **** ********'* ****** *** ****** **** ***** ************ ********. Unfortunately *** ***, *** ***** *********** ** ** ***** *** ***** should ****** ** ***** *** ****** ******** ********* *** ***** and ******. **** ****** ******* *** **** ******** ** ****** system, ********* *** ****** ****** ** ***** ** * ********** and *********** *******.
  • ** *** ********** ****** ********: ********, ***** *** *********** **** *** ** ****, *** (the ***** ****** / ********) *********** **** *** ** ***-******** unless ******** ********** *** ********* ***** **** ****.  *********** ** essentially ******* ** ***** ********, *** ** **** ******** ** *** logs *** ********* ****** ***.
  • ** ******* ******: ******* ***** ******** ** *** ********** ****** ** ***'* browser *********. ******* ******** **** ********, ****** **** *** ***** critical **** (**** ********** ************, **** ******, *** **** ********) available ** *** **** ******* ******** ****** *********** ***** ******** tabs. ****** ****** ********* **** ******* ****** ****** ********** ** these ***** ******** *** **** *****.
  • ****** ******: ** ******* *****, **** ** *** ******* ****** ** events ******, ********* *********** **** *** ****** (**: ***** *** event ******) ** ********* ** * ******* ***** ******, ***** makes ********** **** *** ***** **** *********.
  • ** ***** ********: ***** **** ***** ***** *** *********, **** ** *** they *** - *** *****. ***** ** ** ******* ** access ******* *********** **** ********** ************ ** ****** ***** ****** matched **** *****.  *****, **** ******* *** **** * ******** of ***** ****** ********* *** *****.
  • ******** ******* *********: ******** ******** **** ******** ******** ***********, ********* ********, ***** creation/printing *** *** *********** ******* '***-**' ******** ********. *******, *** ******** that ******* ********** ******** *** *** ******* ******. ***** *** find * ******* **** ******** ** **** ** *** **** appliance ******* ** ******** **** *****. 

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

***** *********** ********** ***** ******** **** ***** *********** **** ******, incumbent ****** ******* *******. ** *** ******** ****, ***** *** things **** ******** *** *** ****** *** / *******. 

***** ******** ** ****** ** ***** *** *** * ****** loyal *******, ** ***** ********** **** ***** ****** *** ** sell ****** **** ** *** ********, *******, ***** *** ******* major *********** *** *********** ******** **** ***** ************ ***********.

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

*** ** ********* ** ***** *****-***** ******** ************** ** ******* ****** type *** ***** ****** ** ******* *********:

  • ************: **** ********* ******** ** ** ** ******* ** * non-rackmountable, ****-**** ********* **** ******. *** ******** *** *********, * 16 ****** ******** **** ** * ** ****** *********.  
  • **********: **** ******* ******** ** ** **** ******* ** * rack ******* ****-**** ******.
  • ******* *******: * '********-****' *********** ******* ** ********** ** **** *********, with * ******* *********** ** * ***** *** *** *** of ******* *** ********. 

*** ********** *** ** ********, ******** **** ******* ******** ****** licenses **** ** ******* ***** *** **** **** *** *********. For *******, ** ** ****** ******** *** ******, *** ** reader ******* **** ** *********. ***** ** ** ********* ** add ****** ******* ** *** ******* ** ********.

*** ******** ******* ** ** ** ********** *********, **** ******** of ***** ****, *** ***,*** ****** ***********. *** ******** ****** are ***** ****** ** ******* *** ******** ** *******, *** large *****-**** ********** ****** ******** *** ******* ****.

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

*** ***** **** **** ***********-***** **** ***************:

  • ******* ********: ******** ******* ******* ******** ******* ******** **** **** ***, including ******* *********** **********, */* ******* *** ** ***********. 
  • *** ***** ***: ***** *** **** *** ******* *** **** ******* ****** door**** *** **************, ** **** ******* *** (** ** ** ******* *** controller) ***** ********* ******.

*** *** ****, ** **** ******** **-******** *** ********* ** * ***-**** ****** ********* **** *** *** ***** ******* ****. ******** *** ********** **** *** *** *** ** *****, and *** ****** ****** **** *** ********** **-** ****** ** pushed *** ****** ******** ******** ****** ** *** ******.

Browser *****

* *** ************** *** *** ** **** ** ** ******* based.  ****** **** ****** ********* **** ******* ** ********* ****** (often ******** *** **** ******), ********'* ******** ** ******** ** web ******* **** ** ********** ********.

*** *********'* ********* ******** ** **** ********* **** ** ** *******. ******** a ******* *** ******** ******** **** *** *** ** *** with * '*******' ******.

Physical ********

** **** * **** ** *** ********* ****** ** *** short ***** *****:

*** ********* ** *** ********* ** ******* *********** **** * monitor, ******** ** *****. ******* ***** ****** ** *** ****** is ****** *** *** *** ****** ** ****** ******* *** appliance's ** ********** ** *** ***.  ***** *** ** *** system ******* *** *** *********.

System ********

** *** ******** **** ******, ** ******* *** ********* ***** ****** *************** with * ***** ** ******** ***** **********:

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

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

** *** ***** *****, ** **** *** ******* ********** ****** operators *** ** *** ****-**** ******** ******** ** *** ******:

*******, ****** **** ******** **** *** ******** ****** ** ******* down ***** ** *** ********* **** **** ****. **** ** users ******** **, ** **** ********** '****' **** *** ***** controls *********.

*******

*** **** ******* ****** ******** ** ******* * **** ******* map. ** *** ******* *****, ** ****** *** * ****** floorplan *** **** ******* **** ***** *** ******* ***** *** easy ******:

***** ****** * ****** ********* ********** **** ********, ****** ********, and **** **** ***** ** ***** ********* ** **** *** in *** *** ** *** ******** **** ******, *** *** view ****** *** **** ******** ** *** ******.

****** *****: ***** **** ***** *** ****** ******* ***** ** ********, they ** *** ****** **** **** *** *** *** ** broken ** **** *****.** ******* ** **** ** *** '********'*******, **** ******* **** *** ****** *** ****** ** '****' is******, *** **** ******** ******** **** *** '******' ****** *** feature ********** * *********, ***** ***.

**** ****** ********

** *** ******* *****, ** **** *** **** *** ** used ** ********** ****** ********** ** *** **** ***** **** status *** ***** *******:

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

******** *** '*********' ******* **** *** ******** ******** ** *** views.  *** *******, *** ******* ***** ** ******** ** *** Event ***, *** **** *** **** ** *** *** ***. 

*******, **** *********, *** ***** ******** ******** *********** ********** **** a ******** *****/********** ********* ******* **** *** ********* '*****' ** pictures:

**** **** *** *********** *********, *********** ******* ******* *** ***** windows **** ** ********* *** * ****** **** * **** volume ** *****.

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

*** ******* ******** ** ***'* ****** **** ******** ** *** fact **** *** ****** ****** * *** ********* **** **** status '*****' **********.  ****** ******** **** *** **** *** ******** situated ** *** ********, *********** ** ***** ******** ***** ******* mouse ****** *** ******* **** **** ******* *******.

**** ***** **** **** **** ******** **** **** * *** doors ******* ***** **** ** ** ********** *** *******. 

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

******** ** ******** ******** ***** ** ******* ** ***** ** internet ****** ******, *** *** ******** ******* *** ********** ** two ***** ****** ** ****.  *** ***** ***** ******* **** tab:

********** ********* *** ** ******** **** ******** ********* **** **** or ****** *********, *** ******** *********** (****** ******) *** ** associated **** *** ****.  

***** *** ********** **** ******* '******' **** ****** ****** ****** and *********, *** ******** ********* *** ** ******* **** ***** in ******* ******** *********** *** ***** ********** *** ******** ** specific ***********.

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

*** ** *** ********* ***** ******** (****** ****** ****** ****** initial *************) ** *** ******* ** ******* ***** ******** ** the *** **** **** ****** *** *** *********.  ******* ** taking **** ********** ******* ********, ***** *** ******* *** ******* by ******** * ****** '*********' ******:

******** ********* ******** ******* *** **** ******* *********, ******* *** autoupdater ****** ** *** ******** ********* *** **, ********* ***** to ******** **** ******* *** *****.  ** **** *****, *** update ******* **** **, *** **** ******* ******** ******** *** appliance ********.  

*********

*** ******** ******** *** ********* ** '*******'. * ********* ** pre-configured ******* *** ****** *** ***** *****, *** '****** *********' allows ***** ** **** ***** ***** **** ******** *******. *** video ***** ***** * ****** ****:

*** ********** *******, ************* ******** *** ********* ****** *** *** to *** **** ** ******. ** ******* ** ******* ****** log ******** ** *** ****, *** ***-********** ******* ***** *******.  

*******, ** ********** ******* *** ******, ********** ***** ******** ******** into ******* *******, * ******* **** ** ******** **** ******* is ***** ** ** ******. *** ******* ** ***** ****** reports **** *** ****** ** - *** ***** ******** ******* - ** * **** ******* ** ********* ********* *** ******* by ***.

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

*** **** ********** ******** ** ******** ****** ** ***** *********** with ********'* ***.  *******, *** ******* ****** **** **** **********, only ********** **** ******** ********* *** ********* *********** ****** ** recorded *****.  ******** **** ********** ******* *********** ** **** **** controls *** *** *********:

******* ******** ****** ****** ****** *********, ** ** '*********' ** alarm ****** *** *******. *******, ***** ** ******* ** ******* timestamp ***********, ** ******* ****** ****** ******* *** *** ********* and ***** ******* *** ********.

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

** *******, *** **** *** *********** **** ********'* *** ***. Integrating ****** **** **** *** ** ** ******** ****** ****** using ******** **************. ****** **** ***** ** ******* ** *** *** **** tied **** *** *** ****** ************* *** ******. ***** **** none ** **** ************* ****** *** **** ******** ** **********, actual **** ********** *** ********** **** ****** ** *** ****** of ****** ** ******** ** ***.

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

******* *** ******** ******** ** *** ***** ***********, *** ******** deep *** ****** ************ **** ***** ******* **** *** ******** not ****** ** ***** ****** *********:

  • **************: ***** *** **** ************ ******* *** *** ******** ******** ******* include ***, ***, ******, *** ****.
  • ********: ***** *** '****** *****' ***** **** ********** ******** ******** like*********** ***-*** ****** **** (***** *** ***** **** ** ******* before ******** ******) ** **** *****-***** (***** *** ***** **** be ******* ** ******** ******* ****** * ******** ** ***** are ********).

** ***** ****, *** ************* ** ******* ** ******* ** the ********** ****** ** ********.  *** *******, **** ** *** advanced '*** *** ****' ******** *** **** ******** **** ***** Mercury ******** *********** *** *** *** *** ***** ******.

System *****

******** ***** *** **** ** ***-********* ********** ** ******* **** are ***-******** ** **** **** * ******* ****** ** *******. **** *** ***** **** ******* ********, **** ********* ******* ** **** licensed ********* ** *******.

** ****** *** '************ *******, ** ****** *******' ***** **** have * ****** ***** ** ~$*,*** *** ******.

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

*** **** ********** **** ** ******* $*** - $*** ********* on *** ****** ** ******* ****** *** ***** ** ******** chosen, *** '*** ****' ******* ***** **** ****** *******.

Integration *****

*** **** ** *********** ** *** ********* ** ** *** video ****** ** $*, *** ******** ** ********** ******* *** shipped ** ******* **** *** *** *** **** ** ******** submitted ** ******** ** *******.  

** *** ** ** ** ********* **** ** *** ***********, the **** ******* **** ** ******* **** '****', **** '********' or ***** ********** ***** ***-***.  ** ** ******* ** *******, users ****** ****** ** *** ******* $** - $** *** camera *** *** *******.

Dealer **********

*** ** **** ********* **** ******** *******. ******* *** ******* then ** ******* ** ******** *********.

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

** ****, ********'* ********** *** ********* ********* ******* ***** ** for **'* ****** ******* ********* ***. ** **** **** **** cases, *** ***** ** **** ******* *** ******* ******* **** failed ******** ******* ** ***** *********** ******** **** ******** ***********. *** operators ** ******* ** ***** ********* ****** ****** ******* ******** and ******** *** ******* ****** ** *** ****. 

Competitive ********

***** ******** ********* *** ** * ***** ********** ********* ** its ***** ********** *** ***** ********* *********, ** ******* *********** gaps *****.  ***** **** **** ******** *** ******** ********** *********** is *** *********, ******* ***** * **** ******* *** ***************************** ******* ************.

Comments (5)

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.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Axis Guardian - Cloud VMS for Alarm Companies on Jun 19, 2018
Axis has struggled to deliver a cloud-based managed service video platform. Video service providers have utilized AVHS for over a decade, and have...
Axis Releases First New Access Controller In 5 Years (A1601) on Jun 15, 2018
It has been 5 years since Axis 2013 entry in the physical access control market, with the A1001 (IPVM test). Now, Axis has released its second...
Access Control - Time & Attendance, Mustering and Mantraps Guide on Jun 13, 2018
Electronic access offers features that traditional mechanical locks cannot. While these features may not be as fundamental as keeping doors secure,...
ReconaSense - The AI / Access Control / Analytics / IoT / Video Company Profile on Jun 12, 2018
One company's ISC West booth stood out for displaying a light-up tower of buzzwords. The company, ReconaSense, pledged to be 'making sense of it...
The Benefits of An Access Control Test Door on Jun 08, 2018
Security system dealers can benefit from having their own access control test door both for demonstrations and training. Inside, we explain the...
H.265 / HEVC Codec Tutorial on Jun 07, 2018
H.265 support has improved significantly in 2018, with H.265 camera/VMS compatibility increased compared to only a year ago, and more manufacturers...
Bosch IVA Video Analytics And Motion+ VMD Tested on Jun 06, 2018
Bosch's video analytics now ship on nearly every model, from indoor domes to high-end 5MP starlight cameras.  In this test, we evaluate Bosch's...
Princeton Identity Access 200 Iris Scanners Examined on Jun 05, 2018
Iris recently registered a big jump as a preferred biometric in our Favorite Biometrics survey, but access-ready options can be difficult to...
Hikvision PanoVu 20MP Flexible Camera Tested on Jun 01, 2018
Hikvision has released their first repositionable multi imager cameras with integrated IR included, atypical in competitors. We bought and tested...
Keypads For Access Control Tutorial on May 31, 2018
Keypad readers present huge risks to even the best access systems. If deployed improperly, keypads let people through locked doors almost as if...

Most Recent Industry Reports

IFSEC Show Report - Live From London on Jun 19, 2018
IPVM is live from London reporting on the IFSEC show. The Chinese have taken over the UK, centered on Hikvision, flanked by Dahua, Huawei and a...
Axis Guardian - Cloud VMS for Alarm Companies on Jun 19, 2018
Axis has struggled to deliver a cloud-based managed service video platform. Video service providers have utilized AVHS for over a decade, and have...
IPVM Vulnerability Scanner Released on Jun 18, 2018
IPVM is proud to announce video surveillance's first and only cybersecurity vulnerability scanner. This tool allows quickly and simply...
Hikvision Corrects False Cybersecurity Announcement on Jun 18, 2018
Hikvision has corrected a false cybersecurity announcement that claimed a British government-sponsored program endorsed the cybersecurity of...
July 2018 IP Networking Course on Jun 16, 2018
The last chance to save $50 on registration is this Thursday, June 21st. Register now and save. This is the only networking course designed...
The Dumb Ones: PSA's Bozeman On Cybersecurity on Jun 15, 2018
The smart ones are the hundred people who flew to Denver and spent $500+ on a 1.5-day conference featuring Dahua as a 'cyber responsible partner',...
Amazon Ring Launches $10 Monthly Professional Alarm Monitoring on Jun 15, 2018
Amazon's Ring has announced an alarm system with 24/7 professional alarm monitoring for $10 per month, a fraction of the $30+ per month traditional...
Axis Releases First New Access Controller In 5 Years (A1601) on Jun 15, 2018
It has been 5 years since Axis 2013 entry in the physical access control market, with the A1001 (IPVM test). Now, Axis has released its second...
Hikvision 12MP Fisheye Camera Tested (DS-2CD63C2F-IV) on Jun 14, 2018
Hikvision's DS-2CD63C2F-IV is their flagship panoramic camera, with a 12MP imager, 15m integrated IR, smart codec, and more. We tested the 63C2 in...
Four Major Outdoor Camera Install Problems on Jun 14, 2018
Over 140 integrators told us the top four camera installation mistakes that lead to unexpected problems and failures. Their comments often...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact