This team sold their last startup for hundreds of millions of dollars, now they have started Openpath to become a rare access control small business focused entrant. Like many startups, the company is making big claims like 'mobile access control...
By IPVM Team - 3 days ago
Keeping surveillance networks secure can be a daunting task, but there are several methods that can greatly reduce risk, especially when used in conjunction with each other. In this guide, we look at several security techniques, both physical and...
By IPVM Team - 9 days ago
Even though access control normally keeps people safe, tragedies have revealed a significant issue. If users are forced to unlock doors for criminals, unsuspecting people inside are vulnerable. But 'Duress Access' is a common, although overlooke...
By Brian Rhodes - 10 days ago
End users spend thousands on advanced systems to keep themselves secure, but regularly neglect one of the lest expensive yet most important aspects of all: Key Control. Administrating who carries keys and which doors they open seems simple but ma...
By Brian Rhodes - about 1 month ago
For ISC West 2018, what is new and interesting in access control? This rundown will bring you up to speed on the exhibitors, what they are releasing, and give you an idea of what is new. Notable Trends In terms of marketwide trends, three them...
By Brian Rhodes - about 2 months ago
Locks are used everywhere, but they are not all the same. In fact, even the shape of the lock changes, sometimes for no other reason than geography. The variation can complicate the most basic access control designs, and not being aware of the dif...
By Brian Rhodes - about 2 months ago
While locks can look the same, they may operate in significantly different ways. To make understanding them simpler, widely adopted industry standards define a range of over 20 different lock functions. Understanding them is vital in picking the l...
By Brian Rhodes - 2 months ago
We received 150+ responses from integrators when we asked them "What is the biggest problem you face when selling electronic access control? Why?". In order, these were the top problems cited: Too expensive Too little customer knowledge Too c...
By Sean Patton - 2 months ago
In this guide, we look at network rack infrastructure, one of the fundamentals of IP video surveillance. Inside, we cover: What is a rack unit (RU)? Square vs. threaded mounting holes Open frame Closed cabinets Wall mount vs. floor mount ...
By Sean Patton - 2 months ago
Not all doors, even in larger facilities, can justify using electronic access control. And even for doors that do have electronic access control, many often need to work with mechanical locks. However, most keys can be easily copied. How do you ...
By Brian Rhodes - 2 months ago
Electronic lock manufacturing is dominated by 3 conglomerates (alphabetically) Allegion, Assa and Dormakaba holding numerous electronic lock brands. But which do integrators most prefer? In this report, we rank the 3 conglomerates, examine which ...
By Brian Rhodes - 2 months ago
Securitron produces some of the most extreme maglocks on the market, including massively strong maglocks and even ones with integrated CCTV cams inside them. Now the company is touting one of their newest maglocks, the M680E, using only 52 millia...
By Brian Rhodes - 3 months ago
Powering access control with Power over Ethernet is becoming increasingly common. However, access requires more power than cameras, and the problems of not having enough are significant, especially if unsecured doors, unresponsive doors, or dead...
By Brian Rhodes - 4 months ago
Just because your doors look secure does not mean they are. Unless access systems are using lock status monitoring, the doors and areas they protect may not be left insecure. Can you tell whether the door below is locked? How? Lock status moni...
By Brian Rhodes - 5 months ago
Properly configuring access controllers software is key to a professional access system. These devices have fundamental settings that must be configured appropriately, including: Unlock times / extended unlock times Door Hold Open Alarms Req...
By Brian Rhodes - 6 months ago
Controlling access to hazardous environments require equipment meeting specific ratings that certify they will not start fires. Understanding those ratings mandate careful selection. Inside this note, we explain: Where is explosion proof access...
By Brian Rhodes - 6 months ago
Do not buy my company's product. It sounds strange indeed, but a senior Allegion consultant stated that maglocks should not be used in common applications. Considering Allegion owns one of the most familiar maglock brands Schlage, the statement ...
By Brian Rhodes - 6 months ago
Failures and set backs in the smartlock business have been commonplace (e.g., Lockitron Admits Failure and issues from our 2017 Kevo test). But $20 billion publicly traded company Assa Abloy just acquired smartlock maker August, so the biggest ac...
By Brian Rhodes - 7 months ago
The mega access control manufacturer, Assa Abbloy, has acquired one of the most well funded access control startups, smart lock manufacturer August. This comes just months after August raised $25 million from VC firms. Inside, we analyze the acq...
By IPVM Team - 7 months ago
Door Closers have an important job: automatically shut doors when they are opened, because an open door cannot control access. In this note, we review Door Closers, examine how they are selected, and how to avoid misusing them: Why closers a...
By Brian Rhodes - 7 months ago
Doors are notoriously weak at stopping entry, and money can be misspent on wrong locks that leave doors quite vulnerable. While closed and locked doors might deter entry for typical people, breaking in with basic tools often takes mere seconds. I...
By Brian Rhodes - 7 months ago
Is it ever legal to lock people into a building? The answer is: Yes... under specific situations. With so much of access control driven by life safety codes, and a predominant focus of 'free egress' during an emergency, 'delayed egress' may run ...
By Brian Rhodes - 8 months ago
Significant money can be saved and problems avoided with an access control job walk if you know what to look for and what to ask. By inviting interested parties onsite for pre-bid job walks, many of the site conditions inadequately described in s...
By Brian Rhodes - 8 months ago
Genetec's cloud everything expansion continues, with their announcement of Synergis SaaS edition, joining their cloud video offering Stratocast, cloud LPR, cloud federation and more (see Genetec Cloud Tested). Two years ago, the company released ...
By Brian Rhodes - 8 months ago
Opening and closing doors might sound simple, but it takes a high-tech piece of door hardware to pull it off. Integrating automatic door operators with access control can be tricky if the basic fundamentals of these devices are not understood. ...
By Brian Rhodes - 8 months ago
