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GUEST BLOG: Managing changes to access control panels
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As with all technology, access control panels have changed rapidly and frequently over the years. These changes have occurred both to physical access control panels, and digital access control such as smartphones.

Together with 2020 Vision, providers of the latest security solutions such as Cloud CCTV storage, we look at these changes in the past and use this information to predict future changes…

Advancement in technology

Keypads

We’ve come a long way since locks and keys! The way we entered restricted areas has changed over time — and it all started with the famous keypad. Similar to what we now see on ATMs, these were used to access locked areas and would require an individual to type in a specific numerical code to enter. The passcode would usually be around four to six digits long. But was this a viable method to protect a business? At the time, it was a revolutionary idea — but as times progressed, anyone could obtain the code and enter even if they weren’t authorised to do so. This was classed as a non-intelligent reader.

Card Readers

Keypads, however, became outdated technology with the introduction of card readers. Usually, a magnetic strip would be attached to the card which a staff member could then swipe through a narrow slot in order to gain access. However, such cards are now available with a bar code reader, a proximity reader, smart card readers, and biometric readers — tailoring each to specific business requirements.

IP Door Readers

The next stage of advancement came from IP readers, which could be accessed by card or by smartphone signals sent via Bluetooth. Biometrics are now also common in IP readers — unlike card readers and keypads, IP readers can operate independently as they hold an internal memory and if the details you provide do not match what the IP reader has knowledge of, you will not gain access.

The aforementioned changes took place in under 50 years. With such quick development, what’s next for access control panels?

Accessing smartphones

Most smartphones offer a variety of different ‘lock-screens’ as their access control panel. The use of passcodes is still common amongst most devices and are similar to keypads in terms of security. Biometric access, through the use of the fingerprint, is something that is relatively new and has revolutionised the way we get into our phones. However, in 2017, the iPhone X was released which saw tech-mogul company, Apple, introduce facial recognition as the main route to gaining access using a 3D sensor that can recognise the phone owner’s facial features. We suspect that this will be implemented across more smartphone devices in order to compete for the title of being the most accessible and the easiest. However, convenience and simplicity whether facial recognition, fingerprint scanning Bluetooth, and even a short PIN code come at a price they simplify access not only for the authorised user, but also for a potential attacker. So when it comes to implementing an Access Control System always seek the advice of an experienced security integrator.

What does the future hold?

We forecast that the fledgling technology of ‘eyeball recognition’ software will open the way to the next stage of access control panels. As no two people are the same, DNA ensures that access is being granted to the right person. Even in extreme and unlikely circumstances, if someone was to obtain your eyeball, they would still be unable to gain access.

Where imagined technology from movies once seemed out of reach, we are now seeing said technologies become reality. But moviemakers were unaware of how secure they would actually be. In “Diamonds are Forever” in the James Bond franchise, 007 tries to gain access through a ‘copy’ of the required fingerprint. Realistically, if this was to occur, there would be smudges on the fingerprint which would lead to alerts being made and a fail in gaining access.

In “Demolition Man”, we witnessed a group of criminals trying to escape prison with the use of a dead warden’s eye. In reality, this would not get past any sort of IRIS scan, as there is a detection process which determines whether the person is alive or not and a dead person’s pupil would not be responding to any light that is around.

Where do you see access control systems in the future? Will movies this year predict even greater possibilities? And the bigger question is: will they be brought to life? With the evolution of access control happening frequently, and becoming more intelligent, we are sure to see new additions soon.

Sources:

http://securecomminc.com/2014/06/19/the-evolution-of-access-control-systems/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keypad

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Card_reader

http://www.tech-faq.com/access-control.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_reader

https://www.isonas.com/news-education/the-evolution-of-access-control/

https://www.eyelock.com/index.php

http://www.digitus-biometrics.com/blog/biometric-security-in-movies/

 

GUEST BLOG: The importance of CCTV in food factories
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By 2020 Vision

Investigations have been carried out after the Food Standards Agency discovered that food factories across the UK are not complying with hygiene regulations regarding their produce.

Because of these revelations, large food chains and supermarkets in the UK are currently thinking about who they are working with and are already prepared to draw a line in their contract to ensure they retain the trust of their customers.

With this news, schools and colleges around the country are making changes to their suppliers as well as other businesses. For food production companies and food factories in general, this can either make or break your business — just look back to the horse meat scandal that took place in 2013.

Of course, food factories are going to move forward with a business mindset — and 2020 Vision, an expert in IP CCTV systems,understands that. You need to withhold your brand image, and ensure that you’re the only food supplier big businesses turn to in their time of desperate need.

We take a look at some of the security equipment your business needs and why.

Must-havesecurity systems:

To ensure customer satisfaction and present yourself as that food supplier who isn’t afraid of complying with the appropriate legislations and guidelines, there are a few actions you can take:

  • Access control systems —to protect all areas of your business, you must start with access control systems to ensure a barrier between the production and any potential threats from unauthorised characters. If access is gained through a staff card, management within the factory will be able to determine who can and can’t access specific areas on the operation site.
  • CCTV —if cameras have been put in place around your business premises, it will present a message that your factory is not afraid of recording footage and presenting it to the appropriate authorities if certain reports do arise about your production.

It’s known that, by spring 2018, all slaughterhouses in England will be required to have CCTV installed around their premises. The purpose of this is that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) will gain unprecedented access to footage within a 90-day period after reports of the inhumane treatment of animals.

If this is something being introduced in slaughterhouses, should the FSA implement the same ruling for food factories? This would mean they would be able to gain access at any point and could reduce the number of investigations.

Why you need to make security changes:

  • Customer reassurance —as food factories don’t operate openly and everything is hidden away, this instantly creates suspicion from a consumer’s perspective as they will be the ones buying the final product once distributed to stores around the country. CCTV will counter this issue as it shows that operation centres have nothing to hide — giving them the ability to publish any footage if accused of misconduct.
  • Maintaining quality —using more advanced CCTV within food factories will enable production companies to watch over the production line and maintain the standards that they sell themselves on. Sometimes, a human error is unavoidable on a production line after several hours of non-stop work — being able to detect it instantly is essential.

Is crime on the risein food factories?

It’s been proven that installing a CCTV system will help deter crime. If you’re operating as a food factory in the UK, you’ll know that your industry discovers criminal activity of all kind. 2020 Vision, to back up the reasoning for security systems in food factories, has looked at the crime rates in this sector:

Overall:

  • 89% of manufacturers around the world were impacted by fraud in 2016. This went up to 96% in 2017 showing that criminal activity is ever increasing in this industry.

Type of crime:

  • Information theft and compliance breaches accounted for 30%.
  • Theft of intellectual property stood at 26%.

Staff:

  • Junior employees were the most likely staff members to commit a crime — 39%.
  • Temporary manufacturing workers covered 37%.
  • Those in senior/middle management positions were at 33%.

To uphold the expectations and safety of consumers around Britain, and with crime at a staggering rate in the industry, we should look to implement similar requirements that slaughterhouses have to better protect our food factories and what is produced onsite.

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