50% of all corporate data is now stored in the cloud, which includes physical security data.

Cloud-based security is becoming increasingly popular as it provides integration potential and allows for AI and analytics automation. 

So, what cloud-based commercial security trends can we expect to see in 2023? 

Keep reading to learn about the top emerging commercial security trends and to learn how cloud-based security improves strategy and convenience. 

Cloud-Based and Mobile-First Access Control

The average commercial building in America was about 53 years old at the end of 2021, which is actually fairly similar to average build dates in residential real estate.

But even though commercial buildings aren’t all brand new, that doesn’t mean innovation and new technology can’t be implemented to bring buildings into the 21st century. 

Access control is one of the most critical elements in a commercial building security system, as it secures the building from unauthorized users and allows authorized users to enter with access credentials.

Access control is already extremely popular in residential real estate, with multi-tenant housing such as condos and apartments using future-proof security to protect residents.

In 2023, we are likely to see more businesses switch to cloud-based and mobile-first access control solutions, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, companies have implemented remote and hybrid work patterns.

With this trend comes the need for security that allows users to enter on their first attempt, increases the convenience of entry, and enables remote management.

How Does Access Control Work?

Mobile-first access control allows users to download access credentials to their mobile devices, rather than opting for keycards and fobs – which can easily be lost or forgotten.

Users who enter the commercial building do not need to push a button or withdraw their mobile devices from their pockets.

Instead, they only need to wave their hand over the access control reader, which is equipped with motion sensors to detect this motion, triggering remote communication with the user’s mobile device. 

(Learn More about integrated technologies from Robin Hakos, Regional Sales Manager at Automatic Systems of America, the 2021 Platinum ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winner for Best Pedestrian Entrance Control Solution for its SlimLane Optical Barrier Turnstile. Courtesy of Automatic Systems of America, AST, and YouTube.)

The system ensures first-time entry by using three methods of communication to avoid failure – Bluetooth, WiFi, and cellular communication.

With this technology, the user can enter seamlessly without delay, ensuring traffic runs smoothly into the building.

Since access control is becoming a cloud-based solution, this makes security data accessible to system administrators from anywhere – they can review security data or receive alerts on a mobile application or cloud-based control center.

Additionally, they can lock and unlock doors from a remote location.

Cloud-based and mobile-first access control is an emerging commercial building security trend.

We expect to see more of this convenient and accessible technology in the coming year. 

Integrated Video Surveillance and Access Control

One of the most critical vulnerabilities in an access control system is the potential for misappropriated access credentials to be used by an unauthorized party.

In the event this occurs, there are no measures in place to prevent the unauthorized party from gaining entry to the building. 

By integrating video surveillance and access control, you can ensure identity verification at your commercial building’s entrance and eliminate this vulnerability.

Without combining these two technologies, you would host security data gathered by each device on disparate platforms.

Incorporating these technologies allows all the information to be accessible on a single platform – so teams do not need to correlate timestamps from different data sources to perform identity verification.

In 2023, we expect to see more commercial building security strategies adopting this trend.

(Learn More about integrating video surveillance with access control, from Six Time Winner in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program, PureTech Systems for its patented location and AI-based intrusion detection software PureActiv, which automates wide area and perimeter protection for the most critical applications, where a high probability of detection and low nuisance alarm rates are mandatory. Courtesy of PureTech Systems and YouTube.)

With the rise of integrated video surveillance and access control, we will see more businesses investing in commercial intercom readers.

An intercom reader is a single device with access control technology and a high-definition video camera, which performs video intercom functions but also enables identity verification.

If you wish to automate the identity verification process, you can integrate facial recognition software with your video intercom reader.

This will ensure only authorized users can enter the building without consuming the time of your security staff or system administrators.

Zero-Trust Physical Security

Zero-trust is a cybersecurity policy, which ensures no internal security breaches by assuming no trust in the users on the network.

Users are only granted permission to access the data necessary for daily operations, meaning that should their device become compromised while working from home, they will expose only a limited amount of data.

It also limits the employee’s ability to poach valuable information and assets from the company.

As we move into 2023, we expect more businesses to adopt zero-trust and apply it to their physical security.

Just because a visitor, interviewee, or contractor can enter the building does not mean that they should gain unlimited access to all areas, including areas housing sensitive data and valuable assets.

(See RAPIDGate®, from the 2021 Platinum ‘ASTORS’ Award Winner for Best Access Control & Authentication Solution Fortior Solutions. RAPIDGate and RAPID-RCx Programs are high-assurance identity management program for vendors, contractors, and service providers who require escorted or authorized access to secure facilities or sensitive corporate resources, and guard against threats such as unauthorized access, identity theft, fraud, or cyber-crime. Courtesy of Fortior Solutions and Vimeo.)

So, you should apply zero-trust to your physical security hardware by installing smart door locks to restrict access internally, only allowing a certain number of high-level users to access these spaces. 

Many commercial building security teams are already adopting this approach to mitigate liability and prevent users without training or expertise from entering areas with dangerous equipment and safety hazards.

AI and Analytics

Automation is a significant upcoming trend in the security sphere.

By integrating AI and analytics with cloud-based security, security teams can maintain situational awareness of security threats and data abnormalities without monitoring the data.

(Learn More about the power of analytics with a 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Award Champion for Best Video Analytics Solution from Cloudastructure, offering a cloud-based surveillance platform integrated with powerful analytics, that uses machine learning (ML) computer vision to recognize objects, faces, and more, to allow users to rapidly search video footage much like one does on the web through the company’s sophisticated object tagging capabilities. Courtesy of Cloudastructure and YouTube.)

Security teams have many responsibilities that make them unable to consistently monitor video surveillance and access logs, making them likely to miss potential security threats.

AI provides automated alerts for these incidents, notifying security staff of potential security breaches on their mobile device – so they can respond quickly to incidents from any location.

In Summary, the future of security is cloud-based.

As we move into 2023, we will see more commercial security strategies testing the boundaries of cloud-based security technology and implementing innovative solutions to automate processes and eliminate vulnerabilities.

Consider which security trends would benefit your commercial building security strategy in the coming year.

Automatic Systems Returns to Compete in Seventh Consecutive ‘ASTORS’ Awards

American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.

Automatic Systems America 

Best Pedestrian Entrance Control Solution

• SlimLane Optical Barrier Turnstile

• Automatic Systems America continues to evolve its award-winning SlimLane swing optical barrier turnstiles to offer customized solutions able to meet customer requirements for even the most unique installations.

• The variety of speedgate cabinets range from the sleek standard unit and evolve to the SlimLane EP model or the rounder SlimLane EPR.

• Larger biometric peripherals such as facial recognition and frictionless fingerprinting offer a contactless alternative to proximity readers and can easily be integrated within the SlimLane EPW or NK cabinets.

(Automatic Systems’ Slimlane EPW speed gates offer extended integration capabilities, allowing us to offer contactless identification solutions, with best-in-class #biometric readers such as the MorphoWave Compact device from IDEMIA. Courtesy of Automatic Systems and YouTube.)

• With the current social distancing and contactless requirements, the SlimLane EPR. while protecting its users.

• The hand “wave” and facial recognition readers were easily integrated and offer a fully contactless solution while the UL 2593 Certified SlimLane offers a highly reliable (10 Million MCBF) physical access control turnstile.

• With its 5-year standard warranty and infinite customizations, the SlimLane continues to be a perfect solution for lobby entrances.

• Selected as the “standard” for multiple financial institutions, we are confident that the SlimLane will continue to answer any pedestrian access control requirements for your years to come.

(Automatic Systems SlimLane EPW Touchless swing glass turnstiles offer custom integration provides an innovative and effective solution with multiple biometric authentications during continuous movement. Courtesy of Automatic Systems and YouTube.)

*Automatic Systems is also a Returning Premier Sponsor for the Fifth Consecutive Year in the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program, and a Platinum-Award Winner in their Sixth Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards highlight the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

Learn More…

Automatic Systems Sponsors Sixth Consecutive ‘ASTORS’ Program