iPulse rolls out Access Control-as-a-Service

August 2018 Editor's Choice, Access Control & Identity Management

iPulse Systems, a local manufacturer of biometric hardware and software with offices in Randburg, South Africa, and Irvine, California in the United States, has launched a new Access Control-as-a-Service (ACaaS) offering to the market, claiming it is the first true ACaaS service available in the country.

ACaaS is a concept that has been around for some time, but has not yet found a large support base in South Africa. There are many ostensible reasons for this, from the lack of reliable bandwidth in South Africa to the preference of many larger companies to retain control of their own access and other security systems.

The term ACaaS is derived from Software as a Service (SaaS), something that has grown in popularity internationally as cloud infrastructures have expanded. The ‘as-a-service’ model is basically a pay-as-you-go model of providing services and products to customers. The ideal version is you pay a monthly or annual fee and then get to use the service, while the software, hardware and networking infrastructure issues are the service provider’s problem.

Where software is concerned, the user is always using the latest version of the product as the provider makes updates available when ready and they are automatically available to users. Problems are automatically handled by the service provider and there are generally not extra support or maintenance fees (with the possible exception of user training). Ideally the software is hosted on the provider’s servers so the IT costs are lower for the customer.

In the hardware realm, you may not always have updated equipment installed on site (although some contracts may allow for that), but the service provider takes responsibility for ensuring they work as stipulated in the contract, which includes maintenance and repairs. Again there should be no additional costs.

Today, the ‘as-a-service’ model has developed into various forms, including hybrid models where servers are hosted remotely, based on the client’s premises, or a mixture of both. The ideal of only paying a set fee for a service is, unfortunately, often lost in the details of how these services are rolled out.

The bottom line of as-a-service solutions is that customers are able to focus on their business and leave the complexities of technology to the service provider, while making use of the benefits the technology provides.

Gary Chalmers
Gary Chalmers

Headache relief

When asked why iPulse decided to launch its ACaaS offering, CEO Gary Chalmers explains: “Over the years, iPulse has come to realise that, like many other technology industries before it, the complexity of managing your own access systems is often far more of a problem than the solution is worth. By moving all the complexity into the cloud, as-a-Service products enable end customers to enjoy the benefits without the headaches.”

iPulse has therefore released IQSuite.cloud as its ACaaS solution. Chalmers says the solution takes away all the headaches of managing the behind-the-scenes technology, as IQSuite.cloud is hosted on the Windows Azure platform, and is a true cloud offering.

The new range of iPulse iPBx biometric readers connect directly to the cloud and are automatically configured and added to the user’s database. Additional products will be integrated in the near future. The IQSuite.cloud front-end is available as a thick client (installed software), web application or mobile application, although each product has different uses and applications.

He adds that another significant benefit is cost. “iPulse has managed to get IQSuite.cloud to a point where the annual licensing and hosting fees are less than most products licence fees alone, and as such, the product is incredibly affordable.”

What does it include?

As mentioned above, when it comes to as-a-Service offerings, the ideal is to only have a monthly or annual fee to pay and everything else is included. The only additional expenses would be for adding new users or equipment that were not specified in the original deal. Depending on the agreement with your service provider, this may not always be the case and there may be costs for support and maintenance beyond a certain number of hours etc., and there may also be initial set-up and configuration costs to get everything up and running.

In the case of iPulse, Chalmers notes that the company’s offering includes everything. “It seems that up until now, there really have not been any true ACaaS solutions in the marketplace. Whilst many vendors advertise this, what they really mean is that the software is hosted in the cloud and subscribed to monthly, but you have to pay upfront for the hardware, the installation and the accessories.

“A true as-a-Service solution should be a 100% payable on a monthly or yearly plan, and this is what iPulse Systems has now launched in South Africa. IQSuite.cloud is therefore the first full ACaaS solution available in the market.”

As of July 2018, Chalmers says clients can have an entire system installed, commissioned and implemented, and pay one flat monthly fee that covers all the costs, including installation.

Where does it fit?

IQSuite.cloud is aimed at companies of any size. It is primarily a distributed solution that allows customers that have only a single device to get a highly affordable solution, while at the same time scaling to support enterprise level customers on the same platform.

“Having successfully concluded our trials during Q4 2017 and migrated key customers such as Vodacom, SEACOM and Microtronix to the new platform during Q1 2018, iPulse is now confident that any size organisation can be accommodated on the platform,” states Chalmers. “Remote support and an extremely powerful remote device management tool means that as long as the biometric readers are powered up and online, any problems can be resolved remotely.”

iPulse offers both a direct sale model and a tiered partner solution. End customers can be supported by iPulse directly, or through one of its national partners who provide onsite support and installation services, as well as tier-1 support to large customers. In keeping with most international OEM vendors, Chalmers says the customer pays the same amount regardless of where they go, but partners receive a margin to cover their costs and are able to share in the revenue from all aspects of the project.

Expansion through integration

In its current release, IQSuite.cloud supports only iPulse hardware, although the company has started integrating a number of other devices into the platform. Chalmers says these will be available in the Q3 2018 update to IQSuite.cloud. “Ultimately, the platform will support most commonly available devices on the network and integrate into numerous compatible products, such as CCTV platforms, large access control systems, and time and attendance platforms.”

iPulse is currently actively recruiting partners that provide key regional bases, as well as installation services around the country.

Potential customers or partners can find out more by contacting [email protected] or www.ipulsesystems.com. The IQSuite.cloud website is at www.iqsuite.cloud.



Credit(s)




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

From the Editor's desk: Apathy is a cybercriminal
Technews Publishing News & Events
      Welcome to SMART Security Solutions’ first print publication of the year, the SMART Access & Identity Handbook 2025. This year’s print issue is smaller than usual, so we include some articles in the ...

Read more...
Federated identity orchestration
Technews Publishing SMART Security Solutions Editor's Choice Access Control & Identity Management Security Services & Risk Management AI & Data Analytics
Understanding exactly who resides at the end of a digital device is key, and simple identity number verification by the Department of Home Affairs is no longer a viable solution on its own.

Read more...
Managing identities for 20 years
Ideco Biometrics Technews Publishing SMART Security Solutions Access Control & Identity Management Integrated Solutions IoT & Automation
Many companies are now more aware of the risks associated with unauthorised access to locations and sensitive data and are investing in advanced identity authentication technologies to mitigate these threats.

Read more...
Balancing security and ease-of-use
Technews Publishing SMART Security Solutions Access Control & Identity Management Security Services & Risk Management
Fraud incidents have financial repercussions and erode consumer trust, leading businesses to become more aware, though this awareness does not necessarily translate into confidence in their identity authentication processes.

Read more...
Identity and authentication
Technews Publishing SMART Security Solutions Access Control & Identity Management Information Security Security Services & Risk Management
Identity authentication is a crucial aspect of both physical security and cybersecurity. SMART Security Solutions obtained insights into the topic and the latest developments from three companies.

Read more...
Integration and IoT made easy
Technews Publishing SMART Security Solutions Access Control & Identity Management
The security industry is built on silos, be it surveillance, access control, alarms and others, but integration has become a critical issue in recent years. SMART Security Solutions speaks to Integr8 Systems about its local hardware and software.

Read more...
SMARTpod talks to Armata’s Richard Frost
Technews Publishing SMART Security Solutions Videos
SMARTpod, the podcast by SMART Security Solutions, recently spoke to Richard Frost from Armata about the company's new 'all-in-one' cybersecurity bundle designed to relieve cyber stress in the SMB market.

Read more...
Here’s to a SMART 2025
SMART Security Solutions Editor's Choice News & Events
This is the final news brief from SMART Security Solutions for 2024, and the teams would like to take this opportunity to thank our readers, advertisers and partners and wish everyone a safe and secure festive season.

Read more...
Gallagher Security opens Cape Town office
Gallagher News & Events Access Control & Identity Management
Acknowledging a significant period of growth for the company in South Africa, opening a second office will enable Gallagher to increase its presence across the region with staff based in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Read more...
Physical security technology trends to watch in 2025
Technews Publishing News & Events
There are some exciting developments and significant changes, some technical and some operational, taking place in the market that security professionals should be aware of as they plan for the year ahead.

Read more...