Securing access control and ID management

Access & Identity Management Handbook 2011 Access Control & Identity Management

Smartcard identity solutions are converging with biometrics for uncompromised physical and logical security.

The security industry, as with most industries affected by advancements in technology, is constantly being forced to re-evaluate itself and to consider all options when offering a service to its clients. Over the years, there has been a natural progression away from the traditional concept of access control to a more converged approach.

The traditional approach to access control had a clear delineation between physical security and logical security. Premises were secured by lock and key, and computers were secured by password if at all. With the introduction of smartcards, physical security became more robust. However, in organisations where physical access and logical access operate independently of each other, overall security remains compromised.

Security also now plays an instrumental role in compliance with regulations, protection of personal information, and enabling many business processes. Therefore, business managers are looking for ways to have better security while also cutting costs and finding economies of scale. One way that this can be achieved is by converging IT security with overlapping corporate or physical security functions.

According to Dave Crawshay-Hall, CTO for Brand New Technologies, the growing trend towards a convergence of logical and physical security requires a more advanced security solution capable of implementation across the physical access control system and the logical IT infrastructure. “Extending the smartcard access control system to carry IT user identification applications closes the security gaps existing in disparate systems, and offers a more cost effective and reliable method of access control right across an organisation.

“A further benefit of smartcard identification when logging into an IT system is that it provides a forensic audit trail and allows users to digitally sign important documents and agreements. It also allows organisations to comprehensively manage the employee lifecycle from start date, what parts of the building he can access and what systems he is authorised to use,” says Crawshay-Hall.

Benefits of smartcards in access control

* Staff credentials for IT and physical access can be consolidated onto a single card. A smartcard can serve as an ID badge for building access and can also store IT credentials like passwords and digital certificates. This removes the security vulnerabilities inherent in multiple passwords and forgotten passwords.

* Managing building and IT access is simplified. Having one central database where employee credentials are managed allows for quicker activation and deactivation of staff credentials across both logical and physical security infrastructure.

* Correlating security alerts. Security event management systems could be extended to cover logical and physical networks. For example, an alert would trigger if the VPN (virtual private network) signals an employee logging in remotely while the badging system indicates that he has previously physically entered at the company premises.

Future trends

While smartcards add a valuable layer to organisational security, future trends indicate that biometrics are the way forward for access control, whether as part of a smartcard application or as a standalone system. When incorporated into an existing smartcard solution, the biometric adds an extra layer of authentication to access control.

There are many biometric options available, but according to Crawshay-Hall, of all the technologies available fingerprint sensing is one of the most widely deployed and least intrusive means of identity confirmation. “More and more, organisations with access control and identification security requirements are using fingerprint biometric systems to validate the identity of staff members. The fingerprint stored on the smartcard is verified and authenticated against the live finger scanned at time of entry (to premises) or log in (to IT infrastructure).”

However, standard fingerprint biometric devices have many shortcomings, resulting in poor quality images and false or inconclusive readings. To counteract these shortcomings Lumidigm, supported locally by Brand New Technologies has developed a multispectral fingerprint imaging (MSI) biometric device.

“Some of the environmental factors that could influence the quality of fingerprint sensing include dry, wet or damaged fingers, poor contact between the finger and the sensor and bright ambient light,” says Crawshay-Hall. “The MSI fingerprint technology uses multiple wavelengths of light to read both the external and internal fingerprints of a person,” explains Crawshay-Hall. “Unknown to most people, approximately 2 mm below the skin, is a set of capillaries that are in a pattern that is identical to one's external fingerprints. With the multispectral fingerprint readers from Lumidigm, if the external fingerprint is obscured by water, dirt or chafing, the fingerprint sensor uses the information from the internal fingerprint. Thus, the problem with dirty fingers and maintaining performance in all weather conditions is solved.

“With the MSI biometric device, organisations can be certain that their security remains uncompromised physically and logically,” concludes Crawshay-Hall.





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

The power of PKI and private sector innovation
Access Control & Identity Management News & Events Government and Parastatal (Industry)
At the recent ID4Africa 2025 Summit in Addis Ababa, the spotlight was firmly on building secure, inclusive, and scalable digital identity ecosystems for the African continent.

Read more...
Biometric security key for phishing-resistant MFA
Products & Solutions Access Control & Identity Management
New FIDO-compliant USB, Bluetooth, and NFC BioKeys with biometric login and centralised management for phishing-resistant, passwordless multifactor authentication (MFA) for enterprise users.

Read more...
Gallagher Security releases OneLink
Gallagher Animal Management Products & Solutions Access Control & Identity Management
Gallagher Security has announced OneLink, a cloud-based solution that makes it faster, easier and more cost-effective to deploy security anywhere in the world, transforming how security can be delivered to remote sites and distributed infrastructure.

Read more...
Suprema unveils BioStar Air
Suprema neaMetrics News & Events Access Control & Identity Management Infrastructure
Suprema launches BioStar Air, the first cloud-based access control platform designed to natively support biometric authentication and feature true zero-on-premise architecture. BioStar Air simplifies deployment and scales effortlessly to secure SMBs, multi-branch companies, and mixed-use buildings.

Read more...
Continuous AML risk monitoring
Access Control & Identity Management Security Services & Risk Management Financial (Industry)
AU10TIX, launched continuous risk monitoring as part of its advanced anti-money laundering (AML) solution, empowering businesses to detect behavioural anomalies and emerging threats as they arise.

Read more...
The future of security: intelligent automation
Access Control & Identity Management AI & Data Analytics IoT & Automation
As the security landscape evolves, businesses are no longer looking for stand-alone solutions, they want connected, intelligent systems that automate, streamline, and protect.

Read more...
Smart automation is changing security
SA Technologies IntelliGuard Access Control & Identity Management
Security has come a long way from manual check-ins, logbooks, and standalone surveillance cameras. With the rise of intelligent automation, security is now faster, smarter, and more connected than ever.

Read more...
The future of security in South Africa
ATG Digital Access Control & Identity Management
Security technology is evolving rapidly, but is local innovation keeping pace? Some global players recognise the potential of South African products for international markets, but can our manufacturers and service providers thrive without external support?

Read more...
Integration enhances estate access control
Access Control & Identity Management
With one-third of residential burglaries starting at the front door, the continued seamless integration of Glovent’s estate management platform with Impro access control software is welcome news for estates.

Read more...
T&A in South Africa’s retail sector
ERS Biometrics Access Control & Identity Management
Using existing systems, ERSBio provides a practical and more cost-effective way for businesses to manage operations, reduce payroll mistakes, and enhance overall efficiency through innovative T&A processes.

Read more...










While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.