The Future of Access Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Future of Access Control - Essay Example This paper will examine the future of access control systems. Access control systems are being increasingly characterized by the convergence between the physical security of the facility and Information technology which is responsible for the security management of the facility which includes issues like authentication and logging. Access control methods can be broadly classified into three categories. Firstly, the visual recognition techniques which rely on a human to check the identity card issued to authorized personnel. This is the oldest form of access control and has several advantages like simplicity, ease of use, low implementation cost (though the cost is recurring in nature) and there is no requirement to always keep the password handy. There are disadvantages too like, the reliance on the human factor and the consequent scope for error; the identity cards can be easily duplicated and finally the low speed at which the checking takes place. Secondly we have the mechanical access control systems which can be characterized as the lock and key mechanism where the key acts as the physical identifier (Honey, Gerard 2005). This system has been used by humanity to secure physical spaces for a long time. The advantages are the simplicity of use and the low cost of implementation. However the disadvantages ar e that there is no way to prevent or regulate the duplication of an authorized key and there is no system to prevent or log unauthorized attempts. The third method of access control is the electrical access control systems which usually consist of an electromechanical lock which is operated by a set of valid keys. This method can be used imaginatively in various kinds of scenarios to provide differing levels of security. The advantages and the disadvantages of the mechanical access control systems are retained with the additional requirement of electrical cabling. The fourth method of access control is the electronic access control. This is proving to be an increasingly popular solution due to several factors. This method represents a convergence of electronics, Information Technology and physical access control. They can be broadly sub divided into three sub categories, keyboard based, smart based and biometrics based (Horrowitz,P and W. Hill 1992). The merits and demerits of each of these categories will be discussed in detail later in this paper. However all these electronic access control systems have the following advantages like a high level of security, increased flexibility in deployment resulting from a wide possibility for application, operation and small size. They also have some generic drawbacks like enhanced cost of deployment and the requirement of specialized knowledge for installation. Access control is about the continuing race between the increasingly complex access control systems and the people who are trying to gain unauthorized access. This demands a continually evolving technology. This paper will examine the future trends of access control systems and the various technologies associated with them. Types of Barriers and Design of Systems There are several types of barriers with each barrier having its own advantages and disadvantages. These advantages and di