Ben Jobrack, Product Manager at Aiphone tells SJA Editor, Victoria Hanscomb, about how hybrid work is reshaping how companies approach office access control and workplace automation.

Corporate security

“From a security perspective, the challenges faced by commercial and corporate spaces are numerous,” Jobrack said.

“The world we live in is quickly evolving and since 2020, we have seen an exponential rise of people working remotely or in a hybrid format.”

He explained that these new working models have made it difficult for corporations to develop a robust security posture, because there is no guarantee of who may be in the office on any given day.

“The greatest risk lies in someone coming into the office unexpectedly,” he said.

“If someone who is meant to be at home one day actually comes in for an afternoon, it creates uncertainty and also makes it easier for bad actors to appear at any point.”

Jobrack also added that when there are fewer staff in the office, there is less of a group effort to maintain a secure environment, as it’s easier for strangers to walk past unnoticed.

“People haven’t seen each other as much in the office over the past few years, so they might not know if the new face they’ve seen is someone who works for their corporation or not,” he commented.

Another trend that Jobrack highlighted is the downsizing of the receptionist or front desk role, because it hasn’t been as necessary in recent years – particularly not in smaller corporations.

However, it begs the question that when a visitor does appear, how can they have been screened successfully?

“How are we going to make sure that if someone is there for a legitimate reason, we can address their needs?

“Then, how do we make sure that once they get in the door, there’s someone to escort them and bring them to the space they need to go to?” Jobrack questioned.

However, Jobrack noted that within the federal space, there is now a push to return to the office which has been echoed by other corporations, who want to make the most of the investments they have made in physical properties.

“Now, people who have worked for a company completely remotely for the past few years are being told they need to have access to the office,” he said.

That creates the issue of getting the correct credentials for these employees and ensuring the facility is properly prepared for the correct level of head counting.

“It’ll be interesting to see how technology evolves to help solve those problems,” he noted.

Fortifying the office

Jobrack noted that there have been a number of companies that have tried to find different solutions to their changing needs.

One of the main trends that he highlighted is the rise of the mobile credential.

“Mobile credentials mean that when a person comes to an office for the first time or visits, whoever handles the credentialing system doesn’t then have to worry about handing out a physical credential,” he explained.

“Using mobiles means that the user is far less likely to lose their credential, and they’re easier to administer, retrieve and remove when the time comes.”

Overall, Jobrack explained, there has been a rise in the flexibility of entrance systems.

Visitor management systems have developed dramatically in the past few years, where automated systems can allow a guest to check in either on site or remotely, and ensure that they are only granted access at certain times.

Additionally, Jobrack noted that remote intercoms have seen an increase in popularity.

“The number one way that people will secure their office space is to lock the doors,” Jobrack said.

“So, we’ve seen a big uptick in remote management, where no matter where I am in the building or even if I’m off site, I have the ability to see who’s at my office door and then grant or deny them access.”

Property development

Thinking ahead to the future, Jobrack said that he expects the return to office trend to continue.

“A lot will depend on the company’s philosophy. If you’re at a company where you have your assigned seat and own desk, then it’s easier to know who is in the office, but at a company which endorses a more open model, there will need to be ways to track who is in in a more efficient way.”

This will lead to companies and organizations using access control technologies that create other efficiencies in the office.

By having a credential that tracks who is in the office and when, it becomes possible to track other data and use this too, for example, make the building more sustainable.

By using a credential to book out meeting rooms at a certain time, it’s possible to set the HVAC system for a specific time period, reducing wasted energy.

Likewise, the number of people in the entire building can be counted, adjusting systems as needed, resulting in higher cost efficiencies.

Jobrack highlighted that this can also help to make buildings more comfortable – should a particular room be needed, then the same credential can be used to turn down the blinds and log onto the TV.

“We’re seeing some really interesting advances in technology when it comes to these personalized workspace automations,” said Jobrack.

“So that will be a trend to follow.”

Helping office security

“For Aiphone, we want to meet the end user where they are and empower human connection,” said Jobrack.

“We want to make it so people can easily control who is entering and leaving their building, and if they want to let someone in, they can make that decision themselves.”

He explained that the company has invested in mobility solutions, both for an intercom-style solution that allows access to be granted to visitors at the door who might not have a credential and also using cameras and monitors that interface with access control solutions, to create an integrated system that enables people to make the decisions that are appropriate for them.

Highlights for ISC West

At ISC West 2025, Jobrack highlighted that Aiphone will be focusing on three main areas.

One is the company’s core product line, with a bigger booth dedicated to showcasing its solutions and how they can be utilized within certain verticals.

The next is the Aiphone Cloud platform, which allows users to configure and program intercom systems remotely.

Since its launch in the fall of 2024, Aiphone has been making improvements to this solution and expanding its capabilities.

Lastly is the company’s access control system.

Jobrack mentioned that Aiphone will be showcasing how this can be integrated with other products in the marketplace, from cameras to intercoms and other building or property management systems, to make it easy for end users to monitor their data.

“These core products will be the stars of the show,” said Jobrack, “but we’ll also have some partner equipment there that we’ll be demonstrating some of these integrations with.”

Jobrack added that the reason Aiphone heads to ISC West is to meet the needs of its customers.

By interfacing with as many people who visit the booth as possible, it becomes less about what is on the wall but rather solving the challenges that people in the market are facing.

“It’s about growing together,” Jobrack concluded.

This article was originally published in the special ISC West 2025 March edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.