Before the pandemic, the word “hybrid” in the office world described a sophisticated mix of cubicle pods, huddle rooms, phone booths, bookable private spaces, lounge areas and high-tech conference rooms.
Today, the way people organize around work is vastly different than before. In just a few years, we’ve seen far more flexibility emerge and the term hybrid reassigned to workforces that now split their time between going into the office and working from home. Hoteling and hot-desking are now part of the lexicon in large corporate settings and small business environments alike.
While some companies want teams to return to the office full-time and there seems to be a consensus that collaboration is better face-to-face than by screen alone, more organizations than ever are encouraging employees to take the hybrid road. Doing so means more flexible occupancy and use of office space, which in turn translates into less need for costly expansions as well as lower power consumption. Access control solutions and the integration of the valuable data they capture play a central role in achieving those savings.
Recent studies show that there is now a greater need for physical security and access control to support the open and dynamic nature of the evolving workplace. Electronic access control (EAC) in particular offers significant advantages for improving today’s on-site office environments.
EAC card and mobile credentials provide employees convenient and secure entry and egress; they can also be instantly issued, modified or revoked to meet a full range of clearance levels. The solution also generates an amazing amount of data that can identify the number of employees in a building at any given time as well as the secured openings they’re badging into like perimeter doors, sensitive areas, desk spaces, conference rooms and other access points.
Simply put, access control provides companies with a unique dataset and level of awareness about how spaces can best be scaled and used, both indoors and out. Being able to “know” the number of people occupying a building or office space is also extremely valuable information from an energy consumption standpoint.
Significant progress on this front is being made for pairing access control capabilities with building management systems (BMS) and other security solutions. The more specific data that EAC can feed BMS control applications, the better a building can regulate temperature, air flow and lighting.
There’s no question that integrated access control software solutions will continue to make even smarter use of access authorization, sensing and other data for improving office space configurations, scheduling, comfort and overall security. For instance, an employee badging in through a parking gate after hours could trigger lights and video monitoring between a parking spot and an office perimeter door to illuminate the way intelligently and safely while also preserving security footage.
With hoteling and hot-desking on the rise, there’s also growing demand for access-controlled intelligent lockers, which can be assigned based on employee use patterns and requests and opened with card or mobile credentials just as conveniently as other authorized doors. Requests for EAC locks to secure server cabinets, lockers, drawers and medication storage are increasing as well. These applications and office space in general can be allocated using scheduling software developed to tap into access data.
The key is integration among video monitoring, access control, visitor management, intruder detection and building management solutions that have historically been disparate or siloed.
Whatever the case may be, the desire for open, interoperable systems that connect to each other is a trend that’s here to stay. Connected solutions that share data create more intelligent feedback and streamlined operations and workflows that boost efficiency and help security overall, including cybersecurity.
Another thing that was happening pre-pandemic in office and corporate settings, as well as healthcare environments, was greater use of hands-free solutions such as low-touch door activators that respond with a bump of a button from a forearm, elbow or hip or a press of a foot pedal. Simple arm and foot pulls have also become commonplace.
The call for fully touchless (i.e., no-touch and contactless) products has also been rising. A wave-to-open (WTO) sensor, for example, automatically releases and swings the door as soon as it detects motion. For restricted areas, a quick scan of a card or mobile credential activates the sensor. These convenient solutions make it easier for employees to pass through openings, whether they’re carrying an armload, conscientiously avoiding the spread of germs or are unable to open the door themselves.
Until recently, door operator technologies were primarily built around high-energy systems like those that power fully automated sliders in retail, airport and other high-traffic locations. High-energy systems require high-voltage installations and electricians certified to wire them, which come with a higher price tag that’s impractical for lower-traffic settings like offices and other work environments that want similar automatic openings.
Fortunately, today there’s an increase in the availability of newer low-energy door operators, hold-open devices and WTO switches that are more affordable and simpler to install as well as more energy efficient to operate.
As the interest in contactless openings grows, more office environments will likely see increased adoption of mobile credentials. The integration of biometrics like facial recognition into access control is also an intriguing solution in development.
Cybersecurity is a hot topic everywhere today. Driving concern in the workplace is the fact that devices in home offices and at company sites are more interconnected than ever before. Every day, we learn how cyber-criminals can discover new ways to break into digital systems and networks.
That’s why access control solution manufacturers must constantly stay vigilant about shielding their technology from these cyber-intruders. It’s also why they’re continuously strengthening methodologies to make sure they design for security from the ground up so operating systems and firmware can be automatically updated to stay current and protected from threats.
Companies are also incorporating Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) into more solutions which improves interoperability and provides secure channel serial communication between locks, credential readers and the physical access control system (PACS). OSDP technology is especially effective in the server cabinet space and it is also available in integrated wired locks that can increase protection for traditional office and building door openings.
Access control and security – physical and cyber alike – are a key part of maintaining resilience in the workplace. So is the need to design buildings and office environments that are more functional, energy efficient and flexible for today’s scaled-down, hybrid.
While access control and door solutions in general need to be robust, durable and technically functional, they don’t have to look utilitarian. Fortunately, aesthetically pleasing choices are available today that enhance and blend extremely well into the décor of workplace environments – for instance, glass.
In healthcare settings, glass can have a soothing and calming effect on both patients and healthcare professionals and invites increased interaction to help improve healing and workplace atmospheres.
EAC devices like surface mounted credential readers and hinge, slider and pull hardware for glass doors are cleaner and sleeker than ever. Decorative hardware choices for other types of workplace doors are also plentiful like levers and trim with fine finishes and wayfinding colors, concealed hinges, low-profile strikes and other special touches. While seemingly subtle, thoughtful considerations like these contribute to more conducive work environments.
Comfort and surroundings are as critical for creating a productive work environment as protecting the safety of everyone and everything in it. So is the increased need to use security infrastructure for non-security applications. That’s why the expansion of access control devices to more types of openings has become integral.
All combined, it’s a win-win-win where happier employees are coming in with a greater sense of purpose and security at a company that’s creating a healthier bottom line by making the most of its square footage, hybrid workforce and energy savings while becoming more sustainable in the process.
This article was originally published in the June edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.