How Tech Upgrades are Expanding Access Control Solutions

Access control in Colorado has seen significant improvements, evolving past outdated badges and on-site servers found in residential neighborhoods like Aurora, restaurants in Boulder, and busy workplaces in Denver. Thanks to advancements in technology, these systems are becoming more intelligent, interconnected, and scalable. If you’re considering installing new doors or upgrading your existing ones, here are some recent changes and their benefits for homes and businesses in Colorado.

1. Cloud and Hybrid Management Is Taking Over

Traditional server rooms are being replaced by controllers and readers that are administered via the cloud.Administrators can run reports, add users, and remove access from any location. While administration and upgrades take place in the cloud, hybrid solutions keep door decisions local for locations with stringent IT restrictions. Market data support the change.Analysts indicate that the growth of cloud and IoT use has propelled the global access control market beyond $11 billion in 2024, and it could exceed $25 billion by 2034.

In Colorado, this means: For regular activities, multi-site operators in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins may minimize truck rolls, standardize credentials, and accelerate the rollout of rules and regulations.

2. The Use of Mobile Credentials Is Growing

Physical cards are being replaced by watches and phones. Workers show their Bluetooth credentials or use NFC to log in from a few feet away. This lowers the cost of producing badges and reduces the possibility of missing cards. Mobile credentials are a significant advancement in sustainability and convenience, according to the Security Industry Association. According to recent polls, mobile credentials and biometrics are rapidly growing, with intentions to increase the percentage of enterprises that use biometrics for physical access from around one-third to almost half. 

Why it’s important: It takes a few minutes to provide a Lakewood contractor a phone credential. Access can be immediately revoked in the event that a device is lost.

3. Security and Compatibility Are Being Improved by Standards Like OSDP

Legacy Wiegand wiring is being replaced by OSDP, which offers encryption and bidirectional monitoring in modern readers and panels. With improvements that fortify interoperability and security expectations, SIA launched OSDP v2.2.2. When upgrading your controllers and readers, please be sure to request native OSDP support.

Local tip: During a Centennial reader changeover, upgrading to OSDP places your site for secure device monitoring and prevents the need for rework later.

4. Cybersecurity has become an essential aspect of discussions related to door hardware. 

IP devices are access systems. They require secure remote access, special credentials, and patching. Advisories from the real world emphasize the message. A CISA advisory from late 2024 described a high-severity problem with an access platform that, unless fixed, presented a danger due to hard-coded credentials. Teams should prioritize updates using vulnerability feeds and handle controllers and readers just like any other networked endpoint.
IT and facilities in Pueblo and Boulder should take the following actions:

• Include your access control stack in the patch cycle
• Make sure administrators have robust authentication
• Lock down remote access and segment the access VLAN

5. Smarter Decisions Are Made Possible by IoT, Analytics, and AI

Building systems, visitor management, and video analytics are all integrating with access control. With an expected 18.8 billion IoT endpoints by the end of 2024, the background is one of rapidly growing linked gadgets.The enhanced context both within the building and at the entrance is a result of an increased number of interconnected sensors. Anticipate the continued transition from pilots to production of AI-assisted processes, anomaly detection, and policy automation. 

Real-world examples for locations in Denver:

• Detecting tailgating by combining camera analytics with door events
• Auto-expire vendor access in response to work orders or calendar invitations; 
• occupancy-aware locking that modifies following an emergency muster

6. Choosing the Correct Combination of BLE, NFC, and Cards

• At close range, NFC/Wallet credentials are quick and resemble touching a contactless card.
• BLE is widely used in gates and garages and allows hands-free entrance at greater distances.
• Smart cards are still useful for visitor flows and backup.
• Independent primers note trade-offs in range, cost, and power. Many organizations in Colorado use a hybrid strategy to accommodate site use Independent primers note trade-offs in range, cost, and power. Many organizations in Colorado use a hybrid strategy to accommodate site use.

News from the Industry You Should Know

• The Security Industry Association (SIA) announced OSDP 2.2.2, which enhances the safety and compatibility of reader-controller connections. This update encourages companies to adopt stronger encryption methods and implement improved device monitoring.
• Organizations are progressively moving toward mobile credentials and biometrics, according to recent industry surveys. By 2026, use is predicted to increase from around one-third of sites now to almost half. 
• Security advisories are important: In 2024, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) discovered a serious access control flaw that necessitated immediate firmware upgrades. This emphasises how crucial regular patching and cybersecurity procedures are.
• The market is still moving forward: according to independent projections, the need for mobile-first solutions, cloud platforms, and IoT usage will propel the worldwide access control market to over $25 billion by 2034.

Unlocking the Potential: How Colorado Can Thrive with Security Surveillance System

• Reader modernization to OSDP and mobile-ready hardware;
• Site audit and migration strategy from legacy servers to cloud or hybrid;
• Integrated solutions for access control, cameras, intercoms, gates, and alarms for Denver, Aurora, Boulder, Centennial, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Pueblo, Broomfield, and Commerce City; 
• credentialing that combines mobile, smart cards, and visitor QR, where appropriate; 
• and cyber-hardening of access networks with patching, MFA, and monitoring

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q1. When updating an outdated access system, what is the appropriate course of action to take first?

Answer: Have a discovery session first.Network pathways, credentials, panels, readers, and inventory controllers. Next, map what needs OSDP or PoE, what can be reused, and if cloud or hybrid management aligns with your IT standards.

Q2. Do I have to swap out every reader in order to utilize my mobile credentials?

Answer: Not all the time. Many websites start with primary entries and gradually add mobile-capable users before growing .Maintain a backup card format while the changeover is underway.

Q3. In comparison to cards, how safe are mobile credentials?

Answer: Mobile credentials that are properly implemented take advantage of both application-level and device-level security measures. Additionally, they enable you to immediately deny access without having to get a real badge.Reader capabilities, phone policies, and platform settings all affect security.

Q4. How should IT address weaknesses in access control?

Answer: Consider the system to be as important as any other program. Subscribe to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities database and vendor bulletins, patch often, mandate MFA for administrators, and divide the access network. 

Q5. Can video and alarms be integrated with access control?

Answer: Indeed. Contemporary technologies provide smartphone notifications, activate sirens or lockdowns, and link door events to camera data. Integrations enhance investigations and speed up reaction times.

Q6. If the internet goes down, does using the cloud mean I lose control?

Answer: At the controller, door selections are usually made locally. Logs, updates, and management are done on the cloud. Look for controllers that synchronise and continue functioning offline once connectivity is restored.

Q7. Do I really need to replace my old Wiegand system?

Answer: If your access control system still uses Wiegand technology, it could be putting your building at risk. Wiegand is an obsolete system that does not encrypt data, which makes it possible for card information to be copied or altered. Upgrading to OSDP (Open Supervised Device Protocol) offers stronger security features, encrypted communication, and improved compatibility with modern readers and controllers. Choosing OSDP is a smart, future-proof decision that enhances the safety of your property.

To conclude:

• Mobile technology and cloud services are no longer experimental; they have become well-established, reasonably priced solutions with significant market adoption.
• Security standards are continuously rising. By 2025, implementing the Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP), frequent patching, and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) will be essential.
• The greatest benefits come from integrations. To effectively address current challenges at Colorado sites, it is crucial to combine analytics, visitor management, and video surveillance with access control systems.