Web-hosted applications are becoming ubiquitous, covering a wide variety of corporate solutions from finance and banking to customer relationship management and much in between. That functionality has now become available in the latest integrated Access Control Management systems, says Ahmed Abbas, sales director for Sensor Access Technology, a manufacturer based in Brighton, UK.
He says the instant advantage of a web-based system is, firstly, no software needs to be installed on a PC which can break down or be subject to viruses or other damage.
Additionally, there are no issues with software compatibility when operating systems are updated, and there is no requirement to provide backups or redundant equipment in case of failure, Abbas says. The software is stored upstream at a secure data centre, and operated remotely via a browser from any computer with an internet connection. This means more flexibility for the end-user, especially those with multiple sites which can now be easily controlled from a single location.
“The total cost of ownership is significantly reduced” says Abbas. “Our studies have shown that savings of up to 64 per cent can be made over traditional access control systems. Instead of paying a purchase price up front to own both software and hardware, the SAAS model alleviates this high capital cost in favour of a simple monthly software rental payment.
“This covers access to the secure central server, together with software maintenance and support. Software upgrades are also automatically covered by the monthly payment.”
With any web-based system security of data is naturally of paramount importance, both within the organisation and from hostile external sources. Abbas says: “The software would need to have 128 bit SSL encryption, multiple logins with access credentials, partitioned database access, plus a full audit trail of administrative actions. Our new offering covers all those areas.”
Sensor Access will launch its GuardPoint Net integrated web application at IFSEC.
“Our installer partners can instantly see the benefits it will give not only to their customers in terms of security and ease of use but also from their own point of view” Abbas says. “They perceive that systems will be much easier to install and maintain, and that means benefits flow straight to their bottom line and to that of their customers. Everybody wins.”
The system already has a number of live installations in the US, including critical sites such as hospitals and airports, and Sensor are currently in the process of installing pilot sites in the UK and Middle East.
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