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Issue link: https://securitysales.epubxp.com/i/166764
ACCESS CONTROL AS A SERVICE for end users, while boosting recurring are becoming more accessible, costmonthly revenues (RMR) for the inteefective and reliable than ever before. grator. Similarly, the security mechanisms For the end user who wants to secure put in place by cloud providers to setheir organization but does not want cure the platform from logical security the burden and costs sometimes assothreats such as hackers are also beciated with housing, maintaining and coming better. In fact, cloud platforms cooling servers, or for those with limare often more secure than the servers ited IT resources or expertise, choosing that some organizations have at their Cloud-hosted platforms mean no onsite softa fully-hosted cloud package is a very own facilities. ware is required. Users access their data and attractive solution. Tey also beneft Another major factor that has con- other functionality via a mobile or Web app, tributed to the growing number of and in most cases, pay a fee to use this service. from mobility aspect, being able to pull up video and handle alarms from any cloud-based security oferings is the inherent mobility available through such oferings. A grow- device connected to the Internet. Similarly, integrators who are not necessarily interested ing number of end users no longer want to be tethered to a desktop PC or laptop to access their security system. In- in deploying and supporting security applications involvstead, they appreciate the convenience of using apps via their ing complex infrastructures, can now look at fully-hosted smartphones or tablets when they need immediate access. cloud oferings as an easy-to-install option that lets them Extending mobility to these users means delivering solutions focus on other core services or competencies. While helping to streamline and simplify operations for the integrator, that they can interact with from anywhere. Today, a cloud ofering category that has been receiving cloud-based solutions can also serve as a new opportunity attention in the security industry is video surveillance as a to expand their market share by encouraging the swap from service, or VSaaS. With vendors now ofering fully hosted so- older analog systems to powerful IP-based video technology. lutions, VSaaS is essentially lowering the barrier to purchasing an IP system by reducing upfront costs and complexities DOORS OPENING VIA THE CLOUD The benefits of the cloud can extend into many other security applications, including access control. Just like VSaaS, access control as a service (ACaaS) is an appealing option THE OUTLOOK FOR ACCESS IN THE CLOUD for smaller to medium-sized businesses with fewer than 30 A November 2012 report by IMS research, titled "The North doors to secure, like small ofces, schools, medical centers or American and European Markets for Access Control as a Sereven municipal buildings. In most cases, these customers are vice (ACaaS) - 2012 Edition," indicated the following market seeking the added security and fexibility of IP-based access outlook: control, but cannot justify or aford the upfront hardware and • Hosted access control was estimated to be the secondIT costs of a traditional server-based solution. largest market opportunity for ACaaS for North America and More so, they might not have the personnel or in-house Europe in 2011, and was also estimated to be the fastest expertise to properly manage and maintain servers. Instead, growing market from 2011 through 2016. they look to ACaaS to lower their initial capital expenditures, • Small contract sizes were estimated to be the largest market and forgo the responsibility of onsite servers while still being in 2011 and are forecast to remain the largest market in able to beneft from modern functionality like simple card2016, representing about 59% of the contract size market. holder activation and deactivation, reporting or lockdown. • Small and medium-sized businesses are forecast to remain On the other hand, integrators seeking to grow their busithe largest end-user customer type through the forecast ness into new markets or by ofering new solutions can turn to period. Enterprise and government is anticipated to see ACaaS as their catalyst. While some integrators may choose strong growth and is predicated to represent about 13% of to purchase their own servers, host an access control solution the market in 2016. and lease the service to their customers, ofering a vendorPricing Models — According to the IMS report, the current hosted access control solution requires very little technical state of the ACaaS industry does not have a set standard for knowledge, minimal installation time, no maintenance, zero pricing. Some providers may charge their dealers monthly for the upfront investment and far less risk. number of connections or doors or the provider may charge the Like any access control project, the process of choosing dealer quarterly or perpetual annual subscriptions. The dealers which doors to secure, determining the hardware to be inmay charge a markup to the end user and only charge by the stalled, and making sure the system adheres to fre and safety number of doors or the dealer may charge by users, transactions, regulations is still necessary. But beyond that, with a hosted sites or a combination of all three. The billing model for ACaaS ACaaS solution, integrators merely need to install the door remains customized and on a per-project basis. hardware, including readers or electronic locks wired to an intelligent door controller that connects to the cloud. From a 124 / SECURITYSALES.COM / SEPTEMBER 2013