Mobile technology is ingrained in almost everything we do. We store our most important information, like photos, travel documents, IDs, and credit cards, on our mobile devices. Our phones function as a camera, map, wallet, calendar, and more. They connect us with friends, family, and colleagues around the world.
As the world advances technologically, it’s no surprise that the way we approach everyday tasks changes too. One of the most significant transformations is how we interact with our workplaces. From accessing buildings, navigating hallways and rooms, to tracking attendance, we now see more of these tasks being digitized.
The introduction of digital wallets and mobile credentials has revolutionized workplace access, making it easier, safer, and more efficient than ever before.
What is a Mobile Credential?
A mobile credential is a digital version of a physical access card used for verifying identity and entering buildings. These credentials are stored on your smartphone or mobile device, typically in digital wallet apps like Apple Wallet or Google Pay.
The use of mobile access control is increasing due to the ability to remotely issue, adjust, and revoke credentials within a digital operating system. This eliminates the need for security or facilities staff to manage physical credentials like proximity cards or key fobs. Mobile credentials offer enhanced convenience, security, and flexibility, making them a popular alternative to traditional identification methods.
How do Mobile Credentials work?
Mobile credentials work by storing your access information on your mobile device through an app like Apple Wallet. This data can then be used to grant you access to specific areas of a building using proximity-based technology or, in some cases, even unlock doors remotely.
To enable mobile credentials, your phone uses built-in near field communication (NFC) or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. These technologies allow devices such as phones and smartwatches to exchange information with NFC-equipped technology such as a door reader. This enables you to simply present your phone to a reader to access your workplace, hotels, or gyms.
For employees, this technology eliminates the inconvenience of lost keycards or forgotten passwords. For employers, it helps employers control access in the workplace, making sure only authorized people can enter certain areas.
What are the benefits of mobile credentials?
Incorporating mobile technology as a part of a security solution offers numerous benefits to organizations in addition to the security advantages mentioned earlier. When integrated as a part of a unified security system, mobile credentials provide the following benefits:
- Remote credential management
- Contactless access
- Greater convenience
- Return on investment
- Fast emergency response
Remote credential management
Ease of deployment is an advantage that’s particularly important in situations where credentials need to be provisioned quickly and efficiently.
Mobile technology enables the operator and cardholder to create and receive credentials without being present in the same location. This allows the operator to provision mobile credentials at a time that suits them and allows the cardholder instant access upon arrival.
This feature can be particularly useful in universities where large numbers of students arrive on campus at the same time and require access to lecture halls and halls of residence. It can save considerable administrative effort and time at the beginning of a semester.
Contactless access
With the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic still fresh in our minds, businesses are facing increased scrutiny when it comes to hygiene in the workplace. One of the major benefits of mobile credentials is their contactless nature. With the current push to contactless methods for carrying out day-to-day activities, mobile credentials can help protect people’s health and safety by reducing contact between people and surfaces.
Greater convenience
Another benefit of mobile credentials is having everything on your phone. Mobile credentials remove the need to carry a wallet or lanyard . All you need is your mobile phone. Digital wallets are a much easier way to have access to our cards.
Return on investment
The use of mobile credentials can provide a significant return on investment. Mobile credentials are often more cost-effective than the costs associated with purchasing, printing, and distributing access cards. By leveraging technology that is already in possession of the users, organizations can reduce plastic waste and emissions associated with creating and shipping access cards throughout the organization. For large sites such as universities, which have large intakes of new students each semester, this can result in significant cost savings.
Fast emergency response
In an evacuation, mobile technology can be used to verify that cardholders are safe and reduce the time spent mustering. With wardens operating mobile technology linked directly to their security software, they have complete visibility of movement on site. This allows them to mark cardholders as safe and identify which cardholders still need to report to the evacuation zone.
How secure are mobile credentials?
Cybersecurity is a major concern for businesses and organizations due to increased cyber attacks and data breaches in recent years. This has put the security industry on high alert. Many people still believe that mobile credentials aren’t as secure as access cards. However, mobile credentials are safe and offer an additional layer of security when compared to physical access cards.
Mobile devices have inherent security features that make them more secure than access cards. People tend to care more about their phone than an access card, making them less inclined to lend it to others and more likely to notice if their phone has been lost or stolen. Additionally, most mobile devices now have built-in two-factor authentication options and require a PIN or biometric for authentication.
Mobile access control utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for communication with card readers from mobile phones. A mobile access control system that utilizes a strong authentication method, such as FIDO open standards, ensures secure communication that cannot be intercepted by anyone attempting to gain access through replay attacks or other methods.
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