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More than half of respondents reported IT as primarily responsible or having shared responsibility for access control within their organization. As a result, IT leaders are tasked with spearheading not only the protection of their company’s network- and cybersecurity-related initiatives – but also those set forth by the Physical Security department to protect employees, visitors and assets from internal and external threats. If Physical Security is currently responsible for access control, will IT play a role in the future? An Opportunity to Evolve: Upgrade Your Access Control Technology Users want convenience and ease-of-use from their organization’s access control system. Unlike legacy solutions, modern access control technology provides enhanced security through proper data protection, user convenience thanks to a variety of form factors, and the ability to integrate additional applications to traditional access control. *The 05 Group surveyed 1,693 individuals, representing IT job titles in more than a dozen different industries, including Education, Manufacturing, Information Technology, Health Services, and Security, Professional and Business Services. The IT department will increasingly influence security technology decisions, integrate access control into their ecosystem and implement and manage access control technology. Organizations of all sizes face similar pain points with regard to their physical access control systems. Along with the added responsibility to help implement security solutions alongside IT-related projects, IT leaders are increasingly responsible for budgeting decisions within physical security. What pain points do you have with your existing access control system? (select all that apply) Who is primarily responsible for physical access control in your organization? IT is primarily responsible 25.6% Physical Security is primarily responsible Both IT and Physical Security share responsibility Property Management is primarily responsible Facility Management is primarily responsible 12.06% 29.31% 7.88% 25.14% While physical security professionals have suspected a shift toward increased involvement of the IT department in physical access control, recent research has shown this to be true. In a recent survey of more than 1,500 IT Managers, Directors and staff, as well as Chief Information and Chief Technology Officers, it was found that IT departments are now more involved than ever in an organization’s physical access control decisions and implementation. Planned for the next five years 13.08% I don’t know 46.92% Planned in the next year 23.08% Never 16.92% What role will IT play in physical security? Collaboration between IT and Physical Security is set to have sweeping effects on how access control is implemented across an organization, signaling a fundamental shift in operations. Influence technology decisions Integrate access control into ecosystem Implement access control technology Manage access control system 76.09% 71.74% 58.70% 39.13% It’s important to note that as the shift to IT is taking place, the research shows there are still challenges that this department faces when managing physical access control systems. On a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being “Not comfortable” and 5 being “Very comfortable,” please rate your comfort level with the following regarding physical access control technology: or more of respondents said they were between Not Comfortable and Comfortable. 9.59% Physical Security 41.27% IT 43.84% Both Physical Security and IT 15.24% Physical Security 40.07% IT 37.16% Both Physical Security and IT Which department primarily decides on investments in physical access control? From which department’s budget do physical access control system investments come from? Not integrated with other IT systems 50.09% Troubleshooting issues or failures 26.28% Reporting is difficult or non-existent 23.46% Not convenient for IT 20.28% System is outdated 19.93% Inefficient credential management 17.64% Existing system is near the end of useful life 14.29% Difficult to use 9.35% Not convenient for credential holders 7.76% Which of the following features would you most require in a new physical access control system? (select all that apply) No matter the size of the organization, IT leaders and managers agree in core functionality requirements from new physical access control systems, which means new systems should strive to deliver these features. Easy to use Ability to add or support new technologies in the future Mobile access (ability to use smartphones, tablets, wearables for access control) Integration with existing security platforms Support for more advanced and higher security features Open-standards-based technology for easy integration High-quality warranty and extended support services Support by existing service providers Innovative future roadmap from product manufacturer 70.99% 68.13% 58.78% 54.20% 53.44% 52.10% 45.61% 33.59% 26.15% Physical access control decisions and responsibilities are seeing a fundamental shift toward the IT department, requiring both departments to better work together to achieve true security across the enterprise. I.T.’s INCREASING ROLE IN PHYSICAL ACCESS CONTROL: What it Means for Today’s Organizaons
