Open and integrated security
The most important technology shift in the coming five years will be the increasing demand for integral security management systems with open IT standards. At least if you ask Lea Milovich at Nedap Security Management who is a member of the Future Lab. Starting now, we invite our members to map current trends and visualize the future of the security industry.
Lea Milovich works as Technology Partner Program Manager at Nedap Security Management. Her role includes responsibility for the commercial cooperation that Nedap has with its Technology Partners – partners such as ASSA ABLOY.
Together with their Technology Partners, Nedap works on the development of mutual commercial strategies and joint market propositions worldwide.
What trends do you see in your industry at the moment?
Lea: We see that customers face challenges like new means of identification, changing regulations and the impact of cyber threats on physical security.
As a security system is always used for the longer term, it is almost certain that new security technologies will be introduced during the service life of the system. Therefore we believe that having an open, software-based security system will be more important going forward.

“The paradox is that the use of generic hardware will make it easier to implement open standards, as it only requires development of software, not hardware”, says Lea Milovich.
In IT, the decoupling of hardware and software has been a proven principle for many years, and so has the use of open standards. The paradox is that the use of generic hardware will make it easier to implement open standards, as it only requires development of software, not hardware.
The adaptation of open standards offer many benefits to security system users, the most important might be freedom of choice and dealing with legacy.
Introducing open standards allows companies to mix and match not only the cameras they need or the card readers that best fit their budget, it also allows them to select the specific functionality that suits their security policy.
What will be the most important technology shift for you in the coming five years?
Lea: The most important shift in my view will be the increasing demand for integral security management systems with open IT standards. I strongly believe that the choice of security system, hardware or software based, should be left to the customer. It is vital that the system does not limit the customer with for example a vendor lock-in. This will only limit the customer in the future.

Integral security management systems can accommodate functionality for access control, intrusion detection, video management and locker management.
Source: Nedap Security Management
Customers are looking for systems that could provide them with a total security solution instead of having separate, simultaneously functioning systems.
Customers expect adaptable systems with flawless 3rd party integration from which they can profit. At the same time they are looking to have flexibility and openness.
The security market sees how the adoption of open standards offers a multitude of benefits for security system users, where freedom of choice might be most important. Introducing standards allow clients to mix and match the products that best fit their budget, and also allows them to select the specific functionality that suits their security policy.
What will access control and security management look like 5-10 years from now?

Nedap recently co-founded the Open Security Standard (OSS) Association.The OSS is an open industry forum for the promotion and development of global standards for access control and other security systems.
Lea: As mentioned before, one of the most important market shifts at the moment is the demand of companies to have one total security solution that will provide them with all they need in one single environment. This will allow them to stay flexible. The usability of these systems is of course also very important.
Our clients are demanding well-structured security systems, a choice made today should not limit them in future.
As customers invest in their security system for a period between 10-15 years, they need a system that will be able to meet new requirements without having to invest in an entire new system prematurely.
Not only do our clients need an access control system that is fully equipped to cope with the security requirements of today and tomorrow. They also need a supplier that continuously invests in product development and has an extensive partner network, so that that they can update their system at any given time.
Nedap Security Management
Nedap Security Management focuses on the development of technological solutions that make day-to-day business easier. That’s why our product development is determined not by technology, but by the way it’s used every day. This customer-focused approach lead us to develop the first software-based security management platform – AEOS. As AEOS is a fully integrated security management solution that combines access control, video management and intrusion detection into one platform the cooperation with our Technology Partners is essential in assuring this particular element.