Open Standards Development for the Security Industry
As the access control industry becomes more and more “IT-centric” the push for devices that can simply plug-in to an existing network is growing. Along with this is a push for a clear and defined way to communicate with those devices.
Open standards have historically been sparingly used by the access control industry. Only 19 industry standards are listed by the international trade association Security Industry Association (SIA). The limited availability and use of open standards is a reflection of the industry itself, in which companies developed proprietary interfacing methods for access control products. In some cases the propriety technology is advertised as adding to the level of security. Security experts disagree with the idea that a product can gain ‘security-by-obscurity’ and consider well designed open standards as a more secure foundation for access control systems. But without a clear set of open standards, manufacturers have developed their own methods and technologies so that now the industry is filled with many competing ways of doing the same thing.
In such an environment one way of doing things eventually wins out and becomes adopted as the de facto ‘industry standard’ before a formal standard is even written. The Access Control Standard Protocol for the 26-Bit Wiegand Reader Interface is an example of one such standard. An article written by Bob Holland, Sr. Product Manager, Low Frequency Technologies at HID Corp, details the history behind this standard and the access control industry.
(See article: The Value and Importance of Open and Interoperable Access Control Products, Bob Holland, HID)
The article concludes “market demands, competition, and government requirements will ultimately force the industry to adopt open standards, or new players will emerge who can provide open standards.” This is a very true and insightful statement.
As the access control industry becomes more and more “IT-centric” the push for devices that can simply plug-in to an existing network is growing. Along with this is a push for a clear and defined way to communicate with those devices.
There is presently an initiative within the Security Industry Association called OSIPS1 (Open Systems Integration and Performance Standards Initiative). The goal of OSIPS is to make sure that the standards developed for the security industry are done so by the industry experts (namely, SIA members). By participating, SIA members will ensure the integrity of their product is not compromised by having to adhere to an inferior standard developed by someone with limited experience and expertise.
Recognizing the importance of further open standards development for security and access control, ITG companies are taking an early and active roll in the OSIPS initiative. One of the first standards to be developed is in the SIA Standards Credential Reader Subcommittee. This committee is chaired by Bill DeVoe of HID. According to a recent article at the SIA “Some of the work addressed in this area is far reaching and attempting to address future requirements that may be imposed.” 2
Though the past use of open standards in the access control industry has been limited, future interoperability requirements will result in much greater adoption. ITG companies are working to make this future a secure and reliable reality.
Further reading on this subject can be found at the SIA’s web site.
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