In recent years, our mobile phones have become virtually essential in navigating the course of a day smoothly and efficiently. Banking applications, virtual tickets, and boarding passes are just a few examples of how intelligent devices are taking over the day-to-day running of our lives.

As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, the prevalence of mobile-first solutions will continue to rise. Mobile-first means that an application or system is designed primarily for use with a mobile device. 

Mobile-first solutions have existed as trusted technological solutions in homes for some time now. Now, though, cloud and mobile technologies have become secure enough for commercial and enterprise spaces to benefit from. 

Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash

What is a mobile credential?

Mobile credentials are no different from traditional physical credentials, except that a user does not need to interact with any physical key, encrypted card, or fob to gain access to a controlled area of which they have the authority to enter. In addition, this technology now allows organizations to manage their commercial access control systems remotely via smart devices. Pre-issued identity information, permissions, or a unique ID number is stored in their mobile smartphone, and access is granted automatically via digital authentication. 

Are mobile device credentials secure?

Mobile phones are fast becoming widely accepted as being the key to building better security across multi family residential buildings and commercial premises.

Mobile device credentials offer significantly more security and flexibility than outdated keycards or identification badges. Firstly, mobile-based credentials do away with the risks associated with how easily cards, fobs, and stolen ID badges can be stolen or copied.

Not only do mobile-based credentials offer greater security given how closely the devices remain to their owners, but 2FA (Two Factor Authentication) can also be built-in for further protection from fraudulent use. Furthermore, individuals are much less likely to lose their phone than they are an identification badge or card, and, in the event that they do, are likely to become aware of the loss far sooner. Users are also far less likely to lend their mobile phone to a third party, making unauthorized access even less of a risk. 

Key benefits of using mobile device credentials for commercial building security are:

Improved security

As discussed, mobile-based access control systems virtually eliminate the risk of authentication information being copied or stolen, which vastly improves overall security. Additionally, when combined with 2FA, mobile credentials are supremely secure in terms of being accessible only to the authorized holder. 

Communication between devices and readers also remains fully encrypted, so personal identification data is kept secure at all times. 

Mobile credentials also feature the benefits of instant management. This enables landlords, business owners, and managers to grant or revoke access permissions instantly, and these commands will be applied immediately. 

Contactless convenience

Cloud and mobile-based access control systems allow for a contactless experience for users, particularly when paired with automatic doors, turnstiles, or gates. Some systems do still require that an app is opened on the user’s phone, but others work on proximity to determine authentication, and are then activated by motion sensors.

In terms of convenience, when an enterprise designs an integrated mobile-first security system, users have the seamless experience of accessing a variety of areas with their mobile device instead of a host of keys and cards.

Ease and flexibility of management

Security systems can be complicated to manage, but going digital and mobile-based makes it infinitely easier. Issuing and revoking credentials takes just a few clicks, and managers can control the system from anywhere so long as access to the internet is available. 

Lower ongoing costs

While the initial outlay may be greater, the ongoing costs associated with maintaining a mobile-first security system are certainly lower. Firstly, the incidence of lost or stolen keys or access cards is eradicated, drastically lowering the maintenance and staffing costs associated with managing and replacing keys or locks. Furthermore, mobile-enabled door readers will suffer less wear-and-tear over time, and many of the cloud-based platforms offer affordable subscriptions to replace on-premise maintenance and expensive licensing fees. 

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Final thoughts

The future of security is cloud-based and mobile-first, and for good reason. The security, flexibility, and convenience that these systems offer far surpass any technologies that have come before them. 

As technology and smart devices continue to grow in virtual intelligence, more and more commercial enterprises are adopting mobile credential-based systems as a safe and progressive choice in security strategy.