Sanjit Bardhan, Vice President & Head of Global Mobile Business at HID looks inside the mobile wallet. 

The rise of smartphones and mobile wallets has fundamentally changed how we interact with workplaces and their services globally.

This trend is further amplified by the growing adoption of these technologies across more digitally native generations.

And because people always have their devices with them, accessing places and moving around different parts of the building through them makes sense. 

In fact, there is remarkable synergy between digital wallets and mobile access solutions used in offices, universities, and a wide range of other facilities.

That’s because digital wallets are not used for just payment transactions anymore.

Digital wallets can hold medical prescriptions, travel documents, driver’s licenses, ID cards, insurance information and employee badges.   

With employee badge in digital wallets, employees can access office doors, elevators, turnstiles, multifunction printers and much more using just their smartphones or smartwatches.

Employee badge in digital wallets integrates into existing access control systems, is simple to distribute and manage, and takes advantage of the built-in security features of the devices. 

Unlocking the potential with mobile wallet

Maximising this synergy requires a flexible, scalable, and future-ready security infrastructure built on a Physical Access Control System (PACS) solution that includes robust credential technology, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and NFC-enabled readers and cloud-based software.

This empowers organisations to integrate the system with existing workspace apps and/or mobile wallets.  
The employee ID via digital wallets offers companies several benefits at once. These include:  

Enhanced security: The encryption technologies used in digital wallets ensure the secure storage and transmission of digital credentials. 

Additionally, the biometric authentication feature embedded in wallet apps, such as facial and fingerprint recognition, adds an extra layer of security to verify the user’s identity. 

Frictionless experience: Thanks to NFC technology, users can access places quickly and safely. 

Streamlined security: With badges in digital wallets, key distribution and management across the entire company are streamlined as there is no need to print physical keys for employees or guests. 

Convenience and uninterrupted access: If the user’s mobile device needs a charge, their badge will still work for up to five hours with power reserve/saver mode.  

Protection on lost or stolen devices: If the device is lost or stolen, a locator app allows users to lock or locate the lost or stolen device to help locate their device, as well as suspend or remotely erase their badge. 

Reduced costs: Integrating mobile access with digital wallets eliminates the need for producing and distributing physical badges, reducing associated costs such as printing, maintenance, and replacement.

This shift to digital credentials also aligns with sustainability goals by reducing plastic waste. 

Improved efficiency and scalability: Remote management and updating of credentials are possible through the cloud.

Advanced mobile access providers offer modular, multilayered secure infrastructure that is also validated by industry-leading certifications.

Using cloud-based access control, organisations scale their access control infrastructure at any point. 

Building a flexible and open foundation for the future 

To fully leverage the benefits of a cloud-based access control system that seamlessly integrates both physical and digital access, a foundation built on open architecture is essential.

This open architecture approach emphasises the use of security standards and protocols throughout the system, such as the Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP). 

OSDP ensures secure and smooth communication between readers and controllers, a critical element for robust cloud-based security. 

Open architecture also allows for the integration of new technologies and security advancements, keeping the system adaptable in a constantly evolving landscape.

Finally, open architecture allows for vendor independence, so organisations do not have to be locked into a single vendor’s ecosystem.

This empowers them to choose best-in-class solutions that match their specific needs and budget.  

Few manufacturers today can empower partners and developers to unlock the potential of cloud-based access control.

For IT departments or security teams this means they can easily issue or revoke access, update access permissions, and monitor activity, reducing administrative overhead and ensuring efficient access control management from one central hub.  

Prerequisites for secure, flexible and scalable mobile access 

Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when procuring a mobile access solution: 

Ongoing threat prevention: Organisations need to be able to implement security upgrades as needed, without the need for a complete system overhaul. 

Robust encryption: Mobile IDs must be encrypted using industry-standard algorithms like AES-128 and ideally stored on the reader’s Secure Element (SE) for added security. 

International compliance: Compliance with international standards such as ISO 27001, System and Organization Controls 2 (SOC 2), and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ensures data privacy and security across regions and markets. 

Universal compatibility: Mobile IDs should be available for use on both iOS and Android devices, being able to integrate seamlessly with existing building management system apps and wallets. 

Agnostic support: Readers should support various communication protocols like Bluetooth BLE, Near Field Communication (NFC), and physical smart cards. OSDP support is important to enable smooth adoption of future technologies. 

Interoperable credentials: Credential data should be encoded in a format compatible with different vendors’ systems for seamless integration with existing access control technologies. 

Collaboration driving digital transformation and security 

The property management industry pioneered the use of mobile wallet employee badges, particularly for flexible work arrangements.

To bring successful projects up to speed, smart building technology providers and software developers are integrating mobile access into the building’s management system.  

Recent projects successfully utilising digital wallets include Workspace’s The Light Bulb building in South London (Google Wallet), Broadgate Building at 100 Liverpool Street (Apple Wallet), 22 Bishopsgate (Apple Wallet).  

Ultimately, a mobile-ready, adaptable infrastructure supports smarter and more efficient buildings to deliver a superior user experience that does not compromise security.  

This article was originally published in the June Edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.