Flexible access control systems are becoming the linchpin of comprehensive security strategies, writes TDSi.

2025 has seen some big changes on the global security stage and the recent announcement by the UK Government that defence spending will rise to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027 is a clear indicator that security is firmly on the agenda closer to home too.

Domestic security is often linked to national defence and the UK security industry continues to evolve and adapt, not only to address the direct needs of protection and safety, but also to meet commercial and financial stipulations.  

It’s no wonder the narrative around physical access control systems is shifting and is no longer just about securing entry points; it’s about integrating seamless and future-proof solutions that address the dynamic landscape of modern security challenges, all set against a backdrop of increased budgetary scrutiny and accountability.  

From protecting sensitive data and infrastructure to ensuring the safety of employees and visitors, flexible access control systems are becoming the linchpin of comprehensive security strategies.

These will certainly be key topics of conversation when exhibitors and visitors meet at the NEC Birmingham between 8^th and 10^th April for The Security Event 2025.  

Essential flexibility and longevity    

The demand for flexible security systems is nothing new, integration of different components for different applications has been a central theme for security customers and providers for many years.

However, it might surprise you more to hear that, for a security manufacturer such as TDSi, our goal is for greater longevity of systems too.

The traditional sales cycle of periodical ‘rip & replace’ hardware has in many places been superseded by the central role played by software in most modern access control systems.   

Market demands for powerful, cost-effective security software to coordinate operations have now become an industry expectation rather than the sole preserve of a few early adopters.

Users have embraced browser-based systems, along with the ease and security of smartphone-based security credentials thanks to their associated multi-factor authentication and biometric verification offerings.

Advanced analytics have developed at a rapid pace and have been further enhanced in recent years with the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) based models to provide real-time insights, detect anomalies and predict potential security threats.

Equally, the inevitably close ties between physical and cyber security mean that expectations of flexibility and longevity of these systems from all stakeholders have never been higher.  

It has been interesting to see the Security as a Service model occupying an increasingly central role in the security space, in much the same way that Software as a Service (SaaS) has done in many other facets of our everyday lives.

There is an inevitable attraction to investing in a flexible system, offering security software (and hardware) which can scale as your requirements do, thanks to regular updates over time and a range of licensed integration and premium features long after the initial system has been installed.   

There are, of course, different ways to approach this, with some providers offering full subscription-based systems at one end of the scale through to part-purchase, part-license at the other.

At TDSi for example, customers have the option to buy and own their systems and then extend the size and functionality of their installation through additional hardware and one-time software license purchases as and when they are needed.  

Offering easy and affordable software updates and upgrades, along with a wide choice of hardware options (from different providers) offers a cost-effective and flexible approach for businesses looking to navigate the rapidly changing landscape, in terms of balancing both security provision and the operational and economic needs of users.    

Scalability  

As security providers, we know that scalability is a major consideration for many of our customers.

This could be in terms of the size of the site (or indeed multiple sites) which need to be protected, but also this may involve adding additional functionality to cater for a more diverse set of challenges.  

A good example is security for vehicular access and additional car parks, which will likely mean the need for ANPR integration for security and access control.

Adding additional ANPR cameras is relatively straightforward to provide but ensuring these are integrated into the central security and access control systems is also essential.

This is particularly relevant if the business hasn’t operated vehicle monitoring and access before, which is quite possible if it has moved to a larger site and expanded its operations.  

For many customers, making expansion cost-effective is just as important as ensuring the functionality.

A truly scalable system will enable this by allowing the security operator to add more secured doors to a site, or seamlessly add more sites – be that within a local area, nationwide or even internationally across different regions and time zones – without any headaches.   

Scalability can be important for any kind of customer organisation, one sector TDSi has worked with extensively that particularly needs security scalability is healthcare.

This could be new facilities to deal with increasing patient volumes, the opening of new clinics, hospitals, expansion wings, or the need for enhanced physical security measures due to increased risk to help protect staff and patients from workplace violence and theft.  

It could even be to cater for consolidation of two or more sites into one for practicality or efficiency measures.

Crucially, these are sites where security and safety are paramount in protecting people (often vulnerable people) and valuable property, including restricted pharmaceuticals.    

The education sector is another market with a diverse portfolio of sites which often require a tailored set of security solutions.

Similarly to healthcare, schools and colleges need to protect vulnerable people and property, whilst dealing with changing student numbers, new classrooms, student accommodation, sports facilities, or recreational centres that all need the right security through flexible scalability.   

Both examples often include considerable grounds that require perimeter protection just as much as the buildings and facilities which accommodate people and property.

They often also need secure access control to car parks and vehicle delivery areas, with integrations such as CCTV and ANPR to ensure these are part of the broader security monitoring.  

Additionally, there are often situations where buildings lack existing network wiring to the rest of the site or need to connect with security systems housed offsite, for this, wireless locking is an essential integration which is becoming increasingly popular for its speed and flexibility of installation.

All these system requirements and applications need careful consideration when a healthcare or education facility either moves to a new site, expands an existing site, or even needs to shrink or amalgamate with another site for cost or practicality reasons.     

Meeting real-world demands  

Speaking to customers and security installers it is very clear that there is considerable need for systems that can easily evolve and expand with security demands.

TDSi’s GARDiS security software solution for example continues to grow in terms of functionality, hardware integrations and new management and organisational options, just as much as it does in terms of physical and cyber security.   

Security systems are now also just as likely to be used for helping assess the flow of people around a large building, monitor the need for heating, ventilation and lighting at different times of the day, or controlling access to lifts to save on operational costs as they are for their traditional role of protecting people and property from ‘the bad guys’.    

It’s obvious that software and applications such as AI/Machine learning have and will continue to transform the way physical security is deployed and used. If you visit The Security Event you will see that behind all the imposing hardware and physical guarding technology are software innovations which are constantly evolving to ensure that our industry continues to stay ahead of the threats in this unpredictable world.      

This article was originally published in the April 2025 Edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.