Contactless Cards and Readers for Electronic Access Control Systems
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SECURITY FEATURE | WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CONTACTLESS CARDS AND READERS FOR ELECTRONIC ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS What to Know about Contactless Cards and Readers for Electronic Access Control Systems ore and more, companies but not areas such as food service that formally used only while the exact opposite holds true By Scott Lindley, President, Mkeys are now asking for food service staff. Often, too, Farpointe Data about keyless or electronic access the security system is programmed control (EAC). Whether called to limit access only during specific badges, tokens or cards, they limit time intervals, such as a few hours access to a facility to only those who before and after a scheduled event. possess one of these credentials. This is especially important for Countless companies take this a those venues that provide access step further. In many cases, office credentials to vendors and/or workers can access their work areas delivery personnel. A wide range of contactless cards and readers are available 54 Security Solutions Today • September / October 2016 WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CONTACTLESS CARDS AND READERS FOR | SECURITY FEATURE ELECTRONIC ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS Mullion style proximity reader with keypad September / October 2016 • Security Solutions Today 55 SECURITY FEATURE | WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CONTACTLESS CARDS AND READERS FOR ELECTRONIC ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS However, when you start exploring be detected from farther away. wear-and-tear factor. Secondly, this world of keyless access, a whole The longer read ranges and that proximity readers can be made very new series of terms pop up - passive spherical orbit creates a problem durable or even hidden into the wall cards, active cards, proximity, smart that active cards can face. Several to make them relatively vandal- cards, long range readers, Wiegand readers and cards could end up resistant. Some are even bullet and so on. Let’s demystify them. conversing with each other, creating resistant. And, thirdly, for almost a sort of communication mayhem. 20 years, they have provided the Passive cards, the most popular, most cost efficient front-end for an are powered by radio frequency What is the most important thing access control system. Thus, there is (RF) signals from the reader. They you need to know about all this? a massive installed base. do not have a battery of their own. Pick the card that works best for Normally, they have a limited range the application and make sure you Proximity card readers of typically about four inches and that you are using the right type of communicate to the rest of the must be held closely to the reader reader for the card. access control systems in various (hence, the term “proximity”). protocols, such as the Wiegand However, they can have a read range What to Know about 125 KHz protocol, a de facto wiring standard up to 20 inches. Typically, the larger Proximity Cards and Readers which arose from the popularity the reader, the longer it will read. of Wiegand effect card readers in Also, readers which are mounted The 125 KHz proximity card and the 1980s. Another popular protocol on walls are typically rectangular or Wiegand standards currently is the ABA Track II interface, a square while other readers will fit on constitute the majority of the card- holdover from magnetic stripe card a mullion, that vertical element that based keyless access. technology. Again, you don’t need forms a division between units of a to know what these protocols do window, door or screen. There are three main reasons why or how they work. You just need to proximity cards and readers are still use the interface that the rest of the The passive card and reader today’s most widely used access system uses. communicate with each other by an control technology. First of all, RF process called resonant energy there is no contact between cards When selecting a proximity card and coupling. Passive cards typically and the reader. This eliminates the reader for your customers, there are have three internal components several things to check. First of all, - an antenna, a capacitor and an make sure they comply with one or integrated circuit which holds the both of the afore-mentioned two user’s ID number or other data. The main interface protocols so that the reader also has an antenna which cards and readers will interface with constantly generates a short range a wide range of electronic access RF field in a spherical orbit. When control systems. Also, order readers the card is placed within range of that support several proximity card the reader, the card’s antenna and and tag technologies/brands. Check capacitor absorb and store energy to see if the reader electronics from the field and resonate. This are secured with tamper- and powers the integrated circuit which weather-resistant epoxy potting. sends the ID number to the card’s This is important as, often, the antenna which transmits by RF readers are outdoors or in wet or signals back to the reader. dusty environments not suitable for electronics. Look for a lifetime Active cards are powered by an warranty. internal lithium battery. As a result, they can produce a much longer Some customers will want what read range measured in feet and is called multi-factor verification. yards, from 4 inches to 15 feet. That means that they want a system Its integrated circuit contains a that adds more than just a card receiver and transmitter that uses (what you have) to activate the door the battery’s power to amplify the PSM-25 - ISO standard size/multi-tech lock. The most popular is the card/ signal so that the active card can proximity card keypad reader. This makes anyone 56 Security Solutions Today • September / October 2016 WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CONTACTLESS CARDS AND READERS FOR | SECURITY FEATURE ELECTRONIC ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS The next term you must look for products will work with each other. is “MIFARE DESFire EV1.” We Interoperability can be achieved could go into a deep technological regardless of system architecture. explanation but, suffice it to say, For instance, the specification can MIFARE DESFire EV1 has become handle smartcards by constantly the contactless digital RFID monitoring wiring to protect technology benchmark for smart against attack threats and serves as cards. MIFARE is the gateway to a solution for high-end encryption a series of security levels. That’s a such as required in federal whole new article but really not that applications. The specification complicated. Ask your manufacturer for handling LEDs, text, buzzers for a quick run-through so you pick and other feedback mechanisms the right level of security for your provides a rich, user-centric access customer. control environment. Wall mounted proximity reader As with proximity cards, you What to Know about 433 MHz will also want to assure that the Transmitters and Receivers readers comply with the Wiegand requesting entrance to show the communication standard. Review Note that the terms “transmitters system what they have, a card, and what to look for in proximity cards and receivers” are used in place of what they know, a PIN (personal again. Basically, it’s the same list “cards and readers.” The receivers identification number). - potted, different sizes, card plus support either 2-button or 4-button keypad, and so on. transmitters from ranges up to What to Know about 13.56 200 feet. Each button outputs MHz Smart Cards and What to Know about OSPD transmitter data, the user’s ID Readers number or other data, over separate The Open Supervised Wiegand outputs yet the receiver As proximity became the Device Protocol (OSDP) is installs just like a standard proximity predominant credential technology a communication standard adopted reader for easy integration with over the last decades, contactless by the Security Industry Association popular access control systems. smart cards will augment proximity (SIA) that lets security equipment, over the next three to five years. At such as card and biometric readers They are a terrific solution for long often a cost comparable to proximity from one company interface easily range access control applications card systems, smart card systems with control panels and equipment such as gates and vehicle barriers, may be more secure and can be from another manufacturer. In other moving aircraft in and out of secure used for applications beyond access words, OSPD fosters interoperability hangars, arming and disarming alarm control, such as tool checkouts, the among security devices. It also systems as well as situations calling company cafeteria and so on. adds sophistication and security for emergency duress. Instead of benefits through features such as using a card, which could activate All the leading smart card providers bi-directional communication and more than one device or door at conform to ISO standards. ISO read/write capabilities. A two-way a time, the transmitter holder 14443 cards operate from zero channel paves the way for forward- selects exactly the mechanism to be to four inches while ISO 15693 looking security applications immediately triggered. cards may provide longer ranges, such as the handling of advanced something comfortable for the smartcard technology, PKI, and Available in either a two- or four- user and assuring a positive read. mobile device access. Not only button configuration and equipped Be aware. There are proprietary, does it provide a concise set of standard with a potted proximity non-standard-based smart card commonly used commands and or contactless smart card module, technologies that could bind you to responses, it eliminates guesswork, the transmitter can also be used a single-supplier dependency and since encryption and authentication as a traditional, presentation-style potentially restrictive pricing and is predefined.