IMS defines access control

as a service

Austin, Tx (USA)

The concept of access control as a service (ACaaS) takes on varying forms of definition which in itself has created confusion in the security industry. New IMS research addresses this confusion by defining what constitutes true cloud outlining its core features and functionalities.

"In order for the ACaaS industry to reach its full potential, the industry needs to establish set definitions, solutions and offerings," says Blake Kozak, senior analyst at IMS Research, and author of the report - The North American and European Markets for Access Control as a Service (ACaaS).

In today's market there are two main types of ACaaS offering: true cloud and rack server. True cloud is defined as multitenant, scalable (on demand) and redundant. Kozak continues, "More specifically, multitenant is when one application serves all clients and each clients' datasets are partitioned on a server and kept secure. The application itself serves the entire ecosystem. Scalable is when a customer needs to add (or subtract) users or doors, and the system is able to adapt quickly to those needs.

Redundancy is when back-up servers are in place so the system is never crippled if a server fails. While rack servers can still qualify as cloud (SaaS), they only offer some of the traits of true cloud. This model is essentially extending the network connection to a third party location rather than a server closet on-site."