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What is open
architecture as it relates to access control?
This question
is often asked and most people in the industry have a slightly different
view of the true meaning of open architecture. The explanation below
illustrates what open architecture means to Open Options as it relates to
providing the best possible service and solutions to our customers.
Keeping up with advancing
technology
Most will agree that one of
the more annoying side effects of advancing technology is the rate at which
various systems become obsolete. Security managers often want to use the
added features provided by new technology but are frustrated by the fact
that using new technology with an existing security system is often
impossible without re-installing the system all over again.
This
forces some hard budget decisions as building managers are forced to choose
between using an obsolete existing system or spending a major portion of
their budget on an entirely new security system. Not to even mention
the hassles caused as the facility makes the transition from the old system
to the new one.
Breaking free of proprietary systems
In the past, this approach has guaranteed re-occurring revenue for the
manufacturers of access control systems. Any significant upgrade in
capability resulted in a large sale since everything from the card readers,
access control hardware, special proprietary software, and even cabling
might need to be replaced in order to use the new system's features.
Recently though, several manufacturers have broken away from this line of
thought and are challenging the way the security industry does business.
These manufacturers believe that the road to success lies in providing the
customer more flexible systems and better values for their budget dollar.
They are the proponents of "open architecture" security systems.
Challenging the model
The concept of "open
architecture" in access control is based on
standardizing communications between devices throughout the security
industry. This allows a customer to buy card readers from one manufacturer,
control hardware from another, and software from a third and still put all
of them together to form a cohesive security system. This also does away
with the need for massive system replacements to utilize new technology.
Since all devices use a common standard of communication, newer devices are
able to communicate with older security hardware effectively. This adds up
to a much
longer lifespan for the facility security system.
The benefits here for the customer are obvious. They are no longer
tied to the product line of a specific security manufacturer. Being
able to shop among various security manufacturers, the customer is able to
get more competitive pricing for their system. In addition, as a
system grows or expands, individual components can be added one by one. This
helps reduce the need to massively overhaul the facility's security system
every 3-5 years. As new software and hardware becomes available, the
communication standard ensures that these products will interface with the
older products.
There
are also benefits for the manufacturer. In today's highly competitive,
global marketplace, this kind of extra flexibility and price-consciousness
gives them the edge they need to expand their market.
Leading the way in open architecture systems
There are currently several manufacturers that embrace open architecture
security systems; one of the foremost is Open Options of Carrollton, TX.
Open Options uses the Mercury standard for it's security hardware and as a
Microsoft-certified Partner uses Microsoft's open technology standards for
its software. Open Options has been in the forefront of the open
architecture movement in the security industry. While some security
manufacturers are taking smaller steps towards open architecture hardware by
tying the software specifically to their hardware line. Open Options
has taken the radical step of promoting complete acceptance of open
architecture.
Our Policy: We believe it is time the security industry as a whole
align themselves in both a product delivery perspective and philosophical
approach with the rest of the main stream computing and software industries.
Proprietary security systems are no longer the standard, open architecture
is.
Open Options has also led the way in promoting Microsoft's new Universal
Data Access (UDA) technology. Open Options NPower Security
Management software uses Microsoft's ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) data access
tools. This means that the NPower application is capable of
running on all relational database engines including Access, Microsoft SQL
Server, and others. Additionally the application will be able to run
on any future database engines that comply with the ADO standards. This is
an excellent example of the flexibility provided by open architecture
software. A company can still use the database that their organization has
designated as standard without expensive data-conversion or customized
modules added to the software. Once again, the common standard also means
that upgrading your software doesn't mean trashing the old system entirely.
Because existing and future versions of the NPower software will use the
ADO standard, existing security databases can be used with newer, high
technology programs. Not only that, but your security software can be tied
in with other programs and other databases to multiply the possibilities.
Time for
a change
It wasn't that long ago that security software and hardware was proprietary.
Whatever system you bought, you were tied to that manufacturer and the costs
of future expansions and upgrades were now in the hands of the manufacturer.
Specialized software that didn't talk with other software applications was
the standard, and you could expect to devote several expensive PCs to
nothing but security management. Open Architecture stands ready to make this
type of security system obsolete. Powerful new security management software
that can tie into other software applications and run off of any standard PC
will connect with advanced hardware, all sharing a common communication
standard. This will bring facility managers improved security systems,
featuring central control over a wide-area network, better prices through
competition, and hardware and software that has a greatly improved
flexibility and capability.
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