The pandemic severely forced each of us, without exception, if not to use, then to recognize until now mainly the Internet information environment as a life support system. After all, today the Internet literally feeds, clothes and educates many people. The Internet penetrates into our homes, settling in kettles, vacuum cleaners and refrigerators. IoT internet of things is any piece of equipment, household appliances for example, that has tiny electronic modules built into it to exchange data on the Internet via our home WiFi.
Even door locks, many manufacturers have begun to make control via smartphone. The queue for access control systems and the operation of buildings and structures. And here I want to discuss the PROs and CONS of cloud access control known to me, since I work in a team that develops one of these systems.
Discuss, for now, regardless of the profile of the object, whether it is housing, an industrial enterprise, a warehouse, a shopping and entertainment center, a business center or an educational institution.
I will list the obvious PROs and CONS of cloud access control
PRO
- Pass applications are processed online, without the need to fill out paperwork and collect approval signatures.
- The pass is available for editing to both the manager, the recipient, and the SB, moreover, with online notification of the pass owner in a convenient messenger, SMS or email. mail about the changes.
- Convenient access to ACS data for the head of administration, security chiefs, personnel department, especially at enterprises with a branch network, at any time, from any PC with a web browser, on a mobile device. Vacation, business trip, sick leave - not an obstacle to cope with current affairs, look at statistics.
- Implementation on site without complex design. Since the topology of web services makes it easy to change those. processes and logic, possible errors of the initial scheme are easy to correct already during operation and choose the optimal structure of the checkpoint, checkpoints and clarify the mode of the object.
- No special qualifications and training are required to set up and even more so to manage. Modern programming tools are so focused on making software products intuitive to use that the cloud services created are destined to be easy to manage and easy to use.
- The cheapness of the equipment is due to its practical absence. High-performance micro-PCs Arduino, Rasberry, Orange replace specialized controllers. All logic goes to the server part and to the RAM of mobile devices, smartphones. Smartphones replace the usual RFID cards and key fobs, providing savings on consumables. The opening effect on the lock, the turnstile, is exerted by the very tiny element of the IoT of the Internet of things. Cheap due to its simplicity and production runs.
an example of the ACS structure as a cloud service
As you guessed, these were arguments in favor of ACS web services. I will be honest and without concealment I will list all the arguments against the use of ACS as a cloud solution.
VS
- Storing user data in the cloud. Risks of loss of information due to technical reasons, leakage to third parties. These risks can be reduced by distributing micro-services across a larger number of data centers (data processing center) and choosing reliable providers of this service with a TIER class of 3 or higher.
- Lack of smartphone users. Reluctance to use a personal smartphone for business purposes. To solve this problem, the management company has the option of printing a QR pass on a receipt printer, which is more profitable under the line than issuing a key fob or card.
- Availability of access control system at the facility installed years earlier, but properly working, albeit outdated. In this case, there is an option to use the regular API (application program interface) for integration in web services and expand the functionality to the desired one. Moreover, as a rule, integrations have already been written for most of the well-known access control systems.
- The traditional reluctance of employees to abandon familiar systems and technologies, no matter what in favor of more efficient and profitable technological counterparts. Middle-level sabotage at the approval stages can and often forces management, owners to give up and abandon modernization.
But the leader of the counterarguments, which I have only heard, remains the classic "... what if the Internet disappears ...". I'm at a loss for words, and an old joke comes to mind:
"I'm in charge," El said defiantly. Mail, everyone reads me! No, I’m more important, the Internet objected quietly, you live in me. Electricity sighed softly and turned away.
And so, I invite you to debate on the topic FOR and AGAINST the Internet in security systems, in particular ACS. Please feel free to comment on what you disagree with, I will be glad to hear criticism, object or honestly agree. If you are embarrassed to speak in public, write in a personal.
Thank you
Ilya
Source: habr.com