Reframing Access Control: Enabling Intelligent Access and Exceptional User Experiences
For the past 30 years, the electronic access control industry has been defined by one question: Can you get through the door? The answer was binary. A key, card, or fob, accepted or denied, determines your ability to enter a space. This logic was embedded in hardware, managed in silos, and built for a world where people worked from one building, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, or visited spaces are already known and determined. We were an industry characterized by highly predictable patterns and a knowledge base that was left to do its job. And we did it well, by the way.
That world no longer exists on its own.
Let's focus on work for simplicity reasons, even though I can delve into any vertical and tell the same story.
Today's workplace is hybrid, fluid, and fast-changing. It is unpredictable. People aren't just employees, they're contractors, partners, vendors, and visitors. Even the employees are, to some extent, like visitors. Buildings aren't just offices, they're ecosystems of shared desks, hot zones, private suites, and remote nodes. Buildings are no longer isolated, either. They are part of a larger network with shared amenities and services. Security threats are no longer just about physical breaches; they now span phishing, tailgating, identity theft, and insider risk. And critically, the systems we use to govern these spaces must evolve in kind.
And they have not.
In 2025, access control is at the forefront of an inevitable shift in paradigm. Some are playing mainstream games that are far more complex, unpredictable, and rewarding. Some continue to play the incremental cottage game, which is understood but less relevant. No longer merely about keeping bad people out, locking and unlocking, access control has transformed into a platform for enabling intelligent access, data-driven insights, and exceptional user experiences.
It's time for a reframe. The door is still there, but it's no longer the center of the story.
From Locks to Legacy Logic
To understand where we're headed, we need to acknowledge where we've been.
Historically, access control was a hardware-based discipline. Proximity cards, turnstiles, badge printers, and metal keys dominated the scene. These systems were tightly bound to facility teams, designed to solve one problem: let the right person in, lock and unlock, and keep everyone else out, as they are considered bad.
Access was typically granted at the point of hire and changed only when an employee left or moved to a different department. Policies were rigid. Systems were often hosted on-premises and updated manually. Logs existed, but they weren't integrated, searchable, or context-aware. The idea of syncing access rights with HR systems, IT directories, or identity platforms was rare and difficult.
This "legacy logic" worked in an era of static work. Predictable work. But it wasn't built for today's reality: fast-changing roles, hybrid schedules, and high expectations for digital-first, frictionless experiences.
Why the World Has Moved On
Access control hasn't changed simply because technology has improved. It's changing because the world it serves has transformed. Four major forces are driving the shift:
1. Hybrid work & fluid space
A large number of employees, even those with back-to-work mandates, no longer work from the same building daily. Instead, they check into offices based on team needs, project sprints, or in-person events. This has created a new access reality: whoever needs access isn't always predictable, and permissions must reflect a dynamic work rhythm.
2. Blurring of physical and digital security
Threats are now multi-dimensional. Cyberattacks may involve physical access and vice versa. Tailgating, phishing-linked intrusions, and coordinated cyber-physical breaches are now real concerns. The traditional perimeter is no longer the building; it's the identity. IT convergence is not a trend; it's a reality.
3. Regulatory and compliance pressures
Frameworks like SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR demand clear audit trails: Who had access? When? Did they use it? Did they still need it? The days of siloed logs and unverifiable permissions are over. We may not like standards as an industry, but the external market does, and they are demanding them.
4. User expectations
Employees and visitors expect access to feel like every other tech interaction: seamless, mobile-first, integrated. No one wants to stand in line for a badge or download a plugin. Friction is no longer tolerated, and when it does appear, it reflects poorly on the brand and the workplace culture. We have never really known or cared about the end user. They were a card or a fob. They had no voice in how our systems functioned or worked. They do now, and it's due to mobile adoption. We are in the early innings of this influence, and it's not a small change.
In short, the systems once designed for control must now support context, convenience, and connection.
The Reframe: Access As Intelligence
To keep up with these shifts, access control needs a new identity. It must move beyond locking doors and start enabling smarter, more informed decisions.
Here's what that transformation looks like:
Access begins with identity
In modern systems, access isn't tied to a badge; it's tied to a person. More specifically, their role, status, location, credentials, certifications, and context. When HR platforms, IT directories, and identity providers are integrated into the access stack, permissions can be adjusted dynamically. Someone who changes roles leaves a project or is de-provisioned from an application automatically has their access rights updated without requiring tickets or delays.
Identity-first access enables mobile credentials, biometric authentication, and Zero Trust principles to take root in the physical world. Something cybersecurity has long embraced. Again, this is inevitable.
Every door is a data point
Access is no longer just an event; it's a signal within the noise. When analyzed in aggregate and now moving to agentically with AI, access logs reveal trends:
● Which spaces are being used?
● Where is foot traffic creating risk or inefficiency?
● Are visitors being cleared appropriately?
● Is tailgating a problem in high-security areas?
This data supports more than just audits. It informs real estate decisions, security posture, and even employee experience design.
Access is part of the experience layer
The best access systems are nearly invisible. Always have been. They work so smoothly that users forget they're there. By integrating access control with workplace experience platforms, organizations can deliver:
● Touchless, app-based check-ins for guests or even seamlessly with biometrics.
● Personalized permissions based on calendar events or the purpose of the visit.
● Real-time notifications when someone arrives.
● Temporary access for service providers or deliveries.
Access becomes a seamless part of the user journey. Not a blocker but a facilitator. Our identity as one where bad experience is a form of security is over. The game is now about delivering security and convenience.
Unlocking Strategic Value Across the Enterprise
Reframing access control as a platform, not a point solution, opens the door to strategic value across the organization. This strategic value is permission for our industry to extract more value. If all we do is keep bad people out, lock and unlock, that value, that utility, has already been determined (roughly a $10B opportunity). Still, if we move to an exponential value around operational efficiency and revenue generation, all built on the utility of security, we can garner more value, upwards of $100 billion.
Consider these examples:
Real estate and facilities
Access data can show which areas are used, when, and by whom. This insight supports thoughtful space planning. Access control can play a significant role in reducing footprints, repurposing underutilized areas, and enhancing collaborative spaces.
HR and people ops
New hires can be automatically granted access based on their role and location. Departures or transitions trigger instant revocation. DEI teams can evaluate access equity across the org: no more spreadsheets or manual handoffs.
IT and cybersecurity
With convergence accelerating, IT teams are demanding that physical access aligns with identity governance policies, SSO providers, and cybersecurity controls. Access rights can be tied to MFA status, training completion, or device posture.
Risk and compliance
Audit trails are no longer just "nice to have." They're expected, especially in regulated industries. Access control logs help prove compliance, identify anomalies, and support forensic investigations when needed.
Thinking Like a Platform, Not a Product
To deliver on this promise, the access control industry must think beyond door readers and badge types. What's needed is a platform mindset. This mindset embraces openness, modularity, and integration.
That means:
● APIs and SDKs that connect access control to IT, HR, visitor management, and analytics tools.
● Cloud-native infrastructure for easier updates, scaling, and remote management.
● Standards-based architectures that reduce vendor lock-in and increase interoperability.
● Composability, allowing organizations to build the proper access stack for their environment, rather than just accepting an off-the-shelf product.
The most innovative players, both buyers and builders, are adopting this mindset now. They're not asking, "Which badge reader should I buy?" They're asking, "What should access control enable in my organization?"
From Control to Capability
At its core, this shift represents a more profound truth: Access control is no longer just about limiting risk; it's about enabling value.
It's about enabling safer workplaces, making more intelligent decisions, achieving more agile operations, and delivering better experiences.
The question is no longer, "Can you get through the door?" It's "What happens after you do, and how do we ensure that moment is secure, seamless, and strategically aligned?"
That's the opportunity, and that's the reframing we need.
I get it. Much of our industry is not built for this shift. Our industry has been built for yesterday's value propositions. However, that does not mean we can't be what we are permitted to be in the market. The future of our industry lies in the opportunities and relevance it offers. The question for you is, will you shape it, or will it shape you?
