Alcatraz has released a key mask detection feature that can help businesses in states across the country abide by mandated mask requirements while preserving physical security processes.

As the country has experienced increasing COVID-19 cases, dozens of states —including California, New York, Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania— are now requiring the use of facemasks as businesses and individuals return to work and commerce.

Mask mandates can dictate that individuals must wear masks in any public building, on transportation, and even outdoors if you can’t remain six feet away from other individuals. 

Mask requirements could present a safety issue for building operators as security systems that rely on security guards or video verification might currently require a bare face to authenticate entry. The Alcatraz Rock facial authentication platform’s new mask-detection feature can quickly indicate whether authorized access control users are abiding by state mandates.

“Not only are we navigating a new business environment as we deal with the global coronavirus pandemic, but we are also having to adjust our physical security to adapt to these changing requirements, as well,” said Alcatraz Founder and CEO Vince Gaydarzhiev.

“Alcatraz is an innovative facial authentication platform that complements existing security solutions to deliver highly-secure and frictionless entry into physical locations. Because our platform is so robust —and we develop solutions that adapt to the ever— changing needs of the physical security and technology industries– we have quickly produced a mask detection feature that will help businesses comply with mask mandates and ensure that their physical security processes remain strong.” 

The Alcatraz Rock delivers a touchless and secure physical access control platform that works with any access control system. It replaces or augments badging as a credential with facial recognition, 3D sensing, and artificial intelligence to enable highly secure and frictionless entry into physical locations.

The Rock uses passive 3D sensing, machine learning for increased security, and accurate tailgating detection while intelligently enrolling employees as they badge in.

The Alcatraz Rock is in the unique position as the hub on the edge between the badge reader and access control software, serving as the gateway by checking whether employees wear a mask even before their badge number is sent to unlock the door. This eliminates the need for adding security guards to manually check and enforce facemask compliance.

“Alcatraz is built up,” said Gaydarzhiev. “We have the technology to detect masks with trusted access control users, delivering them the smooth access control process they were previously accustomed to – even in demanding COVID times.”

There are also additional post-COVID benefits to a facial authentication access control platform like Alcatraz’s. For example, the Rock platform reduces touchpoints in a building which is key to reducing the spread of germs – unlike other biometrics including fingerprint readers which actually increase the number of touchpoints. 

Alcatraz is changing the way that companies view access control systems by providing a facial authentication and mask enforcement solution that leverages artificial intelligence and analytics to modernize access control technology.