Mobile phones may soon replace plastic cards that are used for user authentication and access control (including door entry). The biggest advantage is that while improving security, installing and maintaining authentication apps in phones may only cost as much as cards, for organisations, say industry experts. Organisations offer plastic cards, mostly in the form of identity cards, to provide access into buildings and to record time and attendance. Biometric authentication methods including fingerprint and iris are used for additional security.

‘Few years ago, we started to look for the next big thing in the access control space; we looked at what could replace the plastic card and the definite answer was the mobile phone,’ says Ranjit Nambiar – director of India and SAARC at HID Global. ‘With the necessary authentication app installed in mobile phones, users will be able to gain entry by flashing their phones before reading devices. The process is same as that of using plastic cards but less complex for companies as they don’t have to print and issue individual cards to users and provide and revoke permissions when necessary. With the click of a button, all/individual permissions provided to a user can be revoked unlike in the physical method.’

Moreover, at least 14 per cent of any company’s workforce forgets to carry the cards to work or reports loss at any point in time, he adds. The chances of forgetting a person’s mobile phone are a lot lesser as research proves that people realise they don’t have their phone in about seven minutes and try to retrieve it, he says. While some customers have started to use the technology, it is still in the works and HID along with its partners is working on improving security features, he adds.

Gartner predicts that beyond smartphones, related mobile devices may also be used for access control. Some such devices are smart watches, wristbands and health monitors, says Angela McIntyre, research director at Gartner.