5 Trends Driving Smarter Connectivity in 2018

As technology continues to evolve and become more advanced, there is an increasing need to enhance Internet of Things (IoT) security systems. This is particularly true with the growing use of cloud systems and mobile communication networks. Emphasizing identity verification technology and data analytics is one of the main trends that will be central to improving experiences in the increasingly connected world this year.

Mr. Samuel Azarnoosh, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development at HID Global, stated that this year, precise identification and verification systems will be a crucial foundation for organizations to create and prepare environments for communication with people.

The following are the 5 key trends in 2018 that will help organizations benefit from identity verification systems:

Organizations are benefiting more from the cloud

  • Awareness and understanding of cloud systems, including ease of use, flexibility, connectivity options, and productivity benefits, will lead to greater acceptance. Cloud access control platforms with APIs and SDKs will drive new software solutions that maximize organizational benefits from investments. Cloud-based access cards will attract customers due to their user-friendliness, security infrastructure, and cost-effectiveness, while governments are considering whether citizen identification cards can be utilized through the cloud.
  • Furthermore, identity verification and identity management through the cloud will increasingly connect with mobile phones, various cards, chips, and machine-to-machine endpoints. Additionally, digital certificates in IoT will leverage cloud-based identity verification services to deliver and manage electronic certificates across the vast number of communication devices available today.

More interconnected devices and environments will heighten the importance of IoT security

  • Digital certificates will be a key component in enhancing trust in IoT by creating unique digital identities for printers, encoders, mobile phones, tablets, video cameras, building automation systems, and other internet-connected devices such as cars and medical equipment.
  • The “read” feature in Apple iOS 11 that supports NFC will stimulate the use of various systems on IoT, such as brand protection, customer loyalty strategies, and other cases requiring enhanced security in IoT.

Mobile network access will spark mass market usage

  • In 2017, mobile phone access reached an all-time high and will continue into 2018. The growth of mobile solutions and integration with other systems, along with mobile capabilities that enhance user convenience, improve productivity, and provide higher security, will drive the growth of mobile phone usage and adoption as a mainstream technology.
  • NFC Card Emulation Mode, developed for mobile access control, remains exclusive to Apple Pay users, keeping Bluetooth as the standard communication protocol for cross-platform mobile systems. However, organizations are investing in developing readers and other infrastructure that support NFC and BLE to prepare for future possibilities.

The convergence of digital and physical security

  • The concept of Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) will support the integration of digital and physical security, creating a centralized identity for various cases. Governments, the financial sector, the energy sector, and regulated markets will pioneer the use of these solutions for secure access to buildings, emails, websites, and VPNs.
  • A new model for consolidating identity into a single code, utilizing cloud-based authentication and mobile devices, is gaining popularity. This includes the ability to verify an individual's presence in a location, mobile codes that authenticate real ID cards, and smart cards that authenticate users against organizational resources.

Data analytics will drive in-depth risk-based analysis to establish predictive patterns and create new capabilities

  • Devices, access control systems, IoT applications, and other solutions connected to the cloud will provide accurate data for advanced analytics. Insights from these analyses can be used to optimize workflow management solutions and provide smoother access for end users.
  • Predictive analytics and biometrics will play a crucial role in people-centric security and respond to employee needs regarding the workplace to deliver premium services that are more aligned with individual users. Additionally, analytics will help reduce downtime in organizations, enhance factory automation efficiency, and facilitate compliance with various regulations and standards through real-time location-based monitoring and various motion detection solutions.