Risks of a legacy access control system

For years, the main function of an access control system was to securely manage access and cardholder rights. Today, it can do so much more than unlock doors.

The access control space is changing fast with technologies like cloud solutions, biometrics, and mobile credentials. Modern access control systems can handle visitor management, integrate with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices for automation, provide enhanced data analytics, and connect to employee databases. They play a crucial role in emergency response and help ensure regulatory compliance by providing audit trails and secure storage.

These innovations offer better security and convenience—but older access control systems can’t safely support them. Keep reading to learn how legacy access control can introduce vulnerabilities, what the most frequent kinds of attacks are, and how upgrading your access control can enhance your overall security and user experience.

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What interconnected networks mean for access control

For years, access control systems worked on their own. They verified credentials like cards and PINs and then granted or denied entry to credential holders. Beyond that, they had little connection to the wider systems running an organization's operations.

Access control now sits inside a much larger operational network. Each access control device, from readers to controllers, is part of that environment. This interconnected system pulls data from sensors, machines, and software deployed across the physical security system and beyond, including edge-computing devices, industrial sensors, cloud-based analytics, operational technology networks, and HR systems.

In this connected setup, access control’s main job is still to regulate who can enter a space. But it also collects real-time data that can feed automation when combined with IIoT devices, bringing access control into a broader operational strategy.

Operational benefits of access control integrations

The ability to integrate access control with other systems can make life so much easier for facilities and HR teams. For example, a badge swipe can trigger lights and HVAC settings to adjust automatically when the last person leaves for the day, while elevator access can be limited to authorized employees during certain hours. The same system can connect with HR databases to simplify time-and-attendance tracking and automatically update access privileges when someone’s role changes.

As access control becomes more connected to business-critical systems, it's worth taking a closer look at where older systems can leave gaps in your security posture. Because traditional access control systems were built for a more isolated role, they weren’t designed with cybersecurity features that can keep pace with evolving threats. Syncing them up with other systems can widen the attack surface, providing entry points to your organization’s entire network.

The most common outdated access control vulnerabilities

Some common weaknesses of legacy access control systems include insecure devices, outdated firmware, a lack of network segmentation, and weak authentication.

Vulnerabilities can arise at multiple levels within an access control system, including credentials, controllers, servers, and workstations:

• Credentials: Weak or compromised access cards can be exploited
• Controllers: Devices that handle access and permissions may be targeted through attacks on their configuration or firmware
• Servers: Hardware responsible for processing and storing access data can face breaches that expose sensitive information
• Workstations: Security management workstations can be vulnerable to malware or unauthorized access, compromising the entire system

Recognizing these gaps is the first step. Next, let’s take a look at the specific attacks that target them.

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Common cybersecurity threats to access control systems

As cyber threats continue to evolve and systems become increasingly connected, cybercriminals can enter a network through a single compromised device. Once they’re in, they can take control of other security systems or access personal information from internal records. Here are some common cybersecurity threats related to access control:

Relay attacks

A relay attack occurs when a criminal places a transmitter near an access control reader, enabling them to intercept and mimic a cardholder’s credentials when they walk by the reader. (This technique is similar to one used in car theft, which extends the key fob’s radio signal to the car from a distance.) By employing these methods, criminals can gain unauthorized access to a facility without any approvals.

Skimming attacks

With skimming attacks, criminals use the readers themselves to obtain and clone information from access control badges without the owners’ consent. Source skimming is when a malicious actor modifies an access control reader by adding an extra physical layer that records all interactions and clones cards that are scanned.

Tapping

Tapping happens when a criminal intercepts the data transmitted between a reader and a controller. Typically, they will remove the reader from the wall and reconnect it to the wires using a low-cost device available online. This setup allows them to log and replay card reads, usually through Wiegand output, though it can also affect devices that use OSDP. While OSDP can be configured for security, it can still be vulnerable if the secure channel isn’t enabled or if default keys are used for pairing.

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Controller attacks

Like any other device, access control hardware can be vulnerable to controller attacks that allow a cybercriminal to gain control of the device, impersonate it, or access unauthorized information. Once the cybercriminal has access to a controller, they could manipulate door controls and launch a denial-of-service attack to prevent access and disrupt operations. In a production facility, this could lead to significant financial damage.

How a vulnerable access control system puts your network at risk

Your physical security system is only as strong as its weakest link. A cybercriminal who breaches a legacy access control system can also gain control of the other systems connected to your network. With traditional access control systems, this wasn’t usually possible. Now, greater interconnectivity between systems has made it easier for threat actors to use a vulnerable access control system as an entry point for your entire database.

Once a network has been breached, all data becomes vulnerable, including sensitive information stored internally. Threat actors often move around a breached network to search for whatever information will generate the most financial gain. This usually leads them to personal data about employees and customers or private financial data relating to your organization.

This is true not only for access control. Other systems connected to a network, including operational technology like HVAC or elevator systems, can also be used to bring down security and operations if breached. As critical infrastructure grows more interconnected, industrial control systems can be left insufficiently secured against cyberattacks, with serious consequences like contaminated water supplies or disrupted power grids. Once a threat actor gains access to your network through a vulnerable device, you risk losing control of essential security systems, like video management.

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What to look for in a cyber-resilient access control system

Modernizing your physical access control can open many opportunities to boost your cybersecurity posture. Our latest State of the Physical Security Report highlights that access control remains the top investment priority for IT and physical security teams for the third consecutive year. With a wave of innovative technologies entering the market, some are emerging as clear leaders.

Here’s what IT looks for in access control to help reduce cyber risk in modern environments:

• Open standards
• Network segmentation
• Regular updates and patching
• Centralized system monitoring and management
• Strong authentication mechanisms

Of course, it’s also important to apply proven IT practices, including a layered approach to cybersecurity and standard encryption protocols. Standard encryption is a well-established strategy used with other network devices, and it benefits from a larger community. When a vulnerability gets flagged, that information spreads quickly across all certified solution providers, which prompts them to patch the hardware or software flaw before the problem escalates.

Choosing an end-to-end certified solution means joining a network that stays proactive about security, one of the clearer modern access control system security benefits. Proprietary protocols, by contrast, may delay issue detection and lack the broader support needed for rapid resolution.

The best way to get these capabilities? Choosing a solution that uses a modern architecture, whether on-prem, cloud-based access control, or a mix of both.

How a modern access control architecture can enhance cybersecurity

Since access control has evolved from a standalone physical security tool into a connected component of the wider enterprise network, legacy systems can expose you to a variety of risks. Modern access control solutions can help you take a critical step toward cyber resilience. They can give you:

• Precise control of credentials and permissions
• Detailed logging of access events
• Real-time monitoring of entry points for quicker responses to threats
• Flexible control of your data storage
• Regular software updates and fixes

While on-prem systems let you store data on your own servers, cloud-based systems can reduce your on-site storage and processing needs. Both deployment options—or a hybrid mix—is a good choice, depending on your needs. In either case, a modern access control system should give you strong data protection and cybersecurity capabilities.

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Regardless of the infrastructure you choose, it’s smart to go with a solution designed specifically to work in our increasingly connected environment. Not only will it help reduce risk, but it will also improve flexibility, visibility, and long-term resilience.