Six considerations for upgrading your campus access control

An access control system with a unified, open architecture can enhance operations and campus safety. And the benefits go beyond security. Students and staff get seamless access across campus. Security, IT, and facilities teams can collaborate effectively and gain proactive insights.

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Challenges of outdated access control

Many higher education institutions use security systems that are over a decade old. These systems often lack up-to-date capabilities and they don't meet students' expectations. Consider the following risks:

Operational inefficiencies – Outdated systems create headaches for IT and facilities teams. The constant break-fix cycle means troubleshooting is a full-time job. Managing hardware and keys in legacy systems is also inefficient. 

Cybersecurity threats – Legacy access systems lack the cybersecurity protections now considered standard. This leaves campuses vulnerable to unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential compliance violations. That's why standards like OSDP Secure Channel and TLS 1.3 are essential.

Slow response and reporting – Dated systems lack real-time, centralized visibility. This makes it difficult for campus safety teams to respond quickly to incidents. Disconnected systems also make it harder to produce audit-ready records during Clery or FERPA investigations. 

Inefficient student experience – Legacy access systems create friction for students. This generation is used to mobile-first convenience. Delays moving through campus feel out of step with their lives. 

Top considerations for your campus access control system

Migrating your access control system can make it easier for your team to operate and expand. New systems also create opportunities to customize access control infrastructure. Here are the top six things to consider when selecting a new campus access control system.

A unified UI

A single interface that brings together access control, video surveillance, intrusion, and other systems will empower your team to be efficient. They can monitor events, identify trends, and coordinate responses, all from one place. This makes it easy for them to pull reports and respond to incidents faster. Switching between systems is a thing of the past.

Real-time visibility

A modern access control system starts at the door. Intelligent controllers and readers manage access and provide visibility in real time. This improves daily coordination and supports faster response.

School system connection

Your access control should connect with student IDs, enrollment systems, and dining plans. When a student’s enrollment status changes, their access is updated automatically. The result? Less manual work and improved security. 

Open architecture for a future-ready foundation

An open architecture platform doesn't lock you into a proprietary system. This means you keep your options open and stay flexible as your campus evolves. You can reuse most existing hardware and add new hardware that meets your changing needs.

Option for mobile credentials

Mobile credentials are part of an up-to-date access experience. Students expect to access dorms, dining halls, libraries, and labs by tapping their phones.

Strong cybersecurity measures

Your access control should be built with strong cybersecurity and privacy measures. Standards like OSDP Secure Channel and TLS 1.3 ensure your data and network are always protected.

Industry-tailored solutions

How modern access control systems improve collaboration across teams

Addressing access control challenges is about unlocking broader, campus-wide value. Let’s examine how a modern access control system can support various departments.

IT teams – IT spends a lot of time managing and maintaining disconnected systems. An updated access control system is more reliable and requires less manual maintenance. Newer systems have built-in cybersecurity protections that modernize the environment without adding complexity.

Facilities teams – When aging hardware breaks, universities may choose to patch and not replace. But this break-fix cycle impacts operations and may cause more downtime. With a newer access control system, maintenance becomes predictable and easier to plan. Teams spend less time repairing readers and controllers. Workflows are streamlined across departments. It’s easier to implement special access rules for events. All this makes budgeting simpler and leaves staff free to focus on strategy. 

Campus police – Modern access control systems give campus police real-time visibility. This means quicker investigations and incident response times. Post-incident reporting also gets easier with audit-ready data available on demand. Leadership can be confident that their compliance exposure is reduced.

Academic and athletic departments – A newer system can allow shared responsibility for credential management. Select team members can control access in different academic and athletic departments. This lets them provide access to students and team members more efficiently.

The opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration improve operations and security campus-wide. It’s a clear return on investment that encourages leadership to buy in.

Create a connected access experience on campus

Access control migration might seem daunting. But the process doesn't have to be disruptive, and it can result in a scalable, cybersecure system.

A solution built on an open architecture prevents vendor lock-in and sets you up to evolve and grow. You get operational reliability and the ability to upgrade in phases, without disrupting campus life.