Hosted and hybrid cloud-based solutions provide advanced security and more usable access control, company leaders say.
SSI recently took an in-depth look at the cloud security space, highlighting some of the opportunities and challenges integrators face in this thriving market segment and the different ways their customers are reacting to moving their data to the cloud.
Judy Jones, Vice President of Marketing at NAPCO Security Technologies, took some time to talk about the company's cloud-based offerings and how its partners are embracing the ongoing transformation in how they approach security for their customers.
Security and Integration Sales: From what you're seeing with your integration partners, is there a desire and appetite to embrace cloud migration?
Judy Jones: Obviously, cloud services are everywhere today in security and all kinds of applications in life and in all industries today. Despite early concerns about security and privacy, cloud technology is now widely viewed as equal to or even more secure than that of a physical or on-premises server.
In Germany, hosted and hybrid cloud-based solutions provide advanced security and more usable control of access to employees and buildings, while saving customers resources, i.e. investment in hardware, software updates and internal staff, as these systems are managed remotely by the integrator/provider.
By reducing the initial investment, better security management is increasingly available to small, newer and growing businesses and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) of all scales and sizes.
Also, with clients/accounts where the security integrator manages their system, it typically enables employee updates to occur more quickly (which translates to better employee security) and the systems themselves are always up to date (which translates to better cybersecurity).
SSI: How does NAPCO lean into emerging cloud opportunities and enable integrators to maximize them?
AJ: Napco's Continental Access division, which was renamed Napco Access Pro to be more comprehensive, was an early pioneer in access control, in fact creating the “CardAccess” brand for its original system.
But, today, despite the diversity of access control applications and technologies, Napco Access Pro is pleased to be a single-source provider of scalable access control solutions for all applications and budgets: from the highly rated standalone or networked wireless lock of our sister division Alarm Lock; to web browser-based Linux access systems called E-Access; On to the new cloud system, MVP Access, being honored here, with no local server and faster setup.
Last but not least, Continental Enterprise Systems, known for decades of continuity and durability in the field, integrates virtually all of NAPCO Security Technologies' core competencies and product lines into security alarms, locking and access control. Additionally, the new CA4K Enterprise release, version 1.2, coming out this month, with some all-new controllers to follow, includes new integration with intercom and biometric devices; In addition to MFA and geo-fencing, it features Napco's first NFC solution for mobile credentials, conveniently and securely stored in customers' smartphone wallets.
In fact, the new CA4K release is the perfect combination of added security and convenience, because, as we all know, if they don't use the system or can't use it, it doesn't really add security or value.
SSI: Do you have any other thoughts you'd like to share?
JJ: In addition to all of our great technology, as well as our internal and multi-partner integrations, Napco Access Pro offers a new and very useful integrator agent program, about a year old now, for those who want to grow their companies with our company.
It was very successful initially and includes attractive and preferred pricing tiers, hotline customer service, field support, training courses and much more. We are still adding new merchants today. So if you're interested, get in touch.
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