The General Services Administration (GSA) has implemented its first cloud-based physical access system at the Neal Smith Federal Building in Des Moines, Iowa.

The GSA contracted with BridgePoint Systems to utilize its TrustAlert Physical Access Control Systems. BridgePoint partnered with EmbarkIT to install the system, which replaced the GSA’s 10-year-old legacy system. The system leverages the GSA’s Kansas City, Missouri-based WAN and remote IT infrastructure, which allows the building to shrink its carbon footprint.

By Dave Adams, Senior Product Marketing Manager, HID Global

Beginning in fiscal year 2012, U.S. government agencies must upgrade their physical and logical access control systems to provide federal employees and contractors with more secure and reliable forms of identification using Personal Identity Verification (PIV) credentials. These credentials must leverage smart card and biometric technology in accordance with National Institute of Standards and Technology guidelines embodied in FIPS 201. These upgrades must be completed before federal agencies may use development and technology refresh funds to complete other activities.

By Peter Boriskin, Director of Product Management EAC, ASSA ABLOY

As technology continues to advance in the security industry, the nature of credentials and ID technologies in higher education and government facilities is rapidly changing.

We’re seeing a number of different trends, including the enforcement of FIPS 201 and PIV requirements for government agencies, migration from low security to higher security on college and university campuses, and growth of near field communications technology.