Top 12 Access Control Trends for Modern Security in 2025
In 2025, businesses are prioritizing smarter, more integrated technologies to strengthen security, improve user experience, and streamline management. This approach is understandable given organizations face a volatile threat landscape where attackers can exploit holes in many existing access control setups.
LenelS2 has tapped into our roster of thought leaders to identify the top trends that are shaping the future of access control. Below, we explore these key developments and offer insights into how businesses can adapt to stay ahead.
12 Key Access Control Trends for 2025
1. Touchless Access and Keyless Entry Systems
The demand for hygienic, frictionless access control solutions is accelerating as organizations prioritize health, safety, and convenience. Touchless systems, including mobile credentials and biometric technologies like facial recognition, are leading the charge. For instance, mobile credentials stored on smartphones or wearable devices allow users to access secure areas using contactless technologies, offering flexibility and reducing the risk of lost or stolen keys.
Similarly, biometrics such as fingerprint and iris recognition enhance security by using unique physical traits for authentication, making them more secure than traditional keycards or PIN codes.
2. Remote Access Management and Cloud-based Security
The adoption of remote access management and cloud-based security systems is transforming how organizations protect and manage their facilities. Cloud-enabled solutions offer unparalleled flexibility and scalability, allowing businesses to monitor and control access from anywhere in real time. These systems integrate seamlessly with existing technologies, creating a cohesive and efficient security ecosystem.
As LenelS2’s Jared Gettinger, Vice President of Commercial Strategy & Growth, Americas Region explains:
"Cloud-enabled services and mobile adoption will continue to shape our daily lives in 2025. Cloud-based security applications offer flexibility, scalability, and real-time monitoring while integrating seamlessly with other technologies. These solutions provide enhanced convenience, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness."
He also emphasizes the importance of strategic planning for adoption, adding:
"The biggest challenge customers will face in adapting to these new trends is the 'how.' Specifically, they will need to navigate critical questions such as: How can I transition from an on-premise solution to the cloud effectively? How should I budget for this shift, considering both immediate and long-term costs? What is the best approach for managing the transition seamlessly without disrupting existing operations? These challenges require clear guidance, robust planning, and a well-defined strategy to ensure a smooth and successful adoption of cloud-based solutions."
3. Unified Security Platforms: Combining Access, Video, and More
Organizations are increasingly turning to unified security platforms that integrate access control, video surveillance, visitor management, and analytics into a single solution. This approach simplifies security management by consolidating multiple systems into one interface, reducing operational complexity and costs. For example, pairing access control data with video surveillance footage enables security teams to quickly verify incidents, while integrated visitor management ensures seamless tracking of guest access and compliance.
By centralizing data streams, unified platforms improve situational awareness, enabling faster, more informed decision-making. Security teams can correlate information across systems, enhancing threat detection and response times while minimizing overlooked incidents. This integration supports proactive risk management, helping businesses address vulnerabilities before they escalate.
4. AI-Powered Automation in Access Control
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are transforming access control systems by introducing advanced automation and intelligence. These technologies enable systems to identify patterns in access behavior, detect anomalies, and trigger automated responses in real-time. For example, AI can flag unusual activity, such as repeated failed access attempts or access outside of normal hours, allowing security teams to proactively address potential threats. This automation enhances the accuracy and precision of access control while reducing the risk of human error and improving overall efficiency.
As Jai Panjabi, Product Manager at LenelS2, explains:
“The integration of AI and ML into access control systems is expected to experience significant growth and attention in 2025. These technologies offer the capability to identify patterns, detect anomalies, facilitate ad-hoc reporting, trigger automated alerts, reduce human error, and potentially even play the role of first-level support. Key drivers for this trend include the rising threat landscape, the need for enhanced security precision, cost savings, and a growing emphasis on proactive risk management.”
5. Rule-Based and Attribute-Based Access Control Systems
Access control systems are evolving to include rule-based and attribute-based models, which offer greater flexibility and precision in managing access permissions. Rule-based access control (RBAC) relies on predefined rules that determine access based on roles or policies, while attribute-based access control (ABAC) uses dynamic attributes such as user location, time of access, or device type. These systems allow organizations to implement granular and context-aware security measures, ensuring that access is granted only when all conditions are met.
As Darin Dillon, Sr. Director of Energy at LenelS2, explains:
6. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Added Security
As cyber threats grow increasingly sophisticated, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) has become a cornerstone of modern access control systems. MFA requires users to verify their identity through multiple layers of authentication, such as a combination of passwords, biometrics (e.g., fingerprint or facial recognition), and device-based authentication (e.g., a one-time passcode sent to a mobile device). By layering these verification methods, MFA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, even if one layer is compromised.
7. Cloud Integration and Hybrid Systems for Greater Flexibility
Cloud integrations enable businesses to monitor, manage, and update access controls remotely, supporting real-time decision-making and operational continuity. For businesses with a mix of legacy on-premise infrastructure and newer technologies, hybrid systems provide a practical bridge, allowing them to leverage the advantages of the cloud without abandoning their existing setups.
8. All-in-One Access Control Solutions
All-in-one access control solutions are transforming how organizations manage their security systems by integrating diverse features into a single, unified platform. These comprehensive systems bring together access control, visitor management, video analytics, and even advanced reporting capabilities, providing a seamless and efficient approach to security management. By eliminating the need for separate platforms, they simplify workflows and reduce the complexities associated with managing multiple systems.
9. Leverage Intelligent Advanced Analytics
The integration of advanced analytics into access control systems is revolutionizing how organizations identify and mitigate threats. These systems use AI, machine learning, and deep learning to analyze real-time data from various sources, such as access logs and video surveillance. By detecting patterns and anomalies, advanced analytics enable security teams to proactively address risks before they escalate. Furthermore, tools like security information and event management (SIEM) platforms aggregate and correlate data from diverse sources, offering actionable insights that enhance decision-making and streamline compliance efforts.
As Bill Moran, Vice President of Key Accounts at LenelS2, explains:
"Advanced analytics leverage deep learning, AI, and forensics to harness vast amounts of data from platforms like Power BI, Snowflake, Splunk, and Tableau. These technologies help identify true security events often overlooked by human analysis, enabling organizations to proactively manage risks. Moreover, integrating data from both public and private sources, including the dark web, uncovers risks that traditional background checks might miss."
10. Greater Implementation of Smart Cards
Smart cards offer advanced encryption and security features that make them highly resistant to cloning, copying, or replay attacks. These cards are particularly valuable in environments requiring strict access control, such as government facilities, research labs, and critical infrastructure. However, if a smart card is lost, unauthorized individuals could potentially use it unless additional measures like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) are in place.
To address these concerns, solutions are combining the enhanced security of smart cards with biometric authentication. These types of solutions ensure that access is granted only when both the card and the individual’s biometric data are verified, providing an extra layer of protection.
As Darin Dillon, LenelS2’s Sr. Director of Energy, emphasizes:
"As technology advances, so must cybersecurity protocols. Migrating to smart cards offers high-level encryption providing an additional layer of security protection, which significantly reduces the risk of credential theft or misuse. These cards provide enhanced security while supporting modern access control needs, ensuring that organizations stay ahead of potential threats."
11. Adapting Mobile Credentials and NFC Solutions
Mobile credentials are rapidly replacing traditional physical cards as businesses embrace touchless and mobile-first access solutions. Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled credentials, stored in digital wallets, provide a secure and convenient way for users to access facilities with a simple tap to a reader. NFC is a short-range wireless communication technology that enables secure data exchange between devices in close proximity, typically within a few centimeters. This close-range interaction makes NFC inherently more secure, as it reduces the likelihood of unauthorized interception or eavesdropping.
As Mike Green, Sr. Offering Manager, Mobile Solutions at LenelS2, explains:
"2025 will be the year of the mobile credential, specifically NFC wallet-based solutions. While some perceive these technologies as cost-prohibitive, innovations like the BlueDiamond Wallet-Based Mobile Credential solution make them comparable to the cost of traditional plastic badges. This approach mitigates the ‘sticker shock’ of mobile credentials, making them accessible to more organizations while ensuring secure and user-friendly access control."
12. Combining Physical Access Control (PACS) and Cybersecurity
The convergence of physical access control systems (PACS) and cybersecurity is reshaping how organizations protect their assets. By integrating physical and digital security measures, businesses can address the growing threat of cyber-physical attacks, where breaches in one domain can impact the other. For example, access control data can be cross-referenced with cybersecurity logs to detect insider threats or identify anomalies. This integration not only enhances security but also optimizes resources by reducing redundancies between physical and cybersecurity teams.
As Bill Moran, Vice President of Key Accounts at LenelS2, highlights:
"Combining the strengths of physical and cybersecurity teams is essential for modern organizations. By leveraging up-to-date software and integrating various security systems, companies can enhance cyber resilience, reduce risks, and improve overall productivity. This unified approach allows organizations to stay ahead of the increasing complexity of cyber-physical threats while protecting their most valuable assets."
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