IHS: Expect growth in U.S. government access control sector
26 June, 2013
category: Government, Smart Cards
The demand for access control solutions in the U.S. government sector is poised for “modest” growth this year, according to a report from IHS suggests.
The so-called modesty in market growth is deceiving, however, as the market is tipped to reach $198 million this year, up from $191 million in 2012 – a growth that is expected to occur despite spending cuts and a relatively sluggish economy.
The “World Market for Electronic Physical Access Control Equipment – 2013 Edition” report posits that federal regulations are at the heart of the growth, and could very well be the determining factor for access control moving forward.
“The implications of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12—or HSPD 12—which mandates a standard for a secure and reliable form of identification to be used by all federal employees and contractors, continues to resonate through the access control industry, particularly for the private sector,” said Blake Kozak, senior analyst for access control, fire and security at IHS. “Comparable to Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards, Commercial Identity Verification (CIV) cards continue to gain interest in the private sector.”
Kozak goes on to explain the difference between CIV and PIV, stating that despite being developed for the same framework, the credentials serve different purposes. “While CIV credential specifications are technically compatible with those of PIV-I – both of which were designed to take advantage of the infrastructure of the PIV program – a CIV credential issuer does not need to comply with the strict policy framework associated with issuance and use of both PIV and PIV-I credentials,” says Kozak. “These cards are specifically to be used for organizations that want greater internal identity and access control, which is based on PIV technology.”
IHS cites the recent update of FIPS 201 to FIPS 201-2, a jump that demotes the Cardholder Unique Identifier as an authentication device. The research firm believes that FIPS 201-2 will help drive the market for high-assurance readers in access control.
Moreover, programs like the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Global Entry initiative, an initiative that seeks to expedite screening for pre-approved and low-risk travelers, will also act as a catalyst for growth in access control technologies, notably biometrics.
See IHS’ website for more on the company’s physical access market research.