FROM THE INDUSTRY
Tell me about what’s happening at Abloy and your interest in the broadband sector. We’re well known for physical security especially padlocks; they are still considered to be some of the best in the world. We still produce physical locking solutions for all applications, but the software that drives those physical locking solutions are the things that can make a difference. Organisations are struggling for resources and efficiency is a big driver. Telecoms and the broadband sector are being probably harder hit because they’re trying to roll out fibre at pace, and we find that customers tend to focus a lot on cyber; I absolutely understand cyber is an important thing that needs to be managed and secure. But it isn’t the whole story? No, what gets forgotten is that if you leave the back door open, ie you’re not protecting the assets that these fibres are connected to and are going through, then it’s a huge security risk. It’s not just about the securing of those assets, it is how we can bring operational efficiencies to the businesses providing those services.
Surely the big challenge is managing keys? We’ve removed that physical key into a virtual credential, via your mobile phone. Keys still play a very practical role in not just providing security but also operating the lock; with technology advancements, we can bring electronics and technology into a physical key that allows you to manage the access. The biggest problem with a mechanical system is that the minute you hand someone a key, you’ve lost control, because you have no idea where that key is going, what it’s accessing, who it’s being handed to. How have you got around that? We developed a system called PROTEC² CLIQ, which brought electronics into a physical key. So now there is both a physical key with the benefits and strength of a physical key plus built in electronic credentials preventing cloning and adding an additional layer of security and control. What are these used for? Street furniture, because there is need for a shared access; it makes sense that telecoms providers share those cabinets, rather than having half a dozen cabinets
on one street corner. With this technology, it means you’re not just able to control who’s accessing your cabinet, but you can delete that credential should it get lost or stolen. So you know that your assets are secure and the back door’s locked. You know the status of those locks. If Ofcom asks who’s getting access to what, you can run a key audit. Workflow management is also part of this. That’s where the efficiencies really kick in. You issue the permit to work ticket at the same time, it issues the ticket to the best person who’s qualified to do the job, automatically giving access to that cabinet at the same time. There is a log showing the ticket being issued, when, to whom, etc, its all about getting the right person, in the right place, doing the right thing, at the right time. It also provides peace of mind to the customer and to Ofcom. Tell me about how the electromechanics work on your keys. The key carrys all the power and data so there is no need for infrastructure. There’s a contact on the key that makes contact with the lock itself, that then powers the lock and does all the data transfer which is fully encrypted and secure. So when you put the key in, in a fraction of a second it checks that the key is valid,
SEPTEMBER 2024 Volume 46 No.3
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