HID launches Amico for “smarter and faster” access control

The technology that unlocks our smart phones and verifies online payments is transforming the physical world. Facial recognition and mobile access – using a smart phone as a credential – have transitioned from science fiction into a natural and expected part of our digital lives.

Such familiarity has created a new expectation: if access can be instant and effortless on a personal device, why should securing a building, an office or a school still rely on the cumbersome friction of key cards, forgotten PINs or shared credentials?

Today’s building occupants expect the same effortless interaction with their physical environment that they experience with their digital devices. A slow entry point is more than an inconvenience: it’s a bottleneck that reduces productivity and increases frustration, notably so in high-traffic settings such as healthcare facilities. 

Physical security and efficiency imperative 

For decades, physical access control systems relied on simple authentication methods that often proved to be the weakest link in the security chain. Cards can be lost, stolen or shared. PINs can be compromised.

The move to mobile access and biometrics (and specifically facial recognition) solves this inherent vulnerability by linking access directly to a unique and non-transferable identity.

Available technology is now robust enough to deliver on its promise. Cristian Cotiga, vice-president of product management for physical access control systems at HID, noted: “Biometric technologies are gaining momentum as organisations prioritise stronger security and more seamless access control.”

The goal is clear: stronger security must equate to a superior user experience.

Concerns over privacy have slowed the adoption of biometrics, but new solutions such as Amico ensure that biometric security doesn’t have to mean centralised risk. Innovations like ‘template on card’ technology allow a user’s facial template to be stored securely on their individual credential rather than in a large, vulnerable database.

This simple architectural change meets industry Best Practice and regulatory requirements, affording end users control over their data, while in parallel allowing organisations to deploy powerful security measures with confidence.

Key benefits of Amico 

*Accurate recognition: HID Amico ensures a seamless experience with fast and accurate facial recognition, minimising delays and false rejections for smooth and frustration-free access

*Versatile access options: With five authentication methods (face, card, PIN, QR code and HID Mobile Access technology), the reader offers “unparalleled” flexibility, allowing end users to choose the most convenient and secure way in which to access their spaces

*Fast and reliable access: Designed for high-traffic environments, HID Amico delivers rapid recognition without compromising security, keeping entry points in workplaces, schools and other busy locations efficient and bottleneck-free

*Security and privacy-first design: HID Amico meets industry Best Practice and regulatory requirements. In addition, this solution offers an optional ‘Template on Card’ where biometric data is securely stored on the user’s credential rather than in a centralised database

Standard for future access

As organisations look to future-proof their operations, the focus must remain on eliminating friction and enhancing identity verification. Systems that deliver fast, reliable and inherently private access are the only way forward.

The HID Amico platform embodies this future, setting a new industry standard by proving that advanced security, multi-factor flexibility and a privacy-first design can coexist seamlessly.

This integrated approach, backed by HID’s commitment to further innovation, marks a crucial turning point whereby access control finally aligns with the expectations of the modern world.

*Further information is available online at www.hidglobal.com