OSDP: The standard for access control

Security industry standards make systems easier to install, integrate with other devices, and harden them against outside attacks by hackers. One of the best examples is the Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP), the leading standard for access control installations.

The Security Industry Association introduced the OSDP in 2011 with input from system manufacturers and integrators. Through the years, OSDP has evolved to where it’s now recommended for any government or private enterprise installation requiring a high level of security. The International Electrotechnical Commission’s technical committee recently approved OSDP as an international standard for alarm and electronic security systems.

SIA created OSDP to replace the more than 40-year-old Weigand wiring protocol that provides no signal encryption. Hackers use an inexpensive device to intercept transmissions between proximity access cards and readers and use the data to create working credentials. 

Weigand technology lacks the speed to work with modern, more secure card technologies. Conversely, OSDP accommodates new technology and employs the highly secure AES-128-bit signal encryption protocol. OSDP also works seamlessly with advanced, secure card technologies such as DESFire EV2 credentials. Also, biometric readers are supported by OSDP, which is not the case with the Weigand protocol. 

Using OSDP, it’s easy to enhance security using the protocol’s bi-directional communications capability to regularly change reader encryption. Firmware and software updates may be pushed to a few or thousands of OSDP-enabled readers simultaneously. Changes to Weigand-based readers must be made one device at a time. 

Those are only a few of OSDP’s many advantages. Yet, the Weigand standard is still commonly used in many access control systems worldwide. It’s time for upgrades. If it’s too burdensome to replace an entire system at once, begin the process with new OSDP-enabled readers and credentials at the perimeter, allowing the replacement of softer-target interior doors as time and budget permit.

Security industry experts agree – the OSDP standard offers end users the increased security, convenience, and flexibility required to design a modern access control system. We are committed to OSDP at Sage Integration. We understand the many benefits OSDP offers our clients and have invested in intensive training and certification processes. We recently had everyone from our top executives to project managers and field technicians complete an SIA-approved OSDP “boot camp,” providing both educational sessions and hands-on exercises. Sage is the only security integrator with companywide certification. 

If you are looking to upgrade your access control or any other security system, contact Sage Integration to learn more about today’s leading technologies and how we can make them work for your organization.

Author
John Nemerofsky, Chief Operating Officer
SAGE Integration | Jnemerofsky@sageintegration.com |732-213-3314