AirAllowBest of 2018: AirAllow Access Control

The AirAllow SGS, named Best New Product of the Year at ALOA, is a low-voltage turnkey controller / reader that uses a mobile device for keypad entry or credential presentation. It is a cost-effective alternative to standard keypad/ proximity systems: easy to use “out of the box” with advanced security features.

A growing number of this type of device are bring introduced into the market, and they offer an opportunity to locksmiths to become involved in a state-of-the-art access control product.

• Does not require credentials, but can be integrated into systems where there are existing credentials and hard wired access controlled doors
• Scalable since doors are added individually
• Does not require network cabling
• Uses a cloud-based control and management software

Some of the products in this category also provide a means for the locksmith to be in a recurring revenue stream; that is once you make the sale, you get paid over and over by fees, and the customer is also inclined to return to you for additional products and services.

Although this type of thing is not native to the locksmith business model, it was what made the alarm business the money machine it has become, and also traditional locksmiths flourished on the repeat business generated by their master key systems.

The cost to generate a new customer as opposed to the profits derived from a repeat customer is overwhelming proof of why recurring revenue is an important concept.

The AirAllow Enclave is what allows the end user to control the AirAllow devices. Currently the AirAllow Enclave is a virtual keypad, with the option of purchasing the premium version to gain enterprise access control features. The AirAllow Enclaves can be easily downloaded and used.

The AirAllow SGS is a low voltage, standalone reader and controller, using a mobile device for keypad entry or credential presentation. The SGS can be used on any sized door, all the way from warehouse overhead doors down to a kitchen cabinet.

Features and Specifications:

• Single door reader/controller
• Works with common strikes/ locks
• Relay operates from +12 to +24V DC or AC @ 1 Amp
• Smaller than a credit card (2.5 x 1.6 x 0.6) , fits almost anywhere
• Installs in minutes with no networking or special mounting required
• Field upgradeable without wires
• Read Range up to 100 ft. (30m) for Bluetooth Low Energy
• Pre-programmed virtual keypad is ready to go
• Supports unlimited users, passcodes, event logging
• Supports access groups, schedules, holidays, timed unlock
• Supports audit trail, remote lock, remote unlock, request to exit
• High-margin with recurring revenue opportunity

Q&A: AirAllow’s Steve Casey

Please tell us about yourself, your company and its products.

I’m a 28-year veteran of the security industry and serial entrepreneur having led the development and launch of five access control platforms with companies such as Checkpoint, Sielox and SureID. As an owner-operator I look forward to serving the locksmith market with high-margin continuing-service solutions that end-users love.

AirAllow Inc is a privately held corporation launched in 2016 which was spun out of the Hill 17 Solutions incubator at Rowan University. Hill 17 built the award-winning mobile/web Class and Anyware enterprise security products which were acquired by Sielox in 2012.

The AirAllow mission is to disrupt the security market with our “Frictionless Security Solutions” that are easy to install, easy to use, and easy to maintain. This innovative approach to access control utilizes the mobile phone and low-cost reliable reader/controller hardware to provide scalable physical security, all without networking or costly installation requirements.

How does the AirAllow solution work?

The AirAllow solution consists of the AirAllow-SGS standalone Bluetooth Reader/Controller, your Mobile Phone running our AirAllow-Enclave App and the AirAllow-Cloud, a scalable redundant cloud service. Some call this a Physical Security as a Service platform; we call it a “Frictionless Security Solution.”.

The AirAllow-SGS acts as both a reader and controller which works with common locking hardware, such as maglocks and door strikes. The AirAllow-SGS is smaller than a business card so it can fit into almost any location (such as inside of a push bar). In some use cases it acts purely as a mobile credential reader integrating with existing access control systems through a common Wiegand interface.

The SGS can act as a BLE reader with the green wire acting as Data 0 and the white wire acting as Data 1. So basically it could be plugged into an access controller port which powers the unit from the controller and accepts input from SGS. The data represents a card code that the external access control system understands. This enables AirAllow to extend an existing system with mobile credentials without replacing everything.

The AirAllow-Enclave app running on the mobile device is multi-purpose; acting as a virtual keypad, mobile credential, and system management app. The app communicates with the SGS controller via BLE to present credentials for authentication, the latest configuration information, and event transportation.

For what applications is Airallow intended?

AirAllow is completely scalable and built for physical access control of anything a relay can integrate with. It can support one to any number of access points (typically doors).

It is a more secure alternative to physical keypads and card access systems. The typical application is for physical access control of Small to Medium Businesses but is scalable to larger facilities such as tenant buildings. Installation without running wires or tapping the IT Wifi infrastructure is a real advantage for both installation partners and end-users.

Explain the recurring revenue plan available to locksmiths.

We have three tiers of application: Free, Standard, and Professional.

The free version is for Virtual Keypad applications with no recurring revenue.

The Standard provides basic access control for smaller installations. It also includes maintenance and replacement warranty on the SGS.

The Professional provides a larger user base and more advanced access features such as remote management and remote unlock. The AirAllow-Standard and Professional are subscription0based and provide the locksmith partner with recurring revenues.

How secure is your product?

Our system is secure by design – employing similar techniques our team has applied in the past to harden DoD systems. The product is very secure using the highest level of encryption and authentication legally available. We use the same authentication system and security found at Google. As with any system we are always improving security by frequently releasing security patches to the app and portal. The SGS is field upgradeable so security patches and features can be loaded to the SGS from authorized mobile devices – without wires.

Additionally, we address three of the top attack vectors as compared to traditional card reader – controller systems by our unique architecture.

The first attack vector is tampering. Since the SGS reader/controller does not need to be visible to use, it can be hidden or secured in the interior (e.g. wall, ceiling, crash bar) eliminating tampering.

The second attack vector, sharing an ID badge or key fob. With the mobile credential in the AirAllow-Enclave app, we can invoke the phone’s built-in multi-factor capability such as a biometric for authentication.

The third attack vector, hijacking the IT network. Since we don’t rely on the IT network or WIFI to communicate with the SGS, we eliminate this threat.

How many users are supported by the base unit?

A unique feature of our system is the ability to support an unlimited number of users. Although we can support an unlimited number, we restrict the number of users per the subscription level. This is true for the number of doors and other elements within the system.

How are users and doors added?

Users are added to the system through an easy to use interface on the AirAllow mobile app. This can be performed locally or remotely from anywhere. Individual users can be added by filling out information in the user screen on the app. An invitation can be sent to the user as well or they can simply download the app and sign in using their email address. For larger user sets, an import feature is

Adding doors is similar to adding users. Doors controlled by the SGS are “registered” with a site through the mobile app. Once registered to a site, the door configuration can be modified local or remotely.

Can doors, users and system usage be logged or reported?

Many of the activities in the system are logged in an audit trail stored in the cloud. This happens in near real time so events are visible to remote users almost instantaneously, all without servers or SGS networking. All events are searchable to provide visibility to the important activities. We plan on adding advanced reports commonly found in enterprise class system going forward.

Can doors be remotely unlocked or locked down?

Yes. One of the most unique features is the ability to remotely manage and remotely unlock a door without the installation nightmare of making long network runs, setting up routers or integrating with an existing IT network. This is facilitated through our ultra-fast cloud system (it is Google’s ultra-fast, scalable cloud system).

Where can the product be purchased?

To keep the cost down and margins high for our authorized locksmiths and integrators, the product is sold directly from the AirAllow website. We do not sell directly to end-users or the public.

We are told that the cost per door for the SGS is about 25% of a typical access control panel and reader. We are also told that our cloud-based application at the highest tier is about 30% of most cloud-based access systems. This leaves a lot of margin for our channel partners.

For more information, visit www.airallow.com, email [email protected] or call our 833-817-8189.