Friday, June 5, 2026
Patent expirations reshape access control market
As several foundational patents covering legacy HID Global 125 kHz proximity card technology expire, organizations are gaining new options for employee identification and access control systems. These widely used badge systems rely on low-frequency radio signals to grant building and facility access through tap-or-scan employee ID cards.
The change is paving the way for alternative providers to deliver compatible credentials while addressing growing concerns about security, convenience and system integration.
According to Sebastien Goulet, chairman and CEO of CardLogix Corp., traditional proximity cards were designed primarily for physical access control and are ill-equipped to meet the security demands of today's enterprise environments.
"Legacy 125 kHz cards can be easily duplicated," Goulet said. "This older technology can create vulnerabilities for organizations seeking stronger protection against unauthorized access."
Next-gen alternatives
Goulet noted that businesses are increasingly looking to unify physical access, computer login credentials and employee authentication into a single secure credential. Goulet believes the future lies in combining physical access, logical access and biometric verification on one card rather than maintaining separate systems managed by different departments.
As enterprises and government agencies continue to adopt biometric authentication and passwordless security strategies, Goulet said, information technology departments may have to manage both physical and digital access.
Deploying high-memory smart cards capable of storing secure credentials, biometric data and authentication certificates in a single credential would help to streamline operations, reduce administrative costs and improve security and provide a simpler experience for employees.
With legacy proximity technologies entering the public domain and organizations reassessing access control infrastructure, companies that bridge physical security, digital identity and biometric authentication will be well positioned to benefit from the next phase of credential management, Goulet added.
"Employees want convenience, IT wants security and facilities teams want cost efficiency," he said. "The market is moving toward a single credential that can address all three requirements."
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