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Security for Higher Education: Access Control on the College Campus

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An Open Options and Young Harris College Success Story

Young Harris College is a private, baccalaureate degree-granting college located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires, and empowers students through the highest quality liberal arts education.

The college currently has more than 1,100 students across multiple divisions — Education, Fine Arts, Humanities, Mathematics and Science, and Social and Behavioral Sciences — and employs nearly 250 faculty and staff. YHC was named to the 2017-2018 list of Colleges of Distinction and listed as a "Best National Liberal Arts College" by U.S. News & World Report.

The Challenge

Young Harris College has recently completed major campus improvements to accommodate its growth. These LEED-certified improvements include the 121,000-square-foot Rollins Campus Center, new residence facilities, and a 57,000-square-foot recreation and fitness center. Hollis Townsend, Director of Technology Support & Operations for YHC, saw this expansion as the perfect opportunity to implement a state-of-the-art access control solution in the new buildings and upgrade the existing access control system in other areas of the campus.

YHC's previous access control provider posed numerous issues that threatened the overall safety and security of the campus, including licensing, annual maintenance contracts, and technical support, to name a few. "Integrations we needed were stalled because we weren't able to upgrade the software every release due to costs, and calling in a problem was never a quick process," said Townsend.

When searching for a new access control provider, Townsend cited the security of students and protection of facilities as two of the biggest challenges the new system needed to manage. "We also wanted a system that worked seamlessly with our existing Schlage locks, so Allegion provided us with about six manufacturers for consideration," said Townsend. "After review, we had three of those companies come to campus for presentations."

Guess which provider received an A+ on their presentation? 

The Solution

 In addition to their partnership with Allegion and compatibility with Schlage locks, Open Options was awarded the project because, according to Townsend, "their product had the most integration options available, and they showed they were in a position to continuously offer more."

A huge factor in the selection of Open Options as the college's access control provider was the company's extensive portfolio of technology partners and integrated solutions. In addition to integrating Schlage AD and NDE locks with DNA Fusion, YHC also deploys Milestone Systems' XProtect software for their video management needs.

The integration between DNA Fusion and XProtect enables complete control of live and recorded video from XProtect through the DNA Fusion client. DNA Fusion software manages the entire access control system, including door controllers and door hardware, users, cards, and access levels. The highly customizable DNA Fusion client is used to configure, maintain and monitor the access control system, including viewing live and recorded video integrated from XProtect software.

In addition to a well-rounded security solution, YHC has numerous efforts in place to streamline and control access, which increases students' safety on campus. Students are assigned credentials that are used to gain entry to facilities campus-wide, including residence halls, common student areas, and more. YHC also requires students to present their access badge at elevators, where the students can choose from set floors depending on their access level.

Though Townsend and his team are happy with the college's current security solution, he wants to stress this isn't the end of the road for system expansion. "Future plans include implementing emergency procedures and tying them into our existing systems to keep our students safe," said Townsend. "Open Options is the standard for our access control, and we look forward to working with them, our other product vendors, and our integrator, GC&E Systems Group, to continue upgrading our security."

Hiking, Biking, and Access Control

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An Open Options and Specialized Bicycle Components Success Story

Located just south of San Jose, California, in Morgan Hill, Specialized Bicycle Components has grown into one of the most successful bicycle manufacturers in the world. For more than 40 years, their business has operated from the ground up on a campus that includes three facilities totaling 250,000 square feet. Visitors and more than 400 employees regularly traverse the dynamic complex, which hosts a variety of unique and wonderfully eccentric facilities.

Specialized Bicycle is an American brand of bicycles and related products that has always maintained a sharp focus on providing a better biking experience for all riders. Specialized's success lies in their ability to expertly design and develop road, mountain, fitness, utility, and BMX bicycles as well as equipment and gear while working hard to protect trade secrets in this highly competitive market.

The Challenge

Upon entering the impressive lobby of Specialized headquarters, visitors can instantly access the history of this exceptional company in the Specialized museum that showcases the 40-plus year history of the brand and includes race-winning bicycles, original production pieces, and even extreme sports legend Shaun Palmer's downhill race bike. Visitors find themselves on a quiet street facing a real-life example of a storefront that was expertly recreated to illustrate how these top-of-the-line products should be showcased. With state-of-the-art facilities comes an imperative need for reliable and cutting-edge security. 

There are many challenges associated with securing Specialized, including theft protection and loss prevention, general security for employees, and protecting the company's highly confidential trade secrets, which are safeguarded at headquarters. Although they had an access control solution in place for nearly a decade, Head of Security, Alfredo Echauri, put the brakes on the previous provider and sought out a better solution. "The access control provider in place at the time required an expert level of access control user knowledge, which made it extremely difficult to use and therefore ineffective," says Echauri. 

So, Specialized Bicycle Components explored replacement options while keeping expense in mind, as they did not want to lose their initial hardware investment by converting to a new system. 

That's when they discovered Open Options.

The Solution 

Open Options provided Specialized with a complete security solution along with the added benefits of ease of use and the customer-centric nature of DNA Fusion that was exactly what Specialized was seeking. Because Specialized had Mercury Security hardware control panels installed, the conversion from their existing access control solution to DNA Fusion was seamless. The panels, readers, locks, and all other hardware infrastructure were able to stay in place while their existing database was converted to use the DNA Fusion access control software. 

The Specialized deployment consisted of access control coverage for more than 50 doors throughout the complex. The supporting hardware for the installation was the existing and new Mercury Security authentic hardware supplied by Open Options, including LP1502 intelligent door controllers, MR52 reader sub-controllers, and RP 405 HID readers.

Echauri says he was surprised at how smooth of a ride it has been from the existing system to Open Options, and is glad Specialized had invested in open architecture hardware from Mercury to help facilitate the transition.

"You don't expect to have to change access control software providers mid-ride, but we are so grateful at the options we had because we wisely chose an open platform hardware solution. As world-renowned winners in bicycle racing, we know that it takes a winning team to deliver an excellent product, and we are extremely pleased with our technology partners," says Echauri.

The Art of Security

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An Open Options and Worcester Art Museum Success Story

Located just an hour west of Boston, the Worcester Art Museum is world-renowned for its 35,000-piece collection of paintings, sculptures, photographic prints, drawings, new media, and more. Spanning more than 5,000 years of art culture, the permanent collection includes paintings by some of the most well-known names in the world of art: Monet, Gauguin, Cassatt, and Whistler. From pieces that span the ancient, like the city of Antioch, to cutting-edge contemporary art, you can find almost every genre represented. And because the collections housed in the Worcester Art Museum are priceless and irreplaceable, utilizing a comprehensive security solution is essential.

The Challenge

With more than 250 employees with varying levels of access, the Worcester Art Museum needed an easy-to-use access control solution that provided the strictest security and integrated with their existing video surveillance software management system. 

“The institution’s most valuable assets are hung on the walls in public spaces,” said Worcester Art Museum Security and Safety Manager, Michael Warren. “This presents especially difficult challenges in protecting the assets from being touched, vandalized, or stolen. Technology can assist in protecting these assets but the bulk of our effort is spent developing people that respond to customer needs as well as the security needs of the collection.”

Warren said the previous security system wasn’t cohesive and included six separate vendors to provide access control, video, and alarm coverage. The alarm system in particular experienced many problems, including multiple false alarms.  Enter Open Options.

The Solution 

At the recommendation of their trusted system integrators, the Worcester Art Museum chose Open Options’ DNA Fusion as the access control management software provider. DNA Fusion provides a unified security platform including access control, video integration, and photo ID management in an open platform and best-of-breed approach by partnering with leading systems manufacturers. With DNA Fusion, the large museum can be easily managed via a standard thick client, a web browser, or Apple and Android smartphones. “DNA Fusion is quicker and more intuitive as if it were designed by a user. The ability to customize toolbars, for example, and to have granular control over user accounts has proved to be very valuable in our operation,” said Worcester Art Museum Director of Operations Fran Pedone. 

The Worcester Art Museum security team has embraced DNA Fusion and this seamless integration with their existing video and intrusion systems. The staff reports ease-of-use as one of the key benefits of DNA Fusion, which Pedone described as very important when training new employees. “Navigating the system proved to be clear, efficient, and useful. Most controls and settings are apparent without the use of the included documentation, which itself is detailed and well-written.” A high priority for the museum was to cover the entire perimeter of the facility with multiple layers of protection including video analytics, door contacts, and motion sensor technologies," said Warren.

“Open Options has allowed our museum to integrate all three technologies, creating a user-friendly interface for monitoring and controlling the various systems.” The museum uses several security workstations distributed throughout the facility which are operated by security guards and managers.

The use of DNA Fusion will grow as the museum continues to refine its Emergency Preparation and Response Plan. The museum has a multi-year plan for expansion of access control throughout the facility and they intend to expand the system every year as more funds become available. Warren said he is confident based on their experience with Open Options and DNA Fusion that they have invested in a solid security provider.

Open Options Partners with Invixium Biometrics

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Open Options is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Invixium that will allow DNA Fusion customers to access Invixium’s biometric solutions.

The foundation of this partnership is the integration of Invixium products with DNA Fusion through Invixium’s software platform, IXM WEB. What makes this integration possible is IXM Link, allowing automatic synchronization of cardholder data between the two software databases. Synchronization of cardholder data grants Open Options customers streamlined installation, setup, and use of Invixium solutions.

In 2020, Invixium pivoted from their core fingerprint technology to focus on touchless biometric solutions aimed at healthy access, prompting their desire to partner with Open Options. The touchless Invixium solution enables organizations to follow evolving health guidelines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond without compromising speed, accuracy, or security.

“Organizations are aggressively moving toward the idea of the consolidated, secure enterprise to reduce vulnerabilities and ensure safety, and part of this effort is integrating with emerging technologies that can advance security postures,” said Chuck O’Leary, Vice President, Americas Access Control, ACRE. “Open Options integration with Invixium is designed to offer significant value to these entities, allowing them to manage their access control requirements in an integrated fashion that’s easy to manage and is proven to reduce costs.”

Our flagship product, DNA Fusion is intended to revolutionize the access control industry by removing many of the limitations to enterprise deployment inherent in common access control applications. An open architecture platform, DNA Fusion alleviates these issues by making it more intuitive to manage personnel, set use limits, control access privileges, and more. DNA Fusion additionally empowers stakeholders to monitor several systems, including audio and IP video recording, through a common interface, giving users access to the data they need when they need it.

“Our integration with Open Options marks our thirteenth ACM integration,” said Shiraz Kapadia, CEO & President at Invixium. “Extending our ecosystem allows us to offer healthy access to a wider range of businesses. We are proud to partner with organizations with common synergies and shared values such as our mutual commitment to quality and innovation.”

The integration between IXM WEB and DNA Fusion is available for IXM WEB 2.2.65.0 or later and DNA Fusion 8.1.

The Benefits of Open Platform Access Control in Educational Environments

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Article First Featured on ISC News

As we return to a post-COVID society, the need for stronger, more streamlined security solutions in educational facilities has never been greater. Open platform access control solutions have numerous benefits, including monitoring several systems through a common interface, and integration with other systems.  In addition to access control, it's important to note that video management is a crucial aspect of security, especially in an educational setting. Therefore, equipping schools with a robust, highly flexible access control solution that allows for extensive integration will significantly strengthen the facilities' infrastructure. 

In 2021, more than 90% of public schools are already using some type of access control and video surveillance systems. While access control typically serves as the primary component of a security system, coupling it with other technologies such as video management, wireless locks, visitor management, and more, allows for a well-rounded solution covering multiple aspects of school security. 

Curious as to how one school leveraged open platform access control solutions in educational facilities, and how each security infrastructure was upgraded to become more robust, more streamlined, and easier to manage? Read below how this growing and evolving school district puts a focus on security while opening the door to future capabilities and integrations.

Big enough to serve you; small enough to know you

This is the mantra of the Littleton Public School District – or more commonly known as LPS – is located just 10 miles outside Denver's bustling downtown and serves several communities within the southern Denver metropolitan area. LPS is the fifteenth largest school district in Colorado, operating three high schools, four middle schools, 13 elementary schools, a preschool, two charter schools, and several alternative programs that span over 29 miles. The district is responsible for more than 15,000 students day-to-day and employs over 2,500 faculty and staff. 

Managing security and access for this amount of people can be a challenge, especially given all other security factors campuses face. Still, the LPS campuses are also open for use within the Littleton community.

"Schools are often not only educational facilities, but also centerpieces of the community," said Guy Grace, Director of Security and Emergency Planning, LPS. "For 15 hours a day, a significant part of our community is in our schools for learning, extracurricular activities, or community use, so we must get the security right. In the past, there were significant challenges that arose when the school district deployed security technology. Often, the older technology did not evolve with new threats, and as a result, became obsolete." 

LPS' former access control provider was proprietary and was not PoE (Power over Ethernet) compatible. PoE describes the cabling that passes electrical power and data, allowing a single cable to provide both the data connection and electrical power to devices such as door controllers and IP security cameras. PoE infrastructure results in lower cost, greater flexibility with installation, and overall more functionality than traditional wiring. As a result, the school district can adapt to and minimize new weaknesses. 

Grace and his staff were adamant about implementing technology to provide an integrated approach to a safer school by utilizing PoE to ultimately achieve a full-edged Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) system. PSIM is a category of software designed to integrate multiple, unconnected security applications and devices and control them through one comprehensive user interface. 

"In wanting to bring this big vision to the school district, we looked at procedures and technologies that would enhance school security and improve the learning environment," said Grace. "One of the most important tiers we wanted to meet was a complete installation of a PoE cabling infrastructure district-wide that would allow us to use non-proprietary systems, which helps us bring the best technology into the district."

As Grace began the vendor selection process for the upgrade, he looked at consistently evolving suppliers. This would allow the district to grow alongside its service providers as new features and technologies became available. "Our overall security goal is pretty simple," said Grace. "We must have quality technology delivering quality results because we cannot have a successful educational experience without safety and security being well taken care of."

Grace and his team sought an access control provider that could integrate with their chosen technology providers and a user-friendly interface that allowed multiple operators to utilize the system. 

The Open Options' cloud-hosted access control platform, DNA Fusion, integrates with other systems and has mobile and web applications. Because of this, LPS also utilizes other elements of the platform to enhance its overall security. "The web and mobile components of the software ensure we can access and manage security from almost anywhere – we receive alerts of open doors, forced entries, etc., straight to our mobile devices or remote desktops.

Grace and his team found the flexibility of programming time schedules and access levels highly beneficial in daily operations across the district. Security differs from campus to campus; for instance, there are time schedules in place for specific doors operated by security officers at the high school campuses, but the elementary and middle schools remain locked throughout the day except for student arrival and dismissal times. Access levels vary by employee, with some having 24/7 access to all buildings while others only have access specific to the building they work in. 

"We do provide access cards to area law enforcement," said Grace. "In a lockdown situation, only police and certain security personnel have access for immediate entry.

LPS believes that a security system must be deployed in a customizable manner for the school and its daily operations that enhance the abilities of teachers to teach and students to learn. In addition, a security system must ultimately have the ability to be deployed and work efficiently around the clock for many different needs. With this in mind, LPS currently has 29 sites utilizing the DNA Fusion platform with plans to have over 150 operators district-wide. 

"We expect the system to evolve for the needs of the district for years to come," said Grace. "Security is never static, so the system must be proactive like the people that use it."

Open for the Future

Access control is a critical security solution for schools and other educational facilities that are focused on protecting the lives of their students and staff. Open platform access control solutions that provide highly flexible integration with other security systems, such as video surveillance and management, are ideal, as these are the two main methods used in educational settings. Ultimately, utilizing a flexible access control solution provides a robust and safe way for students and staff to safely enter the campus, travel between classes, and exit the premises while being given the peace of mind that they are being protected from any harmful influences.

Introducing the DNA Fusion Recertification Course

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Has it been a while since you first purchased our access control solution, DNA Fusion? In need of a refresher? We’ve got you covered. Open Options is thrilled to announce the DNA Fusion Recertification course! The Recertification course is specifically designed to serve as a reminder for those who completed the Essentials Course for DNA Fusion anytime over two years ago.

As you may know, our mission here at Open Options is to place customers at the heart of our operations by demonstrating our commitment to robust training, and certification. This new self-paced course will re-train and review already existing key concepts of DNA Fusion as well as introduce any new features or updates. Because we are dedicated to deepening the relationships with our partners and end-customers, we've designed the course to be as convenient and helpful as possible. We are confident the training will help ease the recertification process and provide greater access to long-term success with our expanding access control product portfolio. 

We are also excited to announce that there will be expanded training for both sales and technical resources. Our partners can now rest assured knowing they will be fully equipped with the most up-to-date Open Options technologies and certifications. 

"Continuous training is at the heart of our operations. We believe that providing these flexible options for our customers empowers them with a robust understanding of the system and ultimately sets them up for success. As the security industry continues to evolve, there will always be a need for new and evolving programs to meet changing business requirements. Creating a self-paced course that enocurages our customers to stay on track with these changes helps to optimize the lifecycle and use of our technologies in real-world applications."

Chuck O'Leary, Sr. Vice President, Americas, Access Control, ACRE

The DNA Fusion Recertification Course is now available for Open Options customers. 

The Connect Care App

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Connect Care creates the most connected experience in the security market, going above and beyond to connect customers with best-in-class technical capabilities, personalized services, and the most advanced open platform access control solution on the market today. Our commitment to Connect Care provides customers with a unique, 360 -degree experience that continually advances them forward.

Last year, we had the pleasure of introducing a digital version of Connect Care to our customers. The Connect Care App is a direct connection for customers seeking information about Open Options’ products and solutions for use while working in the field daily. The app also provides the user with immediate access to documentation, education, support, media, and live chat with Open Options.

 Connect Care In the Palm of Your Hand

The Connect Care App puts several valuable tools directly into field technicians’ hands with ease of access. No matter where you are, the app provides you direct access to various information right at your fingertips. This app is the access control industry’s first mobile app to digitize shared customer support, connecting the manufacturer-integrator-customer all together for a unified, seamless experience.

The Connect Care program reaches across four areas: technical support, platform support, professional service, and training, all working together to equip customers with what they need when they need it most. It’s the easiest way for customers to directly access a team of experts for a quick resolution of challenges or issues, with a qualified, experienced professional at the other end of the line. Explicitly designed for system users of DNA Fusion, the app provides proven technical proficiency, education, documentation, personalized support services, media, and live chat.

With the Connect Care App, Open Options is just a swipe away on a smart device. This app is available at no cost for dealers, consultants, and end-user customers to download and use daily. As a company, we’ve invested heavily in our Connect Care program overall; and by making it digitally accessible, we believe it creates an even better customer experience. We strive to make it easier for customers and partners to gain access to information and support when they need it, no matter where they are.

 The Connect Care App is available on Google Play and Apple Store.

What Happened to Software Maintenance?

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If you’ve been with Open Options for a while you might have noticed the Connect Care program has taken the spotlight when it comes to our knowledge base and software support. You might be wondering, what happened to our software maintenance program? Technically, nothing! Our software maintenance program has simply been updated and formally transitioned into what is now Connect Care.

Connect Care (formerly known as software maintenance) is the most effective way to protect your software investment and gain the greatest value for your security solution. 

Software Maintenance Is Now Connect Care

Connect Care represents the next level of customer care, bringing the “DNA” of Open Options' customer-first culture into the everyday experiences of security people, buildings, and data through the innovative DNA Fusion software platform. 

Once registered as a DNA Fusion customer, all Open Options' licensed software products include 12 months of Connect Care from the purchase date, and if customers choose to renew, our annual Connect Care plans provide significant ongoing value to our customers at a fraction of the original purchase price. Open Options offers three different plans for DNA Fusion-certified customers: Sustained Support, Connect Care Standard Plan, and Connect Care Plus Plan. 

Sustained Support

This plan supports customers without a Connect Care Standard or Connect Care Plus plan and includes email support, support for site software, and operational support. 

Connect Care Standard Plan

This annual plan includes email, phone, and live chat support available Monday through Friday from 7 AM-6 PM CST. Customers will have access to Fusion X, as well as software upgrades and the DNA Fusion knowledge base. 

Connect Care Plus Plan 

This top-tier annual plan includes email, phone, and live chat support Monday through Friday 7 AM-6 PM CST and emergency after hours. Customers have access to Fusion X and end-users have access to direct support. For example, if your office, school, etc. is having an issue you are able to call Open Options directly to receive assistance (this is contingent on training, and the end-user must be DNA Fusion certified). Customers also receive software upgrades, the DNA Fusion knowledge base, a one-month rebate training credit, and remote assistance for system programming, configuration, and maintenance. 

Interested In Learning More? 

Connect Care is the most cost-effective way to protect your software investment and gain the greatest value for your security solution. Connect Care also allows you to keep your software up-to-date and continually provides you with the benefits listed above. At Open Options, we want to ensure you receive the best experience our software has to offer over the life of your system. And to achieve that, we highly encourage our clients to participate in one of our structured plans that ensure their initial software investment does not become obsolete in an ever-changing technological environment.

If you’re interested in Connect Care, please visit our website, or reach out to your local sales rep for more information! 

Access Control in the Education Sector

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An Open Options & DPS Success Story 

Denver Public Schools (DPS) is comprised of more than 200 schools, including traditional, innovation, magnet, charter, and pathway schools. Serving one of the fastest-growing school districts in Colorado, the DPS safety department is constantly working to create a safe and secure environment for over 90,000 students, 15,000 staff members 24 hours a day, 78 days a week, 365 days a year. 

Led by Chief Michael Eaton, the department has over 140 team members including investigators, armed patrol officers, dispatchers, emergency preparedness professionals, and campus security officers. In addition to training district staff in emergency management, DPS protects their stakeholders from harm and offers guidance to school administrators to enhance school safety in a wide variety of situations.                       

The Challenge

DPS was in need of an access control solution that would be capable of scaling and widespread flexibility, and after much research chose Open Options as their partner. 

The DPS communications center handles over 20,000 calls for service each school year and also monitors all radio communications between their command and patrol staff. The center trains extensively with the Denver Police Department for a wide range of situations. Through their radio communications system, they are able to communicate with every police district in the city as well as Denver dispatch. The center also works in collaboration with jurisdictions across the metro area, the US Department of Homeland Security, FBI, and Secret Service. 

 “At the core of all our efforts in safeguarding our students, faculty, and staff, is our campus security protocols and perhaps most importantly, our access control system,” said Eaton.  As security for a school district has many layers, DPS needed a robust access control system with an abundance of features. 

The Solution 

While an access control system serves as the primary component of a security system, coupling it with additional technologies, such as video management, wireless locks, visitor management, and more, allows for a well-rounded solution that covers multiple aspects of campus security. 

This is where DNA Fusion comes into the picture. 

“DNA Fusion essentially allows us to tie all of our security technologies into our access control system, which plays a critical role in our day-to-day security processes,” said Melissa Craven, Director of Emergency Management for DPS. “For instance, the ability to pull up the live video on an alarm or door forced from the events grid helps us to assess and respond to the issue in a quick and efficient manner.” 

In order to further streamline their security processes and procedures, DPS monitors all the components of their system across campuses from a single location. This significantly cuts down on responses time in the event of an emergency as all decisions related to campus lockdown or other high-threat situations are centralized. 

As DPS looks to the future, they will be adding door position stations to all exterior doors, allowing operators to monitor perimeter security, as well as implementing graphic mapping across their system thanks to DNA Fusion. This will bring all of DPS’s technology together in an extremely user-friendly format, where operators can easily view and address events through strategically placed interactive icons and easily access all card readers, cameras, and intrusion points on the maps. This will drastically improve an operator’s ability to determine a false alarm versus an actual event and will aid in officer safety when responding, as well as asset protection. 

“When looking for a security technology provider, it was essential for us that we found a partner, not just a provider,” said Craven. “Open Options provides a robust access control solution that continues to allow DPS to grow. From installation to the expansion of the system, Open Options has been there, and we look forward to continuing to grow together.” 

Open Options truly believes in the power of flexibility and customer choice that provides options without neglecting the highest security standards. By providing a strong, scalable, and open-platform access control solution for Denver Public Schools they can rest assured knowing that Open Options will protect their most precious assets every step of the way. 

Access Control that Protects without Compromise

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An Open Options & Involta, LLC Success Story   

Involta, LLC is an award-winning national provider of IT intelligence, end-to-end infrastructure, managed services, and colocation through their enterprise-class, multi-tenant data centers. Founded in 2007, Involta has data centers spread across the United States. The company serves many clients in healthcare, technology, manufacturing, government, and various other industries where IT is mission-critical, including numerous Fortune 500 companies. 

Involta was searching for a new access control system when they discovered the flexibility and almost endless integration possibilities that DNA Fusion provides. Involta facilities are built in secure, climate-controlled structures and are located in geographic safe zones. Additionally, their centers have no exterior signage, and all staff members are trained to follow stringent security procedures for client confidentiality purposes. 

The Challenge

Because Involta houses an organization’s most critical equipment and disseminates highly sensitive data, their facilities required a layered approach to their security solution. They needed a solution that included access control, video surveillance, wireless locks, and more to ensure access is granted to the appropriate individuals only.

 “There are several requirements our access control system, and overall security solution, had to meet,” said Thomas Lang, Involta data center manager for the Ohio region. “We refused to compromise security or performance when it came to our customers’ data and IT infrastructure.”

The Solution 

Open Options’ DNA Fusion platform was able to meet these requirements and then some. 

DNA Fusion was installed at 11 sites across multiple states and currently has 14 authorized operators. Authentic Mercury hardware panels and other equipment were installed in the head end room of the centers, which is only accessible by authorized Involta staff. 

A non-negotiable for Involta when selecting their access control provider was the ability of the system to integrate with other technologies. DNA Fusion connects with a host of different systems, including video management, intelligent locks, critical communications, and many more. It has two decades of access control innovation and development tied to the Authentic Mercury open hardware platform that allow it to provide a true open architecture access control solution. 

 Alongside Open Options, Involta works with a number of their technology partners for a customized solution that DNA Fusion seamlessly integrates with, including Aperio, ASSA ABLOY, Altronix, Samsung, and Axis. Involta also utilizes Milestone XProtect software for their video management needs and deploys two-factor authentication at high-security entrances using biometric readers, electromagnetic locks, and PTZ cameras. 

In addition to its impressive portfolio of integration partners, DNA Fusion also houses a number of user-friendly features within the software, including drag and drop capabilities, the option for custom toolbars, and instantaneous reporting. “DNA Fusion is extremely intuitive and has a wide array of features that prove to be very valuable in our operation,” said Lang. “Time schedules and access levels are two features, in particular, we utilize in our daily operations to streamline access for our nearly 200 employees. We appreciate DNA Fusion’s ability to recognize assigned authority and schedules to make sure proper access is being observed.” 

Involta also opted to utilize the Open Options’ mantrap controller as part of their security upgrade, which is unique to a designated area containing two or more doors that the customer wants to control access to strictly. When a single door is open during the operation of a mantrap, no other entries will open until the initial door closes. “The addition of the mantrap controller has heightened the security of our customers’ assets even more,” Lang said. “It essentially allows us to separate non-secure areas from secure areas and prevent unauthorized access.” 

Lastly, to manage their security remotely, Involta utilizes DNA Fusion’s web application, Fusion Web.

“Open Options’ DNA Fusion software and supporting products, coupled with their excellent customer service and support, have proven time and time again they are the best choice for our access control needs,” said Lang. The remote function allows operators to take advantage of the critical features of DNA Fusion, such as managing personnel, addressing alarms and events, and controlling doors from any supported web browser. Because Involta logs and retains access and events for auditing purposes, the ability to run custom reports is highly beneficial. 

Open Options truly believes in the power of flexibility and customer choice that provides options without neglecting the highest security standards. By connecting Involta to their ultimate goals of having a true open platform access control solution, they can continue to provide critical protection of network operations and manage technical and cloud services without the fear of compromise.