116 E 800 S Smithfield, UT 84335
116 E 800 S Smithfield, UT 84335
Jan 24, 2025
By John Robinson
Chief Information Officer at Sure-Fi Industrial Connectivity
In today’s evolving technology landscape, securing both physical and digital assets is more critical than ever. Many organizations rely on Wiegand-based access control systems, a long-established protocol. However, this system has vulnerabilities that make it susceptible to security threats.
To address these issues, the Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) has emerged as a more secure alternative. However, adoption has been slow due to cost and compatibility concerns. Sure-Fi bridges this gap by enhancing Wiegand security and complementing OSDP systems, making modern access control more reliable, flexible, and secure.
Since its invention in the 1970s, Wiegand technology has powered access control systems. It transmits data between card readers and controllers using unencrypted signals, which exposes it to security threats like signal interception and replay attacks.
To address these issues, the Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) has emerged as a more secure alternative. However, adoption has been slow due to cost and compatibility concerns. Sure-Fi bridges this gap by enhancing Wiegand security and complementing OSDP systems, making modern access control more reliable, flexible, and secure.
To mitigate these risks, OSDP offers encryption and bidirectional communication. Unlike Wiegand, OSDP enables mutual authentication, ensuring secure data exchange between devices. However, adoption challenges remain. Many organizations still rely on legacy Wiegand systems, and upgrading to OSDP requires significant investment, making the transition difficult.
Another challenge is the technical expertise needed to implement these protocols. Wiegand is simple but lacks modern security measures, while OSDP is secure but complex to configure. This creates a gap, where many organizations continue using outdated systems due to their ease of use.
Additionally, compliance with data security regulations like GDPR and CCPA further pressures organizations to enhance security. Since Wiegand lacks encryption, meeting these standards becomes difficult. This increases the need for secure alternatives like OSDP or Sure-Fi’s enhanced solutions.
Sure-Fi enhances Wiegand security by eliminating unsecured wiring and encrypting wireless data transmission. This prevents data interception and manipulation, addressing a key vulnerability of Wiegand systems.
The wireless nature of Sure-Fi simplifies installation, reducing time and expenses. Instead of a full system replacement, organizations can retrofit their existing Wiegand systems with Sure-Fi, achieving better security without costly infrastructure upgrades.
Sure-Fi’s robust design ensures reliable communication in large campuses, high-interference areas, and industrial settings. By adding encryption and wireless capabilities, Wiegand systems become safer and more dependable.
While OSDP is highly secure, running physical wires in large or complex installations can be difficult. Sure-Fi’s wireless encrypted transmission streamlines the process, making it easier and faster to deploy OSDP systems.
With Sure-Fi, organizations can seamlessly expand OSDP systems without worrying about wiring constraints. Whether adding new access points or extending coverage, Sure-Fi enhances flexibility for offices, campuses, and industrial sites.
Traditional wiring can cause signal degradation or require repeaters over long distances. Sure-Fi ensures consistent communication in multi-building setups or remote installations without added complexity.
Sure-Fi’s encryption protocols align with OSDP security standards, offering an additional layer of defense. By combining OSDP’s built-in encryption with Sure-Fi’s secure wireless transmission, organizations can fortify their access control systems against cyber threats.
Organizations must balance physical security and data protection as threats evolve. Sure-Fi ensures legacy systems remain functional while providing modern security benefits.
By securing data transmission, eliminating vulnerable wiring, and simplifying deployments, Sure-Fi offers a future-ready access control solution. This approach enables businesses to transition smoothly to encrypted protocols like OSDP while maintaining compatibility with existing infrastructure.
Wireless, encrypted communication isn’t just an incremental improvement—it represents a new era in access control. By adopting Sure-Fi’s technology, organizations enhance efficiency while meeting modern security demands.
With Sure-Fi, businesses can confidently upgrade their security posture, improve scalability, and ensure compliance with evolving regulations.
