HID says its OMNIKEY readers and embedded modules are being used to connect physical and digital access, reflecting broader demand for stronger identity checks across workplaces.
Nick Low, Director of Sales, Asia-Pacific, said organisations are moving beyond separate systems for building entry, workstation login and application access. The same trusted credential can now be used across a wider range of touchpoints, including office entrances, networks, cloud applications, printers and lockers.
The technology sits at the intersection of physical security and cybersecurity. For employers, government agencies, healthcare providers, universities, emergency services and data centres, the issue is no longer just who can enter a site, but also who can use digital systems once inside.
Low said one of the main tools driving that shift is the OMNIKEY desktop reader, which supports FIDO2 standards. The approach allows organisations to replace passwords with other trusted credentials for workstation and application access.
That matters because passwords remain a common target for phishing and credential theft. Using existing access credentials in digital settings can reduce reliance on passwords while making use of identity systems organisations have already deployed.
“As organisations continue to strengthen their cybersecurity posture, many are looking beyond traditional password-based authentication to more secure and user-friendly approaches,” said Low.
He said passwordless authentication is gaining traction because passwords have become both a security weakness and a hurdle for staff. Employees often juggle multiple usernames and passwords across systems, adding friction and increasing risk when weak or reused credentials are involved.
Low said FIDO2 changes that model by relying on public-key cryptography rather than shared secrets. In practice, organisations can verify users without requiring passwords in the way they have in the past.
Broader use
Another part of the strategy involves embedded identity readers. OMNIKEY modules can be built directly into devices, allowing staff to authenticate with the same credential across multiple systems during the workday.
Those modules can appear in devices such as building readers, smart lockers, multifunction printers and workstations. The aim is to let users move between physical and digital environments without switching between unrelated identity methods.
“This is an area where identity technology becomes particularly interesting because it can be embedded into multiple devices to enable secure user authentication,” said Low.
He said the market is moving towards a more unified identity model after years in which physical and logical access developed separately. In many workplaces, staff still use a card to enter an office, a password to log in to a computer and yet another method for separate applications or services.
That fragmentation, he said, creates both practical and security problems. A more consistent identity setup could help organisations control access more uniformly across facilities, devices and software.
Legacy systems
HID also addressed a common concern among larger organisations that have spent heavily on existing cards, readers and access systems. Low said most identity modernisation projects do not require a complete replacement of current infrastructure.
Instead, organisations can extend the role of credentials already used for physical entry into areas such as workstation or network authentication. Over time, they can add newer methods, including mobile credentials and passwordless login, alongside older systems.
Low said the same principle applies to device makers and integrators using embedded OMNIKEY technology. Support for a range of credential technologies can provide a migration path as newer standards such as NFC and Bluetooth Low Energy are introduced.
“For most organisations, modernising identity and access management is an evolution rather than a complete replacement of existing infrastructure,” said Low.
The broader direction, he said, is a single identity framework spanning facilities, applications, networks, cloud services and connected devices. Cards are likely to remain in use, but they are being joined by mobile apps, digital wallets and wearables as workplace identity tools.
“One of the most significant shifts will be the convergence of physical access, digital identity, and device authentication into a more unified identity ecosystem,” said Low.