By Eric Joseph
In the beginning, access control systems were treated like mechanical infrastructure. You installed them, they worked, and you didn’t think much about them again until something broke. Then, in the early 2000’s, the realization that the access control software and the server running it needed to be upgraded regularly became universally accepted, but the access control hardware was often overlooked, as it could remain operational with only occasional firmware upgrades.
That approach used to work, but it doesn’t anymore.
What’s changed isn’t necessarily the access control hardware itself. Panels and readers are still incredibly reliable, the architecture is still similar, and the function it performs is still the same. The reader identifies the individual by presenting a credential, and the panel makes an access control decision to grant them entry. It’s not uncommon to see access control hardware running for 10, 15, or even more years without failure. That’s part of why the industry became comfortable with the idea that this part of the access control solution could run indefinitely.
But the larger environment in which that hardware is a part has fundamentally shifted. Today, access control is no longer a standalone system sitting quietly in the background. It’s connected. It’s integrated. It’s front and center to business continuity. And the access control hardware is now part of a broader network of devices that constantly communicate, update, and evolve. Whether organizations think of it this way or not, access control hardware is now part of the IoT ecosystem.
And once you view it through that lens, the “run it until it breaks” mindset starts to fall apart.
The issue isn’t whether the hardware still powers on. The question is whether it’s still doing what you need it to do in today’s environment and keeping your facility safe. Is it a potential physical or cyber vulnerability? In other words, is your access control hardware and equipment, whose purpose is to maintain security, now a potential attack vector for bad actors?
Older panels and readers weren’t designed for modern cybersecurity expectations. They weren’t built to support the levels or types of encryptions that organizations now require for all devices connecting to their network. And they certainly weren’t designed with future capabilities in mind, whether that’s end-to-end encryption, mobile credentials, or AI-driven functionality at the edge.
So, while a system may still be operational, it may already be vulnerable in ways that matter.
The risk here often does not affect the system’s basic day-to-day functionality, which is why it is often overlooked. Organizations don’t feel the impact right away because employees can still access the buildings. But over time, it shows up in different ways. An IT scan identifies access-control hardware that is insecure. A card is cloned and can be read by a reader, imitating a trusted cardholder. Reader firmware upgrades need to be manually upgraded to each reader, rather than pushed from the system, to support mobile credentials. What could have been a planned, controlled upgrade turns into a reactive, disruptive project.
And anything unplanned is always more expensive. This is where the industry needs to shift its thinking.
Access control hardware should be managed with a defined lifecycle, just like any other technology hardware. Not because it’s failing, but because it’s evolving.
A practical benchmark is to think in terms of for access control hardware is a seven-year lifecycle; it may fluctuate a year or two in either direction, but seven years provides a strong baseline. That doesn’t mean replacing everything at once. It means having a strategy in place and planning ahead. Budgeting incrementally. Refreshing components in phases. Treating the system as something that needs to be maintained and modernized over time and in perpetuity.
This is not a foreign concept to enterprise organizations or large institutions. This is how IT has operated for years. Security needs to follow the same model, and access control hardware can no longer be overlooked.
When organizations take this approach, they gain more than just predictability. They maintain a stronger cybersecurity posture. They stay compatible with new technologies. They’re able to take advantage of advancements as they happen, instead of being held back by aging infrastructure.
It also changes how conversations happen internally. Instead of asking, “Do we need to replace this yet?” the question becomes, “How are we planning for what’s next?”
One of the biggest barriers to this shift has always been financial. Traditional purchasing models and mindsets make it difficult to justify replacing something that technically still works. Large capital expenditures are easy to delay, especially when there isn’t an immediate failure forcing the issue.
That’s why alternative models are starting to gain traction.
Technology-as-a-Service (TaaS) and other technology evergreening approaches for access control hardware and software allow organizations to move away from large upfront investments and toward a more predictable operational model. Instead of buying a system and stretching it as long as possible, they can align costs with usage and lifecycle management expectations. Hardware refreshes become part of the plan, not an exception to it.
It’s a different way of thinking, but it aligns much more closely with how technology behaves today.
At the end of the day, access control systems are no longer static installations. They are living, evolving components of a connected environment. Treating them like mechanical fixtures with an unlimited lifespan no longer reflects reality.
The organizations that recognize this and plan accordingly will be in a much stronger position, both from a security and operational standpoint.
Because in today’s environment, it’s not enough for a system to keep running.
Because ‘still working’ isn’t the same as ‘still doing its job’.
Eric Joseph is Global Director of Business Development and Strategy at Minuteman Security & Life Safety. Prior to Minuteman, he spent more than two decades in enterprise access control and security leadership, most recently as Vice President of Strategic Sales at LenelS2, where he led large-scale, integrated security initiatives across complex environments.
About Minuteman Security
Minuteman Security & Life Safety is a national systems integrator dedicated to protecting people, property, and mission-critical operations. Founded in 1988, Minuteman has grown into one of the largest security and life safety providers in North America, recognized as the 2025 SDM Systems Integrator of the Year. With expertise across video surveillance, access control, cybersecurity, and emergency communications, Minuteman partners with organizations in healthcare, education, critical infrastructure, and enterprise markets.