Axis Pens New Vendor Partnership With Facial Recognition Provider

Alcatraz AI, an autonomous access control vendor, announced that it has become an Axis Communications technology integration partner to provide the former with its facial recognition authentication system.

“The Alcatraz AI Rock is a modern facial authentication solution that works natively with Axis Communications access control systems and door controllers to use a person’s face as their credential to quickly and privately authenticate users at the point of entry,” said an Alcatraz AI press release. “Together Axis and Alcatraz deliver secure rapid authentication as a single-factor solution or access at the speed of single factor when used as part of a multi-factor system. The Rock’s intelligent tailgate detection can send alerts and actionable insights to Axis’ access control management software to reduce the threat of a breach due to tailgating and support compliance in zero trust environments.”

According to Alcatraz AI, the Axis Technology Integration Partner Program is meant for companies with a commercially viable application for the market, and who provide business and product support to their customers. Such partnerships are common in many vertical technology markets, where a more generally focused company depends on third parties to fill niche demands. Support is important because the more general company won’t have the resources or knowledge to help its customers in case of trouble with the third-party products and technology.

Axis Communications has been busy of late, as it announced a partnership with Genetec to deliver a new physical security system for businesses. Called Axis Powered by Genetec, it “combines Axis network door controllers and Genetec access control software into an all-in-one solution that offers easy deployment, maintenance and scalability along with enhanced cybersecurity for end users and system integrators alike.”

The new partnership offers convenience and speed that some businesses might seek, without the need to use badges or apps. There has been some strong criticism of facial recognition generally as a technology because of racial and social biases in how well recognition performs and also the potential for loss or theft of personal information by other parties.

Alcatraz AI said that its system is compliant “with the latest privacy frameworks, including General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Illinois Biometric Information Protection Act (BIPA) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)” to address privacy issues.