PACS/LACS Interoperability

With increasing policies, requirements, and technologies for secure forms of identification based on smart card technology, there are an increasing number of deployed proprietary access control systems. In addition, physical access control systems (PACS) and logical access control systems (LACS) are segregated, requiring multiple credentials, increased costs, and decreased usability.

Approach

The PACS and LACS interoperability effort encourages the adoption of standard-based technologies for interoperability, trust, and role-based identity and access management across all levels of government and partnering stakeholders. The developed capability provides centralized access control management, and the capability to manage multiple PACS remotely. The capability will also reduce costs due to the associated expense of procuring segregated, non-interoperable PACS and LACS. In the end, it is a usable security capability that encourages federated identity and provides fine grained authorization to buildings and facilities.

Outcomes

The final deliverables for this effort will include, but not limited to: lessons learned, document specifications of the technology and accessibility of subject matter expertise to operators and integrators during the transition period. An operational environment demonstration of PACS/LACS Interoperability was conducted at one or more of the TTWG participant jurisdictions (e.g. state fusion center) in 2012. The collaborative demonstration between researchers and the vendor community provides an opportunity to transition the developed capability into the marketplace.