International. Convergint partnered with HID to offer mobile access solutions, including programs using digital wallets.
According to Convergint "a digital wallet is a technology that can be used in NFC-enabled smartphones that allows the user to securely store information such as bank details or passwords to make secure transactions online, in applications or through peer-to-peer payments."
A technology of high relevance today if you take into account these wallets and digital identities are driving new credentials that have changed the way their dynamics operate, from how to provide the same credential, how to manage it and how to interact with the physical world to gain access to rooms, spaces and buildings.
In the short term, according to the company, mobile wallet-enabled credentials will continue to become more prevalent as more large technology investments come in. Security professionals should think about and plan for the impact this could have on their organizations and be prepared for the technical and cultural impacts of digital and mobile wallets.
Convergint highlights that digital wallets offer people a new way to conveniently and seamlessly authenticate their identities, including storing, organizing, and verifying the identities needed in everyday digital interactions. In this way this technology helps people to transact safely, but also to travel freely and work productively.
There are also different "forces driving the shift towards digital identity verification", such as consumer demand; mobile convergence; legislation, regulations and standards; convenience and choice and, finally; The competition and offer made by technology giants and startups.
Impacts on the Security Industry
As the adoption of digital wallets and digital identities continues to expand, they are poised to have a substantial impact not only on our daily lives, but also on the security industry, as these wallets are used for building-wide access, including elevators, printers, workstations, parking, and more.
Finally, Convergint concludes that "with a broad reach and daily touchpoints, the digital wallet category is poised to have a substantial impact on how we interact with our homes, with our employers and workplaces, with the tourism industry and even with our governments, but only if new solutions can deliver reliability, scale and convenience balanced with security and privacy."
