What Is OSDP?

Demystifying OSDP (Open Supervised Device Protocol)

Brought to you by the experts at HID Global, an ASSA ABLOY Group brand.

Physical access control technology—like key cards and fobs—is continuously evolving to address emerging threats and vulnerabilities, security protocols, and integration requirements. In response, the standards governing the development and testing of Physical Access Control Systems (PACS) also continue to evolve, improving security and interoperability among access control and security products.

OSDP has shifted the world of access control capabilities and offered an option other than the long antiquated Clock-and-Data and Wiegand protocols, which can leave organizations vulnerable to attack.

Did you know OSDP-enabled readers can save you money? Not only are you future-proofing your access control system but OSDP enabled access control products like the SN Series, significantly reduces installation time and reduce reader power consumption by as much as 75%.

Clock-and-Data signaling with magstripe card readers

Magstripe card readers utilizes two wires called "clock" and "data". The data line sends all the binary data to the panel, while the clock line is used to tell the panel when to sample the data line. Each time a bit of data is sent down the data line, a pulse is sent down the clock line, which instructs the panel to take a "sample" of the data line and record that bit. Magstripe signaling is supported by many of the new access control panels, as well as older, Wiegand systems. However, this outdated communication protocol is insecure and magstripe cards can be cloned easily. It also allows the upgrade of readers and credentials without a complete overhaul of the back-end system of controllers and software.

Tried and true Wiegand protocol.

Wiegand standard was not designed to keep pace with the security demands of today's enterprise organizations and the complex threats that are emerging, creating challenges for organizations to keep data transmission secure.

However, more than 90 percent of the PACS installed today use the Wiegand protocol, making it the most common communication method used by access control devices to send information from the card reader to the controller.

Check integrated wired products  from SARGENT and Corbin Russwin.

The introduction of Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP)

The weaknesses identified in the Clock-and-Data and Wiegand protocols have pushed the security industry to adopt a new protocol, bolstering the protection of critical collected through a PACS.

The result was OSDP: an access control communications standard first developed by Mercury Security and HID Global in 2008. The Security Industry Association (SIA) adopted OSDP as a standard in 2011 to improve interoperability among access control and security products.

Why Implement OSDP as a Standard?

It is common knowledge that today's organizations value system interoperability — especially with regard to security. The rise of IP-networked devices, such as video and physical access control, has opened up a world of possibilities; however, the security of the data collected from these devices is paramount to keeping the organization safe from attack. OSDP is the only protocol that is secure and open to communication between readers and controllers. Currently, it is being widely adopted by manufacturers, including the industry-leading manufacturers for readers and controllers.

The fact that OSDP is also an evolving, 'living standard', similar to many others that streamline the development of connected devices, makes it a safer, more robust, future-proof option for governing physical access control systems.

Advantages of OSDP

OSDP offers a wide-range of benefits to its users. On top of the ability to evolve over time, OSDP is the only protocol that supports bi-directional communication between devices creating the ability for information to be collected, shared and acted upon. This means that not only can the readers "talk" directly to the centralized management platform, but the system can also communicate directly with the readers. As a result, this two-way communication offers a host of advantages, including:

• Reader configuration can be specified in the PACS software and sent to the reader via the controller
• Continuous reader status monitoring, polling and querying
• Tampering and malfunction detection and indication without needing to physically inspect the reader
• Advanced user interfaces, including welcome messages and text prompts can be displayed by the reader

The open-platform nature of OSDP allows organizations to bring new technology to the table that increases a company's ability to protect incoming and outgoing data collection through a physical access control system. This allows companies to remain proactive in their approaches to the safety and security of employees, visitors, and assets. In addition to increased security, OSDP:

• Supports AES-128 encryption that is required in U.S. federal government applications
• Constantly monitors wiring to protect against tampering
• Helps overcome and address the growing threat of "man in the middle" attacks.
• Reduces installation costs: use of two wires (as compared to a potential of 11 wires with Wiegand) allowing for multi-drop installation.
• Is more user friendly utilizing audio and visual feedback such as colored lights, audible beeps, and the ability to display alerts on the reader.
• Has unlimited application enhancements like smartcard technology applications, including PKI/FICAM and biometrics, as well as other enhanced authentication protocols used in applications that require Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) compliance and interactive terminal capabilities.

The Future of OSDP

Advancements in the delivery and protection of physical access control data have taken center stage over the last decade as OSDP has become more widely adopted to achieve security, efficiency and flexibility for end-user customers.

Industry leaders, such as HID Global, an ASSA ABLOY Group brand, have played a key role in the development of these standards in an effort to deliver physical access control solutions to customers that ensure the highest levels of security from outside threats. ASSA ABLOY is a true partner, providing guidance and innovation within the security industry. Working with integrator partners and end-user customers, ASSA ABLOY offers the enhanced protocols in a wide variety of products aimed at increased levels of protection.

Interested in learning more about OSDP and how it can help drive your business? Fill out the form below to speak with one of our security specialists.