INTERVIEW WITH LEGIC

For over 25 years, Swiss-based LEGIC Identsystems has enabled companies from around the world to deploy solutions with demanding security requirements. Based on key management, trusted services and secure, contactless semiconductors, the LEGIC Security Platform provides end-to-end security for smartphone and smartcard-based access, mobility, shared resource and industrial IoT applications.

Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?

LEGIC: LEGIC designs and produces semiconductors and software services for access control, shared resource, mobility and industrial IoT applications.

E.E: What’s the news for 2021 about new products?

LEGIC: LEGIC launched its first „Credentials as a Service” platform, LEGIC Connect Go. The software service enables customers to easily deploy secure. high availability, mobile app-based services without a 24/7 backend.

OS50 Version 1.8 upgrade: LEGIC 6000 series Security Modules are now suitable for reader devices that must be compatible with Apple Wallet using ECP 2.0 for communication with Apple smart devices. In addition, the 6000 series now support a symmetrical NFC antenna which provides greater RF output power which, for example, supports small transponders.

E.E: What are the ranges of products?

LEGIC: Security Platform: our cloud-based software services enable smartcard and smartphone authentication of end-users worldwide. The platform seamlessly integrates with customer applications to enable access control, mobility, smart city and industrial IoT services based on secure end-user authentication.

Security Modules: Working seamlessly with our Security Platform, our Security Modules are installed in infrastructure and are used for contactless user authentication and access control for buildings, vehicles, industrial equipment, and ePayment terminals (i.e. Parkhouses, vending machines, etc.).

Smartcard ICs: used in badges and key fobs used for authorized access to office buildings, schools, airports, government buildings, hotel rooms, private dwellings, etc.

E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?

LEGIC: Very large and mature global market (building access control), large and growing market (contactless vehicle entry and industrial automation), large and emerging market (industrial process optimization, logistics).

E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?

LEGIC: There is an increasing demand for contactless authentication systems across multiple market sectors due to the growing demand for security and hygiene requirements due to COVID. In general, there is a trend towards smartphone-based authentication, either as a replacement for or in parallel with existing smartcard-based applications such as hotel room access. In the industrial sector, the combination of contactless authentication with RTLS indoor-positioning is creating a new market for indoor navigation resource authorization for employees, visitors and industrial robots.

E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?

LEGIC: The LEGIC end-to-end security platform which consists of cloud software-as-a-service. The platform works seamlessly with LEGIC Security Modules which are embedded in infrastructure components such as automatic doors. Our smartcard ICs and mobile apps allow our customers to deploy secure contactless applications used for access control, time and attendance management, industrial process control and shared vehicles. Our newest software platform, LEGIC Connect Go, is our first mobile „Credentials as a Service” offering which enables customer to deploy 24/7 applications without the need for their own always-on backend.

E.E: What estimations do you have for 2021?

LEGIC: We see an increased demand for contactless applications that can capitalize on contactless authentication technology to protect employees and users by eliminating the need for physical contact with infrastructure (door handles, buttons, vending machines etc.) as well as by limiting access to valuable infrastructure to authorized persons only. We also see an increasing trend towards smartphone-based applications which require 24/7 user authentication – this is the main feature provided by our security platform.