Last week, NXP Semiconductors, a leading manufacturer of smart card chips, unveiled MIFARE DUOX, the first NFC contactless chip to integrate both asymmetric and symmetric encryption. This marks a significant shift in access control technology, moving towards more open, interoperable solutions. Unlike traditional systems that rely solely on symmetrical encryption, DUOX introduces a more flexible approach, enabling more secure and versatile access control.
Legacy symmetrical encryption requires all cards and readers in an access control system to be encrypted identically, which creates compatibility issues between cards and readers from different manufacturers. This limitation forces users to carry multiple access credentials and restricts operational efficiency for property operators. As a result, symmetrical systems tend to function as proprietary platforms, locking users into specific manufacturers and reducing scalability.
In contrast, asymmetrical encryption, like that used in DUOX, allows for interoperability across different systems and manufacturers. This open-access approach ensures seamless operation between disparate systems, provided the user has proper authorization. Such advancements promise significant benefits, including streamlined operations for property managers and enhanced convenience for end-users.
This breakthrough aligns with Kastle’s long-standing commitment to open access control standards. Kastle played a key role in the 2023 development of PKOC (Public Key Open Credential) for card-based systems and it is currently collaborating with major players like Apple and Google toward development of Aliro for mobile-based standards. Both standards take advantage of asymmetric encryption for enabling compatibility. These standards aim to standardize and simplify access control systems for broader industry adoption.
Kastle’s EverPresence® platform is already prepared for this technological shift. It combines symmetric and asymmetric encryption, offering compatibility with current symmetrical systems while being future proof for upcoming Aliro protocols. This dual capability ensures clients can operate seamlessly today and transition easily to interoperable standards as they gain adoption.