Unifying Security: The Power of Integrated Access Control & Security Cameras with Hanwha & PDK
In today's complex business environment, a robust security strategy is not just a luxury—it's a necessity. However, many organizations still rely on disconnected security systems, where access control and video surveillance operate in separate silos. This approach can lead to significant operational inefficiencies, slower response times, and critical security gaps. The future of business security lies in integration, creating a unified ecosystem where these vital components work together seamlessly. By integrating best-in-class solutions from Hanwha Vision and ProdataKey (PDK), businesses can achieve a level of security and operational intelligence that standalone systems simply cannot match.
Why Integrate Access Control and Security Cameras?
The strategic decision to integrate access control and video surveillance systems offers a multitude of benefits that enhance security, streamline operations, and provide a greater return on investment. When these two powerful tools are combined, they create a solution that is far greater than the sum of its parts.
Enhanced situational awareness is one of the most immediate advantages. Instead of merely receiving an alert that a door has been forced open, an integrated system instantly provides security personnel with live video footage of the event. This real-time visual verification allows for a more accurate assessment of the situation, distinguishing between a genuine threat and a false alarm. This capability is further enhanced by faster response times. With video evidence directly linked to access events, security teams can make quicker, more informed decisions, whether it involves dispatching personnel or initiating a lockdown procedure.
From an operational standpoint, simplified management is a key benefit. Instead of juggling multiple software platforms, security staff can manage both access control and video surveillance from a single, intuitive interface. This centralized approach saves valuable time, reduces training complexity, and minimizes the risk of human error. Furthermore, improved investigations and forensics become possible as the system automatically links video recordings with specific access events. This makes it incredibly efficient to search for and retrieve footage based on criteria such as user, date, time, or location, drastically reducing the time required for post-incident analysis.
Enhanced Situational Awareness: Provides real-time visual context for access events, reducing false alarms.
Faster Response Times: Enables immediate assessment of threats with video evidence linked to alerts.
Simplified Management: Centralizes control of access and video systems into a single user interface.
Improved Investigations: Streamlines forensic analysis by automatically linking video to access logs.
Hanwha Vision: Intelligent Cameras & Powerful VMS
Hanwha Vision (formerly Hanwha Techwin) has established itself as a global leader in the video surveillance industry, renowned for its world-class optical design and advanced image processing technologies. Their product lineup is designed to deliver not just video, but actionable intelligence.
At the core of their offering are the Wisenet cameras, which are equipped with powerful AI-powered analytics. These intelligent cameras can detect and classify objects like people and vehicles, recognize faces, and identify specific events such as line crossing or loitering. This built-in intelligence transforms a passive surveillance system into a proactive security tool.
The Wisenet WAVE Video Management System (VMS) is the command center for Hanwha's ecosystem. Designed with flexibility and user experience in mind, WAVE provides an intuitive platform for viewing, managing, and recording video feeds. Its open architecture is crucial for seamless integration with third-party systems, including access control platforms like PDK [1]. Hanwha also offers its own Wisenet Access Control System (ACS), which integrates directly with WAVE for a completely unified Hanwha solution [2].
ProdataKey (PDK): Cloud-Based, Mobile-First Access Control
ProdataKey (PDK) is at the forefront of modern access control, offering a cloud-based, mobile-first platform that provides unparalleled flexibility and convenience. By moving access control to the cloud, PDK empowers businesses to manage their security from anywhere, at any time, on any device.
The platform's mobile-first design ensures that both administrators and users have a seamless experience. Administrators can easily manage credentials, set user permissions, view activity logs, and respond to alerts from their smartphones. PDK supports a range of modern credentials, including key fobs, access cards, and mobile credentials, providing a secure and convenient way to manage entry. A key strength of the PDK system is its open API, which allows it to integrate smoothly with a wide array of other security and business platforms, including leading VMS providers like Hanwha [4].
The Powerhouse Combination: PDK & Hanwha Integration
When ProdataKey's cloud-based access control is integrated with Hanwha's Wisenet WAVE VMS, the result is a powerful and truly unified security ecosystem. This partnership leverages the strengths of both platforms to deliver a solution that is both sophisticated and easy to use.
The core of the integration is a unified dashboard within the Wisenet WAVE interface. This allows users to manage PDK access events and view Hanwha camera feeds without ever needing to switch between applications. As Mark Heintzman, Technical Partnership Manager at Hanwha Vision America, explains:
"Ultimately, what we’re trying to do is really bring visibility of all access control transactions into our Wave VMS. That allows the end-users to manage the system from just one window, so they don’t have to go back and forth between systems." [3]
This seamless integration enables powerful features that dramatically improve security operations. Real-time event overlays display access control data—such as the user's name and the time of entry—directly onto the corresponding video feed. When an access event occurs, the system can be configured to automatically pull up the relevant camera feed for instant visual verification. The integration also allows for the use of soft triggers, enabling operators to initiate actions like unlocking a door or triggering a facility-wide lockdown directly from the WAVE interface in response to a live event [3]. Furthermore, the system can automatically bookmark video footage whenever an access event occurs, making it incredibly easy to find and review critical moments during an investigation [3].
Real-World Applications & Benefits
The benefits of this integrated solution are applicable across a wide range of industries:
•Commercial Offices: Streamline employee access, manage visitor credentials, and secure sensitive areas, all while maintaining a complete visual record of all entries and exits.
•Industrial & Manufacturing: Enhance safety protocols by ensuring only authorized personnel enter hazardous zones, protect valuable assets from theft, and improve operational oversight.
•Retail Environments: Reduce shrinkage through better loss prevention, analyze customer traffic patterns, and quickly respond to incidents like shoplifting or unauthorized access to stockrooms.
•Educational Institutions: Bolster campus safety by controlling access to dormitories, labs, and administrative buildings, and enabling rapid response during emergency situations.
Why Choose Tier One Technologies for Your Integrated Security Solution?
While the technology itself is powerful, its successful implementation depends on expert integration. Tier One Technologies possesses deep knowledge of both Hanwha Vision and ProdataKey systems. Our team specializes in designing and installing customized security solutions that are tailored to the unique needs and challenges of your business. We ensure that your integrated system is not only professionally installed for optimal performance but also backed by reliable local support and maintenance you can count on.
Conclusion
Moving from siloed security components to a unified platform is one of the most impactful upgrades a business can make to its security posture. The integration of Hanwha's intelligent video surveillance and PDK's cloud-based access control creates a proactive, efficient, and highly effective security solution. By providing real-time visual intelligence, streamlining management, and simplifying investigations, this powerful combination empowers businesses to protect their people and assets more effectively than ever before.
Ready to explore how an integrated security solution can benefit your business? Contact Tier One Technologies today for a free site assessment and consultation.
References
[1] Hanwha Vision. (2025, January 22). Hanwha Vision launches the Wisenet Access Control System, to unify access and video surveillance monitoring. Retrieved from https://hanwhavision.eu/hanwha-vision-launches-wisenet-access-control-system-to-unify-access-and-video-surveillance-monitoring/
[2] Hanwha Vision. (n.d.). Wisenet ACS. Retrieved from https://www.hanwhavision.com/en/products/access-control/management-software/A/wisenet-acs/
[3] ProdataKey. (n.d.). PDK and Hanwha: Access + Vision. Retrieved from https://www.prodatakey.com/single-post/prodatakey-and-hanwha
[4] ProdataKey. (n.d.). Video Surveillance Integrations. Retrieved from https://www.prodatakey.com/integrations/video-surveillance '''