Canada Access Control - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

Canada Access Control - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The Canada Access Control Market size is estimated at USD 0.34 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 0.53 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 9.23% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Key Highlights

• The market for access control is witnessing growth in Canada owing to increasing security concerns, technological advancement, regulatory compliance, and smart building initiatives. Moreover, as businesses increasingly recognize the importance of securing their premises and protecting sensitive information, the corporate sector is investing more in advanced access control devices to ensure that only authorized personnel can access certain areas.
• Access control is an electronic system that allows authorized personnel to enter restricted, controlled, or secure spaces by presenting an access card to a credential reader. Organizations use access control systems that depend on access card readers, user credentials, auditing, and reports to track employee access to controlled business locations and proprietary areas, such as data centers, to secure a facility. Some of these systems include access control panels to restrict entry to rooms and buildings, alarms, and lockdown capabilities to stop unauthorized access or operations.
• The Internet of Things (IoT) has increased the efficiency and standard of automation systems by enabling secure data exchange and tying smart objects to the Internet. Cloud-based communication between connected security systems and devices makes remote monitoring of critical areas possible. Using password authentication to thwart hacking makes IoT-based security systems secure. Because IoT can be used in various solutions, such as smart alarm systems and garage door openers, it is replacing many businesses' traditional processes.
• Moreover, the increasing government investments toward infrastructural developments are expected to boost the demand for access control solutions in the country during the forecast period. Some such projects in the country include Ottawa Civic Hospital, Windsor Acute Care Regional Hospital, an extension of the blue line of the Montreal Subway Network and construction of subway stations, and expansion of the international airport in Saint Laurent, among others.
• According to a recent article in Drug Diversion Digest, hospitals, medical institutions, ambulance services, long-term care facilities, and pharmacies accounted for over 70% of prescription tampering, fraud, and theft. Several hospitals are using access control systems to reduce these dangers. Hospitals can lower the risk of abuse or theft by digital monitoring and restricting access to medication cabinets and dispensaries. Genetec is a Canadian company helping the healthcare industry of Canada to prevent this.
• The Canadian government is using biometrics increasingly. For instance, iris scans are utilized in the CANPASS and NEXUS border clearance programs, fingerprints and iris scans are used to limit entry to secure airport areas, and digitized face pictures for electronic or e-passports are being suggested. Often, biometric technology is used to identify people or to confirm that they have the right to perform tasks, like driving a car or entering a secure or restricted area.
• However, the upfront cost of implementing advanced access control systems, including hardware, software, and installation, can be significant. This can be a deterrent for small and medium-sized businesses with limited budgets. Additionally, integrating new access control systems with existing infrastructure and other security systems can be complex and challenging. Compatibility issues and the need for specialized technical expertise can hinder adoption.
• Rising inflation rates have increased the cost of goods and services, including access control systems. Higher costs lead to reduced purchasing power for consumers and businesses, slowing down the market’s growth. Furthermore, the war between Russia and Ukraine disrupted the global supply chain, particularly affecting the availability and cost of electronic components and raw materials used in access control systems. This is leading to delays in production and increased costs for manufacturers.

Canada Access Control Market Trends

Smart Card Segment is Expected to Register Significant Growth

• Smart cards are physical cards embedded with integrated circuits that can process and store data. They are used to authenticate and grant or restrict access to secure areas, systems, or information. Smart cards can be contact or contactless, allowing communication between the card and the reader. Contact smart cards have a visible chip that must be placed into a reader, while contactless smart cards use RF technology to communicate with the reader when brought in close proximity.
• Smart cards are like typical plastic cards. However, they contain an embedded computer chip, either a microprocessor or memory type. The data stored and transmitted through these chips pertains to either value, information, or a combination of both. The card data is transmitted through a reader, the outward-facing component of the smart card access control system. Nowadays, several systems across a broad range of commercial sectors, like banking, finance, healthcare, entertainment, and media, are using smart card security systems in their applications.
• Contact smart cards need to be inserted into a smart card reader since they require physical contact with the reader. However, contactless smart cards have an embedded antenna inside, enabling communication with the reader without physical contact.
• Canada is one of the markets with the most potential for adopting smart home technology. Smart home technology in the country is shifting from early adopters into the mainstream as Canadians realize the benefits these devices can bring them and their families. The Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec, the City of Montréal, and the Fondation Les Petits Rois unveiled Smart Home, a unique residence in Montréal for young adults with an intellectual disability, with or without an autism spectrum disorder.
• The connected home concept is unique in Canada. It aims to make daily life easier for people with intellectual disabilities, with or without autism spectrum disorders, by providing an environment that will enable them to thrive in complete safety and to learn continuously while fostering their self-esteem and independence. Such trends are expected to create a positive outlook for the market’s growth.

Healthcare Segment is Expected to Register Significant Growth

• In Canada, the demand for access control devices in the healthcare sector is significantly increasing to ensure the security and confidentiality of patient information. Access control systems help restrict unauthorized access to sensitive areas like patient records, pharmacies, and labs, protecting patient privacy and complying with regulations such as the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.
• Furthermore, access cards are given to employees, guests, and patients, allowing them to move around the hospital wherever the appropriate card grants entry. With the card programmed and connected to a person's identification, it is simpler to manage who gets where. Certainly, access cards are useful and affordable, which is why hospitals use them frequently.
• Many healthcare facilities use keypad readers with passcodes. Entering a code into a reader to get access is possible with this security feature. Readers are available as independent devices or as part of an access control system. An alternative danger to using cards is when you type in a passcode. There is no way to tell who created the unlawful entry because users can share it as often as they like without breaking the rules. Since sharing is voluntary, anybody can utilize it in violation of the regulations.
• A database containing information on 5.6 million patient visits to Bluewater Health and the social insurance numbers of around 1,446 Chatham-Kent Health Alliance employees were among the data stolen in the ransomware attack on five southwestern Ontario hospitals. The cyberattack led to a system outage involving patient records, email, and more at Windsor Regional Hospital, Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, Bluewater Health, and Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. It has also delayed patient appointments.
• Furthermore, Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) in Ontario fired eight employees for their involvement in a privacy breach at the city's health care system. According to HHS, the employees inappropriately accessed the personal health information of around 4,000 patients. Such instances demand the deployment of access control systems in the country.

Canada Access Control Industry Overview

The Canadian access control market is highly competitive due to the presence of many key players established within national and international boundaries. The market appears fragmented, with the key players adopting strategies like product innovation and mergers and acquisition. Some of the major players in the market are Thales Group, Bosch Security System Inc., Idemia Group, HID Global, and Axis Communications, among others.

• In February 2024, BioConnect, a biometric authentication solution provider in Canada, launched its “Trusted Identity Service” featuring AI-based face Authentication for securing physical access points. The solution, anchored by an outdoor-rated Face Authentication Reader, sets new standards in overall value with its combination of performance, integration, and security.
• In February 2024, Hikvision launched its second-generation professional access control products. The new products and functionalities represent a significant leap forward in access management and include innovations for web management, flexible authentication, professional access applications, and converged and unified security solutions.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support