Key Takeaways
- Digital identity has modernized. Physical access hasn’t. Most enterprises still rely on manual, disconnected workflows for building access.
- The gap creates risk, friction, and inefficiency. Outdated physical systems lag behind real-time identity and access management (IAM) updates, leaving users over-provisioned and admins overworked.
- Aligning physical access with identity through platforms like SwiftConnect brings real-time control, security, and a unified experience.
For years, enterprises have invested heavily in improving digital identity – and it’s paid off. Most organizations now run modern, cloud-based identity and access management (IAM) systems that integrate across business platforms and align with Zero Trust principles, giving real-time visibility and control over who can access what.
But when it comes to physical access, progress has stalled. Many enterprises still rely on outdated processes, siloed systems, and manual workflows that haven’t evolved in decades. The result is a widening gap between how identities are managed in the digital world and how they’re enforced in the physical one. That gap is costing time, money, and security.
This post unpacks why that disconnect exists, where it shows up day to day, and how modernizing physical access starts with aligning it to identity.
IAM Has Leapt Ahead — Physical Access Hasn’t
Digital identity management has come a long way. Modern IAM platforms are automated, cloud-native, and deeply integrated across the enterprise stack — making it easy to provision, update, or revoke access instantly while maintaining compliance and auditability.
Physical access control hasn’t kept up. Most organizations still manage building credentials through ticketing systems, spreadsheets, or siloed physical access control system (PACS) tools. Every personnel change — a new hire, department transfer, or offboarding — triggers a slow, manual process that can take days to complete.
The result is friction for users, delay for admins, and risk for the organization. As digital identity accelerates, physical access remains a step behind.
Where the Disconnect Shows Up — and What It Costs
You can see the cracks between digital identity and physical access everywhere. HR systems update instantly — but those changes don’t flow through to the building. Employees retain access they shouldn’t have, creating unnecessary risk and compliance gaps.
Offboarding is another weak spot. Former employees often keep active badges for days or weeks after leaving, leaving enterprises exposed and audit teams scrambling to close the loop.
For corporate real estate teams, the problem compounds. Tenants juggle separate base-building and suite-level systems, manually managing who gets access to what — a process that’s slow, inconsistent, and hard to scale.
Even when digital identity updates in real time, physical access doesn’t follow. IT and facilities teams end up filling the gaps manually, chasing down tickets for lost badges or role changes that should update automatically. The result: higher workload, slower response times, and a user experience that feels years behind the rest of the enterprise tech stack.
What Modern Access Should Look Like
Modern access should be identity-first — with a single source of truth that governs both digital and physical entry. When someone joins, changes roles, or leaves, that update should automatically flow from HR through IAM to every access point.
It doesn’t require ripping out existing systems. It just means connecting what’s already in place so data moves in real time between identity providers, PACS, and building systems.
The goal is a unified infrastructure that works for everyone — tenants, admins, and users alike. One identity, one set of permissions, one seamless experience from the moment someone joins to the moment they leave.
Bridging the Gap with SwiftConnect
SwiftConnect closes the gap between modern identity systems and fragmented physical access infrastructure. Rather than replacing what you already have, it connects your existing PACS, identity providers, and building systems into a single, cohesive network.
The result is real-time, identity-driven access across every building, team, and technology — without the cost or complexity of a rip-and-replace overhaul.
For both enterprise and CRE leaders, SwiftConnect aligns physical access with modern identity. The outcome: tighter control, stronger security, and a seamless experience that legacy systems simply can’t deliver.
FAQ
1. Why is physical access still behind digital identity?
Because most PACS and credentialing systems were built before modern IAM existed. They’re often on-prem, proprietary, and not designed to integrate with today’s cloud-based identity platforms.
2. What risks does this create for enterprises?
Out-of-sync access leads to security gaps, compliance exposure, and wasted admin time. Former employees can retain building access, and onboarding/offboarding becomes slow and error-prone.
3. Can physical access be modernized without replacing existing systems?
Yes. With connection-first platforms like SwiftConnect, you can unify identity and access by integrating existing PACS and identity providers — no rip-and-replace required.
4. How does this impact corporate real estate teams?
It simplifies operations. Tenants, admins, and building managers all work from one connected system, reducing duplicate work and creating a consistent experience across spaces.
5. What does identity-driven physical access actually look like in practice?
HR changes trigger instant updates to building access. Badges activate or deactivate automatically. Users move between offices, suites, or roles seamlessly — their access simply follows their identity.
The post Why Physical Access Still Lags Behind Identity in the Enterprise appeared first on SwiftConnect.