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IT flags aging access-control system, recommends phased replacement after staff demonstrate badge cloning
Summary
IT staff demonstrated inexpensive badge cloning and described an aging access-control system with unsupported control boards. They proposed a phased replacement with integrated cameras and modern authentication methods.
Grant, an IT/security staff member, told council members that the parish’s building access-control equipment is near end-of-life and poses both operational and cybersecurity risks.
Grant demonstrated that badges can be copied from inexpensive readers and warned that replacement parts and control boards are no longer manufactured for many buildings. "The software is vulnerable," he said, noting the vendor no longer supports the older control boards and parts sometimes must be salvaged from secondary markets. He added the parish has paid about $130,000 for onsite maintenance over the last three years to keep the aging system running.
Why this matters: several buildings use the same system, and parish staff said badges are easily replicated with low-cost off‑the‑shelf equipment—creating a physical-security and cyber risk that modern systems mitigate. Grant recommended either a full replacement or a phased rollout building-by-building.
Details of the proposed solution Grant described a modern access-control solution that integrates with the parish camera system, supports smart-phone credentials or badges, and can include multi‑factor elements for high‑security areas. He said installation of the upgraded system typically takes about three months to cover the parish buildings identified in the scope and that the proposal can be funded either in whole or phased by building. Julian and facilities staff said the work has been added to the capital budget; installation costs will be allocated to building operating charges or fund balances depending on the building's fund source.
Operational concerns and next steps Council members asked whether the jail’s security systems would be part of the same replacement; staff said the jail uses a different vendor/system (MTI) and that the jail work is scheduled separately and is not cost‑effective to integrate with the parishwide access-control replacement. Staff offered a building-by-building cost spreadsheet and said the vendor for the proposed system is available locally.
Ending: recommended phased approach Grant recommended a phased conversion to modern, standardized controls, with interim measures to limit remote access to aging systems and a plan to allocate ongoing operating costs to facility O&M charges.
