Editor: Lennart Alexandrie
or TLS 1.3 encrypted for on prem-
ise database. And as mentioned, the
entire process includes voluntary
opt-in, privacy protections and
simplifies use for more rapid end
user (consumer) adoption.
"We also have features such as
the ability to delete data in compli-
ance with regulations or more
strict terms should the customer
desire that. Eliminating privacy
concerns and adopting a privacy
first design and delivery posture has
enabled more rapid growth," states
Tina D'Agostin, knowing that the
Alcatraz AI's vision of simplicity,
security and privacy concerns have
already had a powerful impact
on the market, as the Rock, is
deployed at some of the most
successful enterprises in the world,
including supporting access for
more than one million employees
at Fortune 500 companies
$25 Million investment
in global expansion
Since its founding in 2016, Alc-
atraz AI set out to transform the
experience of entering spaces in the
most highly secure manner, while
enabling a completely passive and
frictionless use case at doors for oc-
cupants and the security teams that
manage them.
Since 2020, the company has
seen rapid growth in the US and
globally, with Alcatraz solutions be-
ing deployed in more than a dozen
countries.
Now a new expansion phase
will begin as Alcatraz AI has raised
a $25 million Series A round
allowing the company to open
operations in Europe (Nordics) and
Middle East.
The round was led by Almaz
Capital and included EBRD (The
European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development), Endeavor Cata-
lyst, Silverline Capital, and Golden
Seeds, along with participation
from existing investors JCI Ven-
tures (the corporate venture arm of
Johnson Controls), Ray Stata and
LDV Partners.
"At Alcatraz AI, we believe
that safety and security is the first
principle, and we are committed
to leading a new era of frictionless
access control by leveraging the
unique power of the human face
to make accessing spaces as secure,
quick and easy as unlocking your
phone," comments Tina D'Agostin.
"We are excited to enter the
next phase of our company's
growth by partnering with our
investors with a strong track record
scaling companies globally that
deliver next generation technology."
The timing is right
Tina D'Agostin is convinced that
the global physical access control
market valued to approximately
$70 billion needs the next gen-
eration solutions that enable more
modern and secure ways of unlock-
ing where people work, live,
study and play.
"Today, the
most used cre-
dential to enter
secured spaces
is an access
card that can
be lost, repli-
cated, or stolen.
Alternative
technologies,
such as mobile
and legacy bio-
metric systems
have not gained
mainstream
momentum due to implementa-
tion and user challenges. The Rock
solves the most difficult access
control challenges to creating and
maintaining safe spaces.
Differentiated customer base
Today Alcatraz AI's customer base
is found in many different verti-
cals, such as:
· Corporate campuses/headquar-
ters.
· Data centres.
· Financial institutions.
· Higher Education.
· Telecom.
· Critical infrastructure (Oil, gas,
energy, chemical).
· Stadiums and arenas.
· Aviation facilities/airports (back-
end infrastructure access).
· Healthcare.
"Our customers are looking for
a solution that increases through-
put and increases security. In the
past, facial recognition has been
limited or perceived to be most
useful in more secure, multi factor
environments, but the Rock
changes that making it
frictionless and more
secure," comments
Tina D'Agostin,
and mentions the
Rock's strongest
unique selling
points.
"That reduced
friction, along
with our design
which prioritises
individual privacy
and supports the
major privacy
frameworks such
as GDPR, make it popular with
end users who quickly opt in to ac-
cess points where the Rock is used.
"We've also had success as a
better more efficient solution on
turnstiles over access cards or other
biometrics like iris, fingerprint or
palm given the accuracy and speed
of our device," Tina D'Agostin
claims.
Partner with Axis
The interest for the technology of
Alcatraz AI is increasing fast. In
early March it was confirmed once
again as leader in autonomous
access control solutions when it
announced a partnership with Axis
Communications. The Swedish
company will provide Alcatraz
AI's flagship facial authentica-
tion product, the Rock as part of
the Axis family of solutions that
improve security and optimise
business performance. Alcatraz AI
is now a member of the Axis Tech-
nology Integration Partner (TIP)
programme.
"The way in which Alcatraz AI
is transforming how people access
buildings and secure areas aligns
perfectly with the Axis vision of
combining intelligent technol-
ogy and human imagination to
improve security and optimise
business performance," comments
Tina D'Agostin, CEO.
Together Axis and Alcatraz
deliver secure rapid authentica-
tion as a single-factor solution or
access at the speed of single factor
when used as part of a multi-factor
system. The Rock's intelligent tail-
gate detection can send alerts and
actionable insights to Axis' access
control management software to
reduce the threat of a breach due to
tailgating and support compliance
in zero trust environments.
The combination of Axis access
control systems and the Rock's
simple and secure enrollment
process improves efficiency and ef-
fectiveness for both administrators
and users. Designed in compliance
with the latest privacy frameworks,
Axis channel partners and end
customers now have an unmatched
opportunity to manage and ensure
privacy compliance.
"We are thrilled to have Alcatraz
AI join our Axis Technology
Integration Partner Program," states
Drew Pacino, Business Develop-
ment Manager at Axis Communi-
cations.
"Their facial authentication
product is truly unique, and by in-
tegrating this with Axis devices can
offer even more value to our mutual
Channel Partners and end custom-
ers. We look forward to a successful
collaboration with Alcatraz AI."
d e t e k t o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l · 2 9
Tina D'Agostin, CEO of Alcatraz AI.
Alcatraz Rock was selected among the
"30 Top Technology Innovations" of 2020
and awarded as a "Most Innovative
Product" in 2022.
Vince Gaydarzhiev, the founder of
Alcatraz AI.