As buildings become smarter and more connected, security leaders are increasingly looking for solutions that verify identity rather than simply scanning a credential.

Both Alcatraz and Genea are focused on modernising how people interact with buildings.

Genea delivers a cloud-native access control platform that allows organisations to manage doors, permissions, and building access policies through a centralised system.

Alcatraz provides Rock X, a facial authentication solution designed to verify identity at the entry point while enabling a fast and frictionless user experience.

Kasia Hanson, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Alcatraz, explains the value of this approach. “Organisations are increasingly looking for identity-first approaches to access control. Working alongside Genea allows us to demonstrate how facial authentication with Rock X can complement modern cloud-based access control platforms while improving both security and user experience.”

How Genea and Alcatraz work together

When deployed in the same environment, the Genea platform manages access permissions, building policies, and door control, while Rock X verifies the identity of individuals approaching the entry point.

This approach allows organisations to combine the strengths of both solutions. Genea manages access rights and building access policies, while Rock X verifies identity at the door using facial authentication. Security teams gain stronger assurance that the authorised person entering the building is the correct individual.

Michael Wong, CEO of Genea, highlights the opportunity to modernise access control. “Organisations expect their building technology to be as seamless and intelligent as the rest of their digital infrastructure. Working with innovative companies like Alcatraz allows us to explore how identity-driven technologies can improve both building security and user experience.”

The advantages of combining cloud access control and facial authentication

• Verify the person, not just the credential - with Rock X from Alcatraz, organisations can verify the actual person entering the building rather than relying only on a badge or credential. This helps reduce risks associated with lost, stolen, or shared badges while strengthening identity assurance at the door.

• Create a frictionless entry experience‍ - Rock X enables employees and authorised users to move through entry points quickly and naturally without needing to present a badge. The experience becomes seamless and touchless while maintaining strong security.

• Improve visibility into building access‍ - when combined with the cloud-based access management capabilities of Genea, organizations gain greater visibility into building entry events and stronger awareness of who is accessing their facilities.

• Simplify access management with the cloud‍ - Genea’s cloud platform allows security teams to manage access permissions across buildings and locations through a centralized system, while Rock X adds identity verification at the door to strengthen overall security.

Moving towards the future of ID-based access

Security teams today are looking for solutions that combine strong identity verification with modern building management systems. The collaboration between Alcatraz and Genea reflects a shared vision of how access control can evolve.

By bringing together cloud-based access control and advanced authentication technologies, organisations can begin transitioning toward identity-first access environments that improve security while maintaining a seamless experience for employees and visitors.