At GSX 2025 in New Orleans, Mercury Security, known for open-architecture access control hardware, turned attention to its embedded application environment for Mercury MP Controllers. It highlighted partner-developed certified apps, including SecuriThings and Viakoo.
Soon after previewing the platform at ISC West earlier this year, the HID brand reports that interest has grown rapidly. A growing number of integrators and software providers are working on apps for the official rollout slated before year-end. “Since we first introduced the embedded application environment, our focus has been on working closely with dozens of partners to set them up for success,” says René Schimmer, senior product manager for controller apps at Mercury Security. Certification steps include rigorous functional testing, security validation and performance checks under controlled conditions. Those milestones, the company adds, will finalize the ecosystem before general availability.
Traditional access controllers typically rely on central server logic, but this embedded framework moves decision-making to the reader end. Mercury Security says this approach boosts response speed, lowers reliance on wide-area networks and delivers advanced management features. The framework streamlines the way controllers, Internet of Things modules, elevators, card readers and locking devices connect, uniting them under a unified control layer. That cohesive setup, the company argues, simplifies system management and quickens troubleshooting.
As networks converge with physical security, safeguarding access decisions at the edge has grown crucial. Mercury Security’s layered security strategy builds encrypted channels and handles certificates inside the controller, with app-level monitoring allowing constant oversight. These safeguards guard against tampering and breaches and support regulatory audits. Partners can design specialized logic without exposing data, keeping critical processes on site and cutting the window for cyber threats. The built-in certificate management module, the firm explains, helps meet compliance standards for sensitive sites.
For system designers and building operators, Mercury MP Controllers have shifted from basic door control devices to intelligent processing centers. Their embedded environment offers a secure platform that scales with demand. Open interfaces let vetted third-party software run custom functions on the controller itself rather than back at a central server, freeing up bandwidth and empowering companies to adapt workflows at each entry point. That edge-based logic model can cut latency in time-sensitive settings like healthcare or industrial control.
Steve Lucas, vice president of sales, said the demonstrations underscored how on-board applications transform controllers into proactive security gateways. He noted attendee feedback confirmed strong market interest in local processing power and seamless software integration.
Mercury shared partner applications that have cleared a testing process for launch in coming months:
- h.e.s. ASSA ABLOY HES KS210 Lock: The Mercury KS210 device app lets original equipment manufacturers add support for up to 32 KS210 OSDP server cabinet locks without custom coding.
- HID pivCLASS: This module adds pivCLASS authentication on Mercury MP Intelligent Controllers, using PKI credentials to match security requirements in government and other regulated facilities.
- SecuriThings: A management platform that monitors and protects physical security assets at scale, offering real-time device status checks, compliance reporting and cyber threat alerts.
- Viakoo: A software service that tracks health metrics across physical security installations, highlighting vulnerabilities, lifecycle trends and enforcing patches, password rotations and certificate updates.
