What Is the LEAF Standard for Access Control and Identity Management?

Jan 08, 2023LEAF is a new standard for identity credentials, providing an alternative to well-known platforms such as LEGIC or HID. Unlike these technologies, LEAF is an open platform created to support interoperability within the access-control market. That means end users could use their LEAF ID card, key fob or smartphone to unlock access via any LEAF-enabled reader. And because the LEAF standard is backward-adaptable with suitable existing reader hardware, moving to LEAF is easy and cost-effective for system operators and manufacturers.

The LEAF standard was conceived by DSP and cryptographic engineer Hugo Wendling and has been carried forward by the LEAF Consortium. The consortium comprises industry partners (including ELATEC) representing hardware manufacturers, software developers and identity media manufacturers. The standard is based on MIFARE DESFire EV2, which supports advanced security features within an open multi-application architecture. For added security, the end user can set a LEAF Custom Cryptographic (Cc) key so that only authorized devices loaded with the key can read the encrypted media.

As the terms "smart office" and "smart city" move into the mainstream, many applications require user identification and access control. But managing multiple user identities and identification media for different applications (transportation, building entry, EV charging, device sign-on, etc.) is a hassle for users. At the same time, implementing a user identification and access-control solution can be daunting for equipment manufacturers and buyers.

The LEAF standard ensures that all LEAF-enabled products are interoperable with other LEAF products. LEAF-enabled products include door locks for building access and RFID readers for physical and logical access control. LEAF access readers can be integrated into various applications, including elevator panels, turnstiles, multifunction printers, computer workstations, vending machines, retail registers, EV charging stations and more. The open standard provides more flexibility and versatility for equipment manufacturers and owners, providing a future-proof solution that anyone can adopt without disrupting existing access-control infrastructure.

An interoperable universe of access-control solutions is easier for end users, too. The LEAF standard creates an ecosystem of products and devices from different manufacturers that work together seamlessly, so a single credential can be used with everything. Instead of juggling a wallet full of different ID cards or a multitude of competing apps for digital identity management, they can use their LEAF ID card for all LEAF-compatible devices. If the standard takes off in the future, a single digital identity could be used across multiple applications at work and in the consumer realm.

The LEAF initiative makes implementing access control easier than ever. Suitable readers can be made LEAF-compatible with a simple firmware update, enabling backward adaptability with existing reader technologies. The open platform makes LEAF exceptionally easy for equipment manufacturers and system integrators to implement. And it makes it possible to design an integrated access system for a building or campus that incorporates everything from the front door to the printer under one universal standard—even when using readers from different manufacturers. As a result, LEAF gives equipment manufacturers and end users an excellent physical and logical access control option.

Curious about implementing LEAF? ELATEC can help you decide whether the LEAF standard is right for you. Sean Houchin is the product manager for ELATEC, in Palm City, Fla., and is part of the global ELATEC GmbH product-management team. He has more than 20 years of experience in product development, management and applications engineering. Sean is an expert in RFID technology, optoelectronic and fiber optic video, audio, and data transmission equipment for military and commercial applications, and is a veteran of the United States Navy.