Cloud Access Control NYC: Brivo vs Genetec
Compare Brivo, Genetec SaaS and Openpath for NYC offices — cost, mobile credentials, elevator integration, security features and total ownership today.
Cloud access control has eaten the market. Over the last five years we've watched new NYC office tenants overwhelmingly skip on-prem servers in favor of Brivo, Genetec Security Center SaaS, and Openpath. This guide compares the three platforms we install most often — what each does well, where they fall short, and how to pick for a NYC office build-out.
Why Cloud for Access Control?
Three reasons: lower upfront cost, easier multi-site management, and mobile credentials. A cloud system eliminates the on-prem server, the SQL database maintenance, and most of the downtime risk associated with legacy access control. For a NYC tenant with 2–10 doors, cloud is almost always the right answer. For enterprise tenants with 100+ doors and stringent data residency requirements, Genetec on-prem or Software House C•CURE remain valid alternatives — but even those deploy hybrid cloud more often than pure on-prem now.
Brivo — Best for Multi-Site and SMB
Brivo is the default cloud access platform in NYC for small-to-midmarket. Easy admin UI, reasonable hardware cost, strong mobile credential (Brivo Mobile Pass), native video integration with Eagle Eye Networks. Where Brivo wins: a property manager with 12 buildings, each with 6 doors, wants one dashboard and doesn't need enterprise policy engines. Where Brivo loses: granular access policies, complex elevator destination dispatch, heavy video operations center workflow.
Genetec Security Center SaaS — Best for Unified Video + Access
If your NYC office runs more than 24 cameras and needs video-verified access events, Genetec is the best choice we install. The unified client means one operator watches both access events and live video in the same pane, and Genetec's policy engine (Synergis) supports anti-passback, two-person rule, interlocks, and schedule rotations that Brivo can't match. TCO can be lower than running two separate platforms for video and access.
Openpath (Avigilon Alta) — Best for Touchless & Mobile-First
Openpath's standout feature is its Wave-to-Unlock mobile credential and its clean modern admin UI. It's popular with tech-forward tenants who want the fastest mobile unlock experience. Openpath's hardware is a touch more expensive than Brivo, but it's a slicker product. Limitation: elevator integration is less mature than Genetec, and enterprise policy features are narrower.
Elevator Integration — The Hidden Complexity in NYC
If your NYC office sits in a multi-tenant building with floor-restricted elevators, you need elevator access control integration. Otis (Compass), KONE (Destination), Schindler (PORT), and ThyssenKrupp (Agile) each have different APIs and different integration fees. Genetec has the deepest elevator integration library. Brivo supports the major vendors via Serial-Input Module. Openpath partnership coverage is growing but lighter.
Mobile Credentials vs Cards — Which to Issue?
Issue both. Mobile credentials (Apple Wallet / Google Wallet) are faster to provision, revoke, and reissue — no more "I lost my card" trips to the lobby. But keep physical cards for visitors, contractors, and anyone who refuses to install an app. Modern readers handle both simultaneously.
What We Recommend for a NYC Office Build-Out
- Under 10 doors, single site, no complex video: Brivo.
- 10–40 doors, or 16+ cameras with integration needs: Genetec Security Center SaaS.
- Mobile-first tech company, 4–12 doors: Openpath.
- 100+ doors, enterprise policy engine, data residency: On-prem Genetec or Software House C•CURE — still relevant.
Get the Right Platform the First Time
LoVolta is authorized and experienced on Brivo, Genetec, Software House (Tyco), and Openpath. We recommend based on fit, not commission — and we install, not just quote. See our Access Control service page or request a free on-site assessment and we'll spec the platform that fits your building, tenants, and budget.
