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Three U.S. Universities Install Acre Security Access Control Platform

  • By Matt Jones
  • 08/21/25

Cloud-native physical and digital security solutions company Acre Security recently announced that it has deployed its access control platform at three major universities in the U.S., according to a news release. Acre partnered with Atrium Campus to provide coverage for more than 69,000 students at the University of Virginia (UVA), George Mason University, and Rockhurst University. The new platform allows student IDs to be used as credentials to access facilities like residence halls, dining halls, libraries, and more.

Students can use the credential of their choice (either a physical card, mobile device, or biometric authentication) to access facilities. The system also lets university administrators real-time visibility of card usage for emergency management and threat detection purposes.

"We're building the future of campus safety–where intelligent systems anticipate threats before they materialize," said Acre Security CEO Kumar Sokka. "We’re leveraging the best in traditional security to create living ecosystems that protect not just physical spaces, but the very essence of academic freedom. We need to safeguard physical intrusions and sophisticated digital attacks, and that requires systems that adapt, learn, and evolve alongside the communities they protect."

Acre’s planned future developments include AI-powered anomaly detection, enhanced options for biometric identification, integrating with campus transportation and other off-campus amenities, visitor management, and automated compliance reporting for Clery Act regulations, according to the news release.

"Campus safety means more than just safety with physical access–what’s needed is an intelligent ecosystem that protects students from both traditional and emerging threats," said Jeff Groom, Acre Security’s Director of Engineering AI. "Our AI capabilities are designed to identify unusual patterns, from potential security breaches to attempts at digital manipulation through deepfakes or social engineering. Whether managing routine access, responding to emergencies, or protecting student identities in our increasingly digital world, the platform continuously learns and adapts to each institution's unique security landscape."

The system’s capabilities include unified access management from a single credential; real-time emergency response with campus-wide lockdowns and zone-specific controls; and digital mustering and accountability features for tracking during evacuations, fires, or shelter-in-place events.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

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