IDtech Accelerates Global Expansion with Advanced Access Control Across MEA
IDtech is ramping up its international operations, building on a strong European legacy in securing government facilities and critical infrastructure. With growing demand for advanced physical access control solutions across global markets, the company is expanding its footprint in regions such as the Middle East and Africa.
Thomas Deville, General Manager of IDtech Middle East and Africa, shares insights into the company’s strategic direction, recent achievements, and its role in addressing evolving security and compliance requirements.
a&s Middle East: IDtech is widely recognized across Europe for its strong legacy in securing critical government buildings and public infrastructure, with notable examples including a parliament in Belgium, the national railway network, and bPost. How does IDtech approach international markets?
Thomas Deville, General Manager of IDtech Middle East and Africa
Thomas Deville: Our international strategy closely mirrors our approach in Europe. Government institutions and critical infrastructure remain two of our primary focus segments worldwide. While IDtech is a specialized player in the field, we have developed advanced, high-reliability security solutions that align precisely with the complex requirements of public-sector clients. This includes full adherence to regulatory frameworks such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and robust cybersecurity standards as outlined in the NIS2 Directive. Our ability to deliver tailored, compliant, and future-ready systems positions us as a trusted partner in international markets where security and resilience are paramount.
A&S Middle East: In the last months, IDtech has further strengthened its position as a leading provider of advanced physical access control solutions across the Middle East and Africa. Could you share a few highlights that illustrate this regional momentum?
Thomas Deville: Indeed, 2024 has been a pivotal year in consolidating our presence across key international regions. In Africa, we completed a significant upgrade of the access control infrastructure for a national railway company, reinforcing our role in securing critical transportation networks. We also secured the new regional headquarters of a leading global oil and gas company. In Southeast Asia, we extended our longstanding collaboration with the Malaysian Ministry of the Interior— a partnership spanning over two decades—by securing a new building extension at a central customs facility on the Malaysia-Singapore border. Additionally, in the Middle East, we successfully deployed high-security solutions for three ultra-sensitive family office sites in Abu Dhabi, underscoring our capabilities in protecting both public and private high-risk environments.
Our platform is also designed to integrate seamlessly with existing surveillance and alarm systems, ensuring comprehensive situational awareness.
A&S Middle East: What tailored solutions does IDtech offer to public-sector clients, and how do they stand out from those provided by larger global competitors?
Thomas Deville: Our public-sector offering is built around an enterprise-grade solution that delivers high security while fully aligning with the most advanced European cybersecurity standards. At the core of our portfolio is a new generation of high-tech access controllers, complemented by software that enables virtually unlimited security configurations. Our platform is also designed to integrate seamlessly with existing surveillance and alarm systems, ensuring comprehensive situational awareness.
But what truly sets us apart is our personalized approach. First, we invest time in understanding the specific operational and regulatory priorities of each client. Second, we propose future-ready, adaptable solutions – our system is compatible with a wide range of reader technologies and supports multiple communication protocols, ensuring flexibility in evolving infrastructure environments. Third, we back our clients and channel partners with exceptional technical support throughout the deployment cycle, from installation to configuration and commissioning. This level of responsiveness and flexibility is often difficult to achieve with larger global vendors.
A&S Middle East: In a recent webinar, you stated that “no company can do it alone.” Could you elaborate on some of IDtech’s strategic partnerships in the Middle East and Africa, and how they contribute to your overall value proposition?
Thomas Deville: At IDtech, we embrace an open-platform philosophy and strongly believe in the power of collaboration. To deliver secure, future-ready, and convenient solutions, we partner with some of the world’s most innovative technology providers.
In the Middle East and Africa, we’ve recently formalized several strategic partnerships that enhance our integrated offering. For example, our collaboration with Milestone Systems has resulted in a robust and cost-effective plugin that enables seamless integration with their video management platform, supporting organizations with over 1,000 cameras and alarm points.
We also maintain a longstanding strategic alliance with STid, whose access readers are fully compatible with our system. We are currently integrating their latest mobile ID application, which will enable our customers to manage virtual access credentials directly within our platform—a significant step forward in both user convenience and operational efficiency.
Finally, we have launched a highly promising technology partnership with Touchless Biometric Systems (TBS). Their state-of-the-art, touchless biometric devices set a new benchmark for secure access control and time & attendance, and we are proud to integrate their cutting-edge solutions into our ecosystem.
These partnerships reflect our commitment to openness, innovation, and delivering best-in-class security solutions tailored to local and regional needs.
A&S Middle East: You often mention the importance of cloud infrastructure in supporting your growth. Can you tell us more about your approach to cloud-based deployment and how it benefits your clients, particularly in the region?
Thomas Deville: Absolutely. Our cloud-based solutions are hosted on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), which we selected for its unparalleled security, performance, and global reach. OCI provides one of the most advanced and secure cloud environments available today, offering our clients confidence in both the resilience and compliance of our platform.
In the Middle East and Africa, we benefit from a significant regional advantage: Oracle operates data centers in several key markets, allowing us to meet strict data sovereignty requirements and ensure that sensitive information remains within national borders. This is a critical factor for many public-sector and enterprise clients.
As a result, an increasing number of customers are choosing our cloud offering — not only because of its robust functionality and scalability, but also because it is built on a trusted infrastructure that meets the highest global standards for security and compliance.
