Cloud Access Control for Chicago Offices: Is Brivo or Paxton Right for You?

The Access Control Decision Every Chicago Office Faces

At some point, every Chicago office, co-working space, and mixed-use building outgrows the “keys and a lockbox” approach. Whether it is a tenant asking for key fob access, an insurance requirement for audit trails, or a property manager who is tired of rekeying locks every time an employee leaves, access control becomes necessary.

The question I get asked most often is whether to go cloud-based or on-premise. And increasingly, the conversation comes down to two platforms: Brivo and Paxton. Both are solid systems with different philosophies, and the right choice depends entirely on how your building operates.

Cloud vs On-Premise: What the Difference Actually Means

Cloud-Based Access Control

With a cloud-based system, the management software lives on the vendor’s servers. You access it through a web browser or mobile app from anywhere. User management, door schedules, reports, and system configuration all happen through the cloud interface. The physical hardware at the door (controller, reader, lock) still exists, but the brains of the system are remote.

The advantages are real: no on-site server to maintain, automatic software updates, remote management from anywhere, and easier multi-site management. The trade-off is that you depend on an internet connection for management functions and you pay an ongoing subscription.

On-Premise Access Control

With an on-premise system, the management software runs on a computer or server in your building. All data stays local. You have full control over the system without depending on an internet connection for day-to-day operation.

The advantages: no recurring subscription for the base functionality, full local control, and no dependency on external servers. The trade-offs: you need a dedicated computer or server, you handle software updates yourself, and remote management requires additional configuration.

Brivo: Fully Cloud-Based Access Control

Brivo is one of the most established cloud-based access control platforms in the market. Their system is designed from the ground up to be managed through a web browser. There is no on-site server. The door controllers connect to the internet and communicate with Brivo’s cloud infrastructure.

How Brivo Works

Brivo’s door controllers install at each controlled entry point and connect to your building’s network. Each controller manages one or more doors with readers and electric locks. The controllers maintain a local credential database, so if the internet goes down temporarily, authorized credentials still work at the door. But all management, reporting, user provisioning, and system changes happen through the Brivo cloud portal.

Where Brivo Excels

Multi-site property management. If you manage five office buildings across Chicago and the suburbs, Brivo lets you manage every door in every building from a single dashboard. Add a user at one building, and you can grant them access to other locations instantly. This is genuinely transformative for property management companies.

Zero IT overhead. There is no server to maintain, no software to update, no backup to manage. Brivo handles all of that. For buildings without dedicated IT staff, this removes a significant burden.

Mobile credentials. Brivo’s mobile app allows users to unlock doors with their smartphone using Bluetooth. No fob or card to carry, lose, or replace. This is increasingly popular in Chicago offices with younger workforces.

API integrations. Brivo has a robust API that integrates with property management platforms, visitor management systems, and video surveillance. If your building uses a VMS like Milestone or Genetec, Brivo can tie door events to camera views automatically.

Brivo Considerations

Ongoing subscription costs. Brivo charges a monthly fee per door. Over the life of the system, this adds up. A 10-door installation with a monthly per-door fee costs significantly more over five years than a comparable on-premise system with no recurring fees.

Internet dependency for management. While doors still lock and unlock with stored credentials during an internet outage, you cannot make changes, pull reports, or add users until connectivity is restored. For most Chicago offices with reliable internet, this is not a daily issue. But it is a factor during network outages.

Vendor lock-in. Brivo controllers work with Brivo’s cloud platform. If you decide to switch systems in the future, you are replacing controllers, not just software.

Paxton: On-Premise With Cloud Options

Paxton offers two main product lines that serve different needs: Net2 and Paxton10.

Paxton Net2

Net2 is Paxton’s established on-premise access control system. The management software installs on a Windows PC in your building. Controllers connect to the PC over your local network. All user management, door scheduling, and reporting happens through the local Net2 software.

Net2 has been around for years and has a large installed base. It is reliable, straightforward to configure, and well-understood by installers and building engineers. For a single-building office that wants no recurring fees and full local control, Net2 is an excellent choice.

Where Net2 fits best: Single-location offices with 2 to 50 doors, buildings with on-site management or IT staff, organizations that prefer one-time purchase over subscriptions, environments where internet reliability is a concern.

Net2 does offer a cloud add-on called Paxton Connect, which provides remote access to the system through a web browser. This gives you some of the convenience of cloud management while keeping the core system on-premise.

Paxton10

Paxton10 is Paxton’s newer platform that combines access control with video management in a single interface. It can run on-premise, in the cloud, or as a hybrid. Paxton10 is designed for larger, more complex installations and supports more advanced features like floor plans, camera integration, and event-driven automation.

If your building needs both access control and video surveillance managed through a single platform, Paxton10 is worth evaluating. It can display camera feeds alongside door events, trigger recordings on access events, and provide a unified interface for security management.

Where Paxton10 fits best: Larger office buildings or campuses, organizations that want combined access control and video in one system, buildings that want a hybrid cloud approach with local processing.

Credential Types: Fobs, Cards, and Mobile

Key Fobs and Cards

Both Brivo and Paxton support standard RFID credentials. Paxton uses their proprietary tokens and cards, while Brivo supports multiple credential formats. For most Chicago offices, key fobs are the default credential. They are simple, reliable, and residents or employees understand how to use them.

One important consideration: credential security. Older 125kHz proximity cards (HID ProxII, EM4100) can be cloned easily with inexpensive devices. For any new installation, I recommend 13.56MHz encrypted credentials (SEOS, DESFire, or iCLASS SE) that resist cloning. Both platforms support secure credential formats.

Mobile Credentials

Both Brivo and Paxton offer smartphone-based access. The user holds their phone near the reader, and the door unlocks via Bluetooth or NFC. Mobile credentials are convenient and eliminate the “I forgot my fob” problem. They also make it easy to issue temporary access to visitors or contractors.

The trade-off is that mobile credentials depend on the user’s phone having battery, having the app installed, and having Bluetooth enabled. Not every employee or resident wants to use their phone for building access, so having fob or card backup is practical.

Door Hardware Considerations

The access control platform is only part of the equation. The physical door hardware matters just as much.

Electric Strikes vs Magnetic Locks

Electric strikes replace the standard door strike plate and allow the door to open when triggered. They work with standard door closers and maintain the door’s normal latch function. Magnetic locks (mag locks) use an electromagnet to hold the door closed and require a separate request-to-exit sensor. Both work with Brivo and Paxton.

For Chicago offices, electric strikes are generally preferred because they are fire-code-friendly (fail-secure models lock when power is lost, fail-safe models unlock for emergency egress) and they work with existing door hardware. Mag locks require more careful planning for fire code compliance and egress requirements.

Reader Placement

Readers need to be mounted at the right height (typically 42 to 48 inches AFF per ADA guidelines) and positioned where users naturally approach the door. For Chicago buildings with stone or marble lobbies, reader mounting may require special brackets or surface-mounted conduit to avoid drilling into decorative surfaces.

Integration With Video Surveillance

One of the strongest arguments for a modern access control system is integration with security cameras. When someone badges into a door, the system can automatically pull up the nearest camera view and tag the recording with the access event. If there is a security incident, you can search by door event rather than scrubbing through hours of footage.

Brivo integrates with multiple VMS platforms through its API. Paxton10 has built-in video management. For Paxton Net2, video integration requires a separate VMS with an integration module.

Audit Trails and Compliance

Both Brivo and Paxton provide detailed audit trails showing who accessed which door and when. This is essential for compliance requirements, incident investigation, and building management. Cloud-based systems like Brivo make these reports accessible from anywhere. On-premise systems like Net2 require access to the local management PC.

For Chicago offices in regulated industries (healthcare, finance, legal), robust audit trails may be a compliance requirement. Verify that the system you choose can generate the reports your compliance team needs.

Ongoing Costs: The Five-Year View

For a fair comparison, model costs over five years:

Brivo: Lower upfront hardware cost, but monthly per-door subscription fees add up. Include the subscription cost multiplied by 60 months in your total.

Paxton Net2: Higher upfront hardware and software cost, but no recurring subscription for the base system. Paxton Connect (cloud add-on) has a modest annual fee if you want remote access.

Paxton10: Mid-range upfront cost with optional cloud licensing depending on deployment model.

For a 10-door Chicago office, the five-year total cost can be surprisingly close between platforms, but the cash flow pattern is different. Brivo spreads costs monthly. Paxton concentrates costs upfront.

Chicago-Specific Considerations

Internet Reliability

Cloud access control management depends on a reliable internet connection. Most Chicago commercial buildings have solid internet infrastructure, but some older buildings in neighborhoods undergoing development may have less reliable service. If your building has frequent internet issues, an on-premise system with an optional cloud add-on is the safer bet.

Elevator Integration

Many Chicago high-rises need elevator floor control integrated with access control. A resident badges in at the lobby, and the elevator is called and restricted to their floor. Both Brivo and Paxton support elevator integration, but it requires additional hardware (elevator control modules) and coordination with the elevator company. Plan for this early in the project.

Loading Dock and Garage Access

Commercial buildings often need access control at loading docks and parking garages. These locations require weatherproof readers, long-range readers for vehicles, and integration with gate operators. Verify that your chosen platform supports the reader types and controller configurations needed for these entry points.

Making the Decision

Choose Brivo if you manage multiple properties, want zero on-site servers, prioritize remote management, and are comfortable with ongoing subscription costs.

Choose Paxton Net2 if you have a single building, want local control without recurring fees, have on-site staff to manage the system, and prefer a proven, straightforward platform.

Choose Paxton10 if you want combined access control and video management, need a hybrid cloud approach, or are planning a larger deployment with advanced features.

For access control system design and installation in Chicago and the North Shore suburbs, Vidimost LLC works with both Brivo and Paxton platforms. We can help you evaluate your building and choose the right system. Call us at (872) 254-5015.