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Inception Turns 10: A Decade of Evolution – And Still Innovating

  • 6 days ago
  • 3 min read

Updated: 5 days ago



Inception officially turns 10 years old, marking a major milestone in the Inner Range story. What began as a bold new idea in May 2016 has grown into one of the most powerful and widely trusted access control and security platforms in its class. 


“From day one, Inception was designed to challenge the status quo by bringing modern, web-based technology to an industry still relying on legacy systems” said Steve Mitchell, Director of Product and lead developer on the Inception platform. “Ten years on, that original vision is not only intact, but it has also evolved into something far greater and far more powerful than we initially had planned.”


Inception Released: 9th May 2016



“When Inception was first released, it was positioned as a web powered security system built for today’s customers, not yesterday’s technology” states Mitchell.


At launch, Inception delivered:

  • Web connected architecture

  • Easy remote connectivity, via IR SkyTunnel, providing direct access without IT port forwarding which quickly set a new standard for upload/download that was dialer based at the time.

  • Support for up to 32 doors and 32 areas

  • 512 inputs / 512 outputs

  • 2,000 users

  • 50,000 event capacity

  • No software licences

  • Browser based configuration and management


These capabilities were groundbreaking at the time and laid the foundation for a new generation of integrated security systems. 


Recognised by the Industry

Inception’s impact didn’t go unnoticed.


“In 2017, we were extremely proud when Inception was awarded the ASIAL Access Control Product of the Year, recognising its innovation, usability, and market relevance” Mitchell continues. “This recognition confirmed what installers and end users were already experiencing in the field, that Inception was changing expectations of what an access control platform could be.” 


Evolving into a Powerhouse

Over the last decade, Inception has continued to evolve, without losing the simplicity that made it so successful.


Today’s Inception supports:

  • 128 doors / 256 readers

  • 96 areas

  • 1,024 inputs / 1,024 outputs

  • 10,000 users

  • 250,000 offline events

  • Built-in web interface

  • No mandatory software or maintenance fees

  • Seamless mobile connectivity provisioned by the award winning IR Connect mobile application unifying Inception Access Control & Intrusion with IR Video surveillance product into a single, easy to use, end user interface.


All of this is achieved with firmware updates, with no hardware replacement required, ensuring long-term value and futureproofing for customers. 



At the Core of the Inner Range Connected Ecosystem

Today, Inception sits at the heart of the Inner Range connected ecosystem, forming a powerful, unified platform that brings access control, intrusion detection, video, and automation together.


Native and high-level integrations include:

  • IR Connect

  • IR Video

  • IR Mobile Access

  • REST API for third-party integrations

  • Supported integrations with: 

    • Milestone

    • Hanwha

    • ASSA ABLOY Aperio wireless locks

    • Control4

    • ELAN Home Management


This ecosystem approach allows Inception to deliver a truly unified security experience. An ecosystem that is scalable, flexible, and easy to manage. 


Built for Installers. Designed for Customers.

From its intuitive step-by-step Commissioning Checklist, to its powerful offline capabilities and open API, Inception has always been built to make life easier for both installers and end users.


As highlighted internally, Inception supports:

  • Large-scale systems without complexity

  • Reliable offline operation

  • Modern IP and cloud connectivity without port forwarding

  • Easy expansion for growing sites


This balance of power and simplicity remains one of Inception’s greatest strengths. 


A Decade Down. The Future Ahead.

“Ten years on, Inception has grown beyond just a product, it’s evolved into a proven platform trusted globally across tens of thousands of sites and thousands of Integrator partners” concludes Mitchell.


And while this milestone is worth celebrating, innovation at Inner Range doesn’t stop here. Inception continues to evolve, adapt, and expand — ensuring it remains at the forefront of unified security for years to come.



Here’s to a decade of innovation, and to what comes next.


 

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