To understand the necessity of a standard like PACS.10, one must first appreciate the limitations of current infrastructure. Most modern buildings rely on PACS standards that are fundamentally "reactive." A user presents a credential, the system checks a database, and access is granted or denied. This binary approach—often described as "something you have" (a card) or "something you know" (a PIN)—is fraught with vulnerabilities. Credentials can be cloned, PINs can be shared, and once access is granted, the system ceases to monitor the user.
: These systems increase physician productivity, reduce the physical space needed for storage, and decrease patient exposure to harmful rays by reducing the need for re-imaging. pacs.10