Apparatus and methods for distributing and storing electronic access clients

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by a processor included in an access control client depot, cause the access control client depot to carry out steps that include:

• receiving an access control client from an access control client appliance that manages a plurality of access control clients, wherein the access control client is encrypted for a client device using a public key associated with the client device;
• storing the access control client in a storage device, wherein the access control client is also stored by at least one other access control client depot;
• receiving, from the client device, a request to provide the access control client to the client device;
• and
• providing, to the client device, the access control client.

An access control client appliance, comprising:

• a processor;
• a storage device configured to store a plurality of access control clients;
• and
• a memory configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the access control client appliance to carry out steps that include:
• receiving, from a client device, a request for an access control client of the plurality of access control clients;
• encrypting the access control client for the client device using a public key associated with the client device;
• providing the access control client to at least one access control client depot for storage;
• and
• directing the client device to download the access control client from the at least one access control client depot.