What is an access control solution?
A security system designed to control staff access to sites, and certain areas of a facility. Typically an access control solution uses a few forms of identification and verification from employees to grant or deny access.
Commercial access control solutions help track employee location and movement throughout the building or site for security and safety purposes.
Why are access control solutions needed?
Access control ensures that only authorised individuals can enter a building, room, or area in your business.
All staff will be set up with an identifier that will allow the security system to know who is and isn’t allowed in the building or area.
What types of businesses benefit from access control?
Healthcare
From reducing the chance of stolen equipment and materials to ensuring the safety of patients, and the sterility of operating rooms and other private areas. Healthcare environments like doctors’ offices, hospitals, and specialist clinics can benefit from having secure access control.
Retail stores
In public-facing industries, access control can be crucial for the safety of your staff and business property. For example, a high-street store might invest in access control for staff and stock rooms to prevent the public from entering. This keeps staff and shoppers safe, while also preventing theft, vandalism and other crimes.
Office buildings
Whether it’s a small agency or a huge corporate business, office-based buildings tend to use access control at building entrances and specific office areas. Offices regularly store expensive equipment such as computers, laptops, phones, etc. as well as any confidential documentation that legally has to be kept secure. Loss of equipment can be very costly, and leaving important information vulnerable to theft can ruin a company’s reputation, as such access control is vital.
Housing
For apartment complexes and other shared living buildings, access control is crucial in ensuring tenants’ safety from crime and threatening behaviour from non-residents.
A keypad or card identifier would be ideal for this building type as it’s easy to provide new tenants with the code or individual card to access the premises when they move in.
Banks and government buildings
High-security businesses that often have confidential documentation, restricted equipment, and money stored on site would require robust access control systems to prevent theft and misuse.
Security in this industry may consider a double-factor identification such as a keypad and biometric to create a doubly secure system.
What are the different types of access control identifiers?
Keypad
Users are required to enter a PIN code using the keypad to gain access to restricted areas and buildings.
This is usually the most cost-effective of the options and is often found in corporate offices, hotels and apartment complexes.
Card-based
This implements access restrictions to a building or site by using keycards or fobs that can be scanned at access points, these cards contain unique identification codes that will be recognised by the system and allow authorised employees access to designated areas.
This type of access control solution is commonly used in office buildings, healthcare, retail, and universities.
Biometric
Arguably the most secure type of access control, the biometric uses physical traits such as a fingerprint, face, palm and iris to identify authorised individuals. As these traits are incapable of being copied this is a highly robust solution.
This access control solution is often used in high-security environments such as banks and government buildings and areas.
Steps to setting up your perfect access control system
To ensure your access control system is set up correctly, and sustainably for your business you need to follow the following steps
- Choose the best access control set up for your business
- Inspect your property to ensure the building can support the system
- Install and configure all the required and suitable cables, readers, and locks for your system throughout the building or area
- Test the system to check that everything is working as it should
- Set up permissions to define users access throughout the building
- Train your staff and security on how to use the system
What should you consider when deciding on an access control solution?
Remote access
As an added level of security and flexibility having the option to access the system remotely can allow users to fix issues quickly and conveniently.
Compatibility with current infrastructure
Access control systems must be compatible with your building’s infrastructure for ease of setup and security.
Access credentials
As mentioned previously there are different types of identifiers, always consider which type is best suited for your users and the level of security you require.
For example, biometric identifiers may be suitable for government buildings and banks as they are incapable of being leaked or stolen. But this type of identifier may not be fit for purpose for a retail store that may have a high staff turnover, a smaller budget, and a reduced need for that level of security. A better choice for retail would be a keypad or card.
Ease of use
Optimising your access control solution for your business, property, and people will inherently improve the usability, and accessibility of the system for those it is set up for.
Visitor access
In many cases, a business will welcome visitors who are not set up to access the system, so before choosing and installing a solution you should always consider what areas may need to be accessed by the public, clients, job candidates, customers, and contractors.
If your business requires access for visitors you may consider creating visitor passes that open doors to specific areas, or having some areas open to visitors such as waiting areas and receptions.
Cost
Cost can vary depending on industry, business size and requirements, considering all these factors will help you decide what kind of solution is best for your business.
Why choose SmartWatch for your security needs?
Bespoke security solutions
SmartWatch offers a large range of security options to suit any business, and these products can be flexed to meet your specific needs. Whether you need CCTV or Access Control you can find the solutions that will help create robust and reliable site security.
24/7 customer support, 365 day of the year
SmartWatch Solutions has been providing innovative solutions and excellent customer service since 2006, when you invest in their security solutions you get more than just the product. You gain access to their team of accredited experts to assist you with all your needs all day, every day.
Remote Assistance
As well as being available at all times, SmartWatch has remote assistance services that allow fast response to your concerns and queries. So you’ll never have to worry about not fixing an issue in time.
Choosing the best-suited access control solution for your business and staff can be difficult, book a consultation with SmartWatch today and we’ll help you choose the perfect access control system for your needs.
