What Is Access Control?

Access Control is an excellent security system that regulates who or what can use or view resources in a computing environment.

Today, it’s a crucial concept in security that lowers the risk to the business or organization. The access control system can be physical or logical.

  • Physical ACS provides limited access in building, room campuses and IT assets.
  • Logical ACS limits access control limits connections to computer data, network and system files.


Why Do You Need Access Control?

Having an access control system is an excellent security option for your home or business. The access control system can enhance your security without any hassle.  The data generated by the system not only boost security but also productivity, creativity and performance.

The Access Control system can also increase happiness and fulfillment. This is very important for users because security isn’t only about technology.

Why use an access control system instead of physical keys?

The digital key system is a need of today’s dynamic world; it’s the simple form of physical access control and the method many organizations use. The digital keys come with several flaws and limitations especially an organization expanding.  The most common limitations that organization can face with physical keys are:

  • As long as you use the physical keys, you will never know how many unauthorized copies have been made and who is holding them.
  • If you missed placed or lost the key, this can cause chaos and at the end you need to replace the lock.
  • With physical keys, you can’t see when or how many times someone’s uses a key, so you don’t have any access to your security.
  • Physical keys don’t provide user-level and time-of-day control access. It means you can’t restrict the access time with physical keys.
  • If you have multiple locks then you need a number of keys, which is very inconvenient to carry and use. Also, it is difficult to remember the keys of each lock. 

Common benefits of access control System

The electronic access control system help you to avoid the downsides of using mechanical keys and give you much more control. Some common benefits this are:

  • Hard to make duplicate copies of keys and the holder is certain of the number of keys in circulation.
  • Only one key is required for all the doors it needs to open – no more carrying bunches of keys!
  • The access control system keys come with digital encryption, so no one can see the code.
  • No worry to change the lock if the access right of lost keys is simply removed from the system. 
  • Most of the digital locks are connected to some sort of network that access rights can be changed remotely. 

Conclusion

Good access control gives you even more control that lets you set these parameters for each individual. This allows you to quickly update them whenever you need to. You can record who’s accessed where and when, so you can easily determine who might have been involved.

Access Control Systems as a Tool of Management

It’s time to look at a major trend in physical security. An access control system (ACS) is an essential component for securing a large office building or a modern enterprise. Only the installation of an access control system can provide maximum protection of the object from the penetration of persons who have no right to do so.

An access control and management system is a combination of hardware and software, the purpose of which is to provide the opportunity to pass or drive to a certain territory or to certain premises only to those persons who have the appropriate permission.

Access Control Systems as a Tool of Management

Any enterprise would like to pay employees for the actual hours worked, and not for late arrivals, unauthorized absences and premature departures from work. It is equally important to control the work of an employee during the entire working time- timely arrival at work does not guarantee the conscientious performance of their duties.

The use of access control and management systems allows managers to solve these problems, create an evidence base in labor disputes and prevent the possibility of errors and abuse.

Electric locks or door openers are a wise investment to improve security and convenience in access control for businesses, neighborhood communities and single-family homes.

On the other hand, it is worth mentioning that one of the biggest trends in recent years is mobile access control, which consists of using a mobile device (a cell phone, a tablet or a smart watch) to access doors, gates, etc. networks, services and other restricted access spaces.

In addition to the use of mobile devices, which by their nature require at least one authentication factor, this modality represents the commitment to provide comfort and convenience for users , a fundamental pillar in today’s access control systems.

It is important to clarify that the application that supports a mobile credential must have cryptographic security, which also prevents an identification from being transferred to another device.

By the way, one of the most frequent questions related to this type of system is: what happens when the person loses or the mobile device is stolen?

Well, thanks to the system management software, the security chiefs can grant or overthrow the identities, in addition to controlling the doors by time, privileges, access level, etc.

When the system uses an extra identity management platform, the privileges of both platforms must be removed, although today the market offers cloud management software that can already link both platforms.

How to guarantee a long service life of access control systems?

Finally, when we talk about the useful life of access control, the most important thing is to regulate the voltage of an installation. Checking that the system has regulated energy is synonymous with guaranteeing a long useful life for the system.

That is why it is recommended to have voltage regulators, power supplies and backup batteries for the readers and the control panel: to withstand electrical faults and voltage spikes.

This is crucial when power returns after a fall, as it comes back with great force, and that’s when systems break down.

On the other hand there is the dust factor. The recommendation is to have control panels with perfectly sealed cabinets. In this way, the useful life of these equipment is also guaranteed.

2021 With COVID and Access Control System

The Coronavirus effect worldwide makes us rethink many of our solutions in access control in critical centers, where until today, biometric solutions by fingerprint were the most efficient and economical.

As we all take precautions when touching railings, elevator buttons or door handles due to the danger of contagion, in the case of a biometric fingerprint reader it is inevitable to have to touch the sensor to read it and also, inevitably all the people in the organization will have the risk of contagion by having to touch it.

Access Control System

In this adaptation process, how your access control systems can mitigate risks becomes highly relevant. The two aspects that most concern administrators today: how to maintain security (know who enters) and avoid the transmission of the COVID19 virus.

Luckily, all the fingerprint readers come with the option of a proximity card, allowing the use of both technologies and preventing fingerprint biometrics from being contaminated.

Another case of risk are the hands and the electronic cylinders where once we have passed the RFID card we have to touch or move the knob to open the door.

The fact of being a mechanical system forces us to touch a specific area of ​​the door by all the people who pass, increasing the risk of contagion.

This has made us reflect on what solutions and equipment can minimize the risk of contagion from Covid19 without losing security and practicality in access control.

If the door is hinged, we can add a motorized system that will open and close without having to touch the handle, if in addition the access control is by proximity (RFID) or with a hands-free system, we will avoid touching the reader.

The exit buttons can be non-contact, or through detection elements such as radars or magnetic loops.

Also in the universe of access control systems there are technologies that dispense with contact with other people or with machines, which can be very useful at a time when it is imperative to keep our hands as clean as possible and avoid contact with surfaces that have been touched by dozens of people.

Reduce physical contact points in common spaces. Use mobile authentication.

Lower or eliminate physical contact with ID readers. In the universe of access control systems there are technologies that make it possible to dispense with contact with people and equipment. Avoid rubbing with surfaces that have been touched by dozens of people.

Reduce the need for contact with Pin buttons and biometric fingerprint readers. Replace them with mobile authentication which is more secure.

Various access control systems have applications for telephones that allow collaborators and visitors to authenticate from their cell phones. In addition, they are more secure, since they work with a password to enter the app from the phone before unlocking the door.

We know that administrators are constantly evaluating this situation, so it is important to make an inventory of the tools you have at your disposal and that help you to reinforce the security policies of your property.

ACS For a Country House

Security systems for a country house are necessary for organizing a security network on a private territory, restricting access to an object by unauthorized persons, round-the-clock monitoring of the situation.

The solution to the problem can be implemented in various ways – using professional or household complex technical equipment. The choice of users will be based on characteristics, tasks to be solved and budget.

Among residents of country cottages, the following options are most common:

  • Installation of an access control and management system.
  • Installation of audio or video intercom system.
  • Organization of a network of round-the-clock video surveillance of the local area.

To organize the initial level of security at the facility, it is enough to install a modern video intercom, which supports the connection of additional sensors, devices and outdoor cameras. It often becomes the basic element for creating a smart home system.

If the user wants to get a security network with more powerful and perfect characteristics, you should pay attention to the ACS and the outdoor video surveillance system. Below we will take a closer look at the features of each method of ensuring the safety of a country house.

Security and video surveillance systems for a country house

A security network and security installation in a country cottage is a whole complex of equipment, sensors and additional elements that significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized persons entering private territory, and protect the owner’s property from damage.

This includes not only the alarm, but also calling emergency services in the event of a fire, gas leak, breakthrough of a pipe with cold and hot water.

Security and video surveillance systems for a country house allow, with the right choice of devices and proper installation, to turn a cottage into an impregnable fortress for intruders.

If the theft was committed during the absence of the owner, then the recordings from CCTV cameras will help to quickly restore the picture of the event that happened, and identify the identity of the offender.

Installation of ACS and video surveillance systems in a private house

The quality of the security system depends not only on the selected equipment, but also on the installation of the structure. During installation of Access Control Systems, it is important to follow a number of rules that will ensure a long service life of equipment and a high level of protection:

CCTV cameras are recommended to be mounted in hidden niches and other places inaccessible to unauthorized persons. It is important to protect the device from direct sunlight, rain and precipitation.

Each camera must be within the range of the other lens. This will identify the attacker in the event of equipment damage.

The main places for fixing video cameras are parking, a gate, gates, front doors and the perimeter of the local area. It is advisable not to leave blind spots.

When choosing outdoor appliances, it is necessary to check the operating temperature characteristics. The chamber must have a special protective casing and an element that maintains a temperature sufficient for the stable operation of the device.

When choosing a door station for a video intercom, you should give preference to a vandal-proof metal casing that is resistant to corrosion.

The security system of a country house can consist of a different number of modules – ACS, video surveillance, intercom, tracking sensors, smoke, alarms and other equipment.

Door Access Control System will allow you to configure the coordinated operation of the installation and the interaction of components with each other.

Home Security In 4 Key Steps To The Pandemic Process

During the pandemic, you need to ensure the same security of your household during the period when you stay at home and maintain your personal safety in a health dimension. For houses that have not taken precautions, risks are likely to occur in case of many different possibilities; from theft to water leakage, from gas leakage to window breakage, from door strain. All kinds of damage, small or large, are events that can happen in houses. Noticing them early makes it easier to intervene directly in the situation, preventing them from being a bigger problem. In this way, it protects both inside and outside the house through the installation of a security camera system in homes and smart devices.

Here are 4 key factors you can get in your home for a large-scale review of the pandemic process:

  1. Protect Against External Factors with Security Camera and Alarm Systems

In the pandemic process, being away from one of your winter or summer home may cause theft there. By selecting one of the camera systems of brand installed, you will always be able to watch your home from recording or live. With the night vision feature of the security camera, clear and prominent recordings are kept 24/7.

  • Protect Your Home from Both Outside and Inside with Solid Doors

Doors are one of the important points that ensure the safety of house. The more solid the door, the harder and impossible it is for anyone else to get into the house. Instead of, experiencing anxiety especially when not being at home, the security of the outer door of your homes is increased thanks to the quality of strong door Handles and Locks. In the same way, it is important that the safety of the doors in the interior of the houses is high. 

  • Increase Your Security with Castle Locks

One of the measures you will take for the safety of your home during the pandemic process is digital door lock in India. Fingerprint Access Control System provides more guaranteed security, no matter how robust the doors are. There are always lock models that will increase your security with door lock prices offered at extremely affordable intervals. People who aim to turn this situation into an opportunity, when you are not at home, often use doors and windows to enter the house. The door is protected from this situation thanks to the joint operation of the safety lock and alarm systems.

Whether the doors are of steel or wood, your living space is turned into a fully security place with a variety of Digital door locks.

  • With Steel Cases and Locks, Your Ornaments Are Safe

Your belongings are protected with steel safe home models ideal for protecting large cash, valuable jewellery and items, especially important documents or files. It is also offered with different options with Access Control Systems. The safes and locks that are important for maintaining money, gold, valuable accessories and important documents ensure that your belongings are safe in case of burglaries entering your home. Steel case are usually preferred in workplaces as it will be used in homes, performs the desired level of protection thanks to its strong and robust structure. Thus, it always makes you feel safe and comfortable.

Control Entrance Of Strangers In Your Office With Access Control System

With a cleverly chosen access control system you can easily control when which person has access to a specific building or space.

Private users of access control naturally have completely different wishes than business users, but there are certainly interfaces that apply to both a business and private environment.

This article has been written to give a general impression of the possibilities. This can be used as a nice guide to complete your wish list.

Access control in practice

Of course you want customers and visitors to feel welcome, but you want to prevent unauthorized persons or potential problem causes from entering. Government institutions already use access control in almost all cases.

But we also increasingly see that smaller institutions and small and medium-sized companies are starting to use Security Access Control System in India. Due to the rise of the smartphone, there are now extensive management options and it is even possible to open a door remotely via your mobile phone.

Not everyone needs to be able to open doors remotely, so an ordinary smartphone user can only open the lock when he is near the door. The current trend is that the smartphone is more popular than biometric systems with finger scan or face recognition.

Be well informed

Nowadays there are many providers of access control systems and smart door locks, but with which system do you make the right choice?

For fear of making the wrong choice or due to ignorance, the choice of a mechanical locking system with keys is still often the first choice of a building manager or property owner.

And that is of course an outdated choice in the long term, because if you lose a key for financial reasons, you will not immediately replace the entire locking system.

Fortunately, in recent years there have been more and more brands that are responding to this and are making the threshold for the first purchase of the system ever smaller. In the article below we tell you almost all basic information in the first step towards choosing an access control system.

Modern access control systems

Where previously access control systems were cumbersome and expensive, access control is now user-friendly and intuitive to use.

Card readers had to be cabled and often involved complex software that could only be managed by one person. Why? Because access control software was complicated and much too technical. In addition, the access control software was installed locally.

Opening a door remotely with, for example, a mobile phone was not an option. Nowadays, the software limitations of the past have been resolved and the access control software is cloud based so that no software installations are required locally.

If the customer nevertheless wants to run a system in its own environment, for example on its own computer or server, a web-based system is certainly recommended.

A web-based access control system can be accessed through a web browser such as Safari, Google Chrome or Internet Explorer.

People who are involved in setting the access rights of different users have fewer rights in the software than, for example, a system administrator. Any manager can make changes to the system at any location.

How Do IP Security Cameras And Access Control Help Fight Infectious Diseases?

The current crisis in the healthcare segment has put significant pressure on all the resources of health facilities. In addition to the lack of medicines and remedies, they are struggling to find accommodation for all infected patients.

Therefore, hospitals create inventive solutions to these challenges. IP video surveillance cameras, intercoms and access control are used today to control the movement of people in all areas of hospitals in many developed countries.

This article describes how these Door Access Control System are used to help hospitals and other healthcare organizations deal with problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

IP camera systems and the fight against infectious diseases

IP cameras are used in many hospitals to monitor the activities of staff and visitors. The current pandemic has expanded the use of video surveillance kits – they are used to monitor corridors, patient rooms, common areas and even the utility rooms of hospitals.

One of the new problems caused by the increase in the number of patients is the provision of suitable facilities for all infected people. Typically, these people are in isolation cells designed to reduce the spread of the virus. These rooms provide negative air pressure, which limits the flow of air from the room.

Since most of these rooms were full, some patients should be placed in standard rooms. The doors of these rooms are kept closed and entry is restricted. The challenge is to keep track of patients and still keep the virus from spreading.

Also, IP CCTV systems have been added to the wards, where infection can be problematic. Video cameras are used by healthcare providers to monitor patients without visiting their wards.

Using special video surveillance software, a nurse can control many wards. IP intercom systems today are often integrated with IP video surveillance cameras to provide audio communication with staff or patients in the room. This allows the health worker to see the person in the room and at the same time to talk with him.

Modern ACS control the movement in the hospital

In hospitals, there is always increased activity. Medical staff, patients, and visitors are admitted to the hospital and may need to go to the emergency room, X-ray room, or other services located in different parts of the hospital.

Different people should also have access to common tools, such as diagnostic laboratories, research, and more.

Due to the increase in the number of patients with infectious diseases, the number of access control kits in hospitals is increasing, because they regulate the movement of people.

Digital Locks for Doors software allows the hospital to determine the time and place at which medical staff can enter the protected area. The use of face recognition technology and mobile credentials provided more sanitary access control.

Experts note that new technologies for access control systems will soon appear. For example, biometric readers, which in addition to authentication using faces or palms also include measuring the body temperature of a person and checking for the presence of a medical mask.

Such readers are able to prevent people with fever or without a medical mask from entering the room.

Access Control System For Commercial Buildings

The security of a commercial building is a complex task that combines the security of employees and customers with the need for processes to continue to guarantee convenience and productivity.

A properly designed and installed access control solution is considered an effective security tool for commercial buildings. Using the solution for access control systems, the security service can control the entrance and exit through the internal and entrance doors in a more advanced and safe way than the traditional lock and key.

Access Control Systems

Access Control Systems

In addition, modern Access Control Systems are very versatile and can be designed for buildings of various sizes and purposes.

ACS Benefits for Commercial Buildings

  1. Increased security. Using access control kits helps minimize theft and vandalism on the property. Access control also helps to restrict access so that only specific personnel with the proper access level have access to certain areas of the building.
  2. Conducting electronic journals. A properly functioning access control system is able to track who enters and leaves the building through electronic registration of entrances and exits.

This is an effective tool to help investigate an incident after an occurrence, view user data in the current time and determine the performance of a building.

  1. Elimination of problems with lost keys. If the tenant of the building or employee loses the traditional key to the building or office, the only way to ensure security is to replace all the locks.

ACS can fix this so that if an access card’s key fob is lost, it can be immediately removed from the system database, and new access keys can be issued. It can also be useful if the employee leaves, which allows you to quickly delete all the credentials associated with him.

Similarly, if an employee loses an access card and needs to enter the building, access control allows you to open the door remotely from a central controller or mobile device. This is often accompanied by installed surveillance cameras, which allow you to visually verify the identity of a person.

  1. Improved traffic flow. By integrating an access control solution with any combination of turnstiles, barriers and other things, the user will be able to improve the flow of people in the enterprise.

This increases productivity and also ensures that outsiders cannot enter areas where they are not allowed to be.

Choosing the right solution

There are many factors that are important to consider when choosing the right solution and accessories for Door Access Control System, for a commercial building.

  1. Understanding needs. The layout and needs of each building are personal, so do not make a template decision. It is important to take the time to take into account the needs and pass them on to the security integrator so that he can create an effective personalized solution.
  2. Plan for the future. A well-designed access control system is characterized by a long service life in the building, in particular if the user makes plans for the future. Assessing the current needs of the building, be sure to think about what may be needed in 5 to 10 years.
  3. Integration with other security services. To get the most out of access control, it must be built to integrate with other security and building management systems. Together, these integrations help increase productivity and security.

Why Do Educational Institutions Need To Have ACS?

Modern information technologies actively penetrate into all spheres of human activity. Education is no exception. Increasingly, access control systems can be found in schools, colleges, universities, and additional development centres. Outwardly, this manifests itself in the presence, for example, of turnstiles and plastic cards. However, a simple-looking complex hides a unique hardware architecture and specialized software.

The leadership of the educational institution is obliged to ensure the safety of students. One of the best solutions for this is to install an automated access control system in the school building or any other educational institution. Only holders of a special key card can enter the building. This allows you to reliably protect the institution from unauthorized access.

Do I need a school access control and management system (ACS)?

The access control and management system (ACS) for the school is not only a guarantee of security. It provides a number of other benefits. Educational institutions from the point of view of ensuring security are complex objects on which a number of tasks should be performed:

  • Prevention of unauthorized entry of unauthorized persons into the territory of the institution: In the case of the need for parents, applicants or representatives of higher authorities to go to the institution, the function of issuing temporary passes must be provided. As an alternative – a guard constantly present at the checkpoint, who, after checking documents and registering in the visit log, will manually open the turnstile or door.
  • Prohibition of re-passage: If the identifier was marked in the event log only at the entrance, its use to obtain the next admission should be impossible.
  • Limiting the movement of employees and accounting for their working hours: ACS data can be used to monitor the presence of employees. The widely used practice of payroll in educational institutions is impossible due to the flexible schedule and frequent changes in the schedule.Digital locks for doors

The access control systems in educational institutions are one of the criteria for choosing an educational institution by parents. Many educational are increasingly in need of inspection and access control. For parents, the safety of their children is the most important thing that can be in life. When choosing an educational institution, it is important to consider not only the level of teaching but also the level of security in it.

With the Biometric Access Control System, special solutions are provided which enable the development of fast, profitable and reliable applications.

The access and attendance control system ensures a high level of anti-terrorism security of the school by restricting the access of unauthorized persons to the school territory. The external part of the access control system consists of barriers to transport and turnstiles for school visitors. Pass through the turnstiles can be carried out using individual contact or contactless access cards.

In addition, the introduction of this system allows students to monitor school attendance by fixing the time spent by each student in the building of the educational institution.

Digital Door Locks India does not let outsiders into school, protect against terrorist attacks and other threats and controls the time of arrival and departure of the child from school, optionally sends messages to the parents’ mobile phone. SMS alerts are connected only with the consent of the parents.

How to reduce the cost of access control systems and make it more convenient for you?

What increases the cost of operating access control systems? What identification technology to choose? Where is the balance of software functionality and complexity? What are consumers willing to sacrifice to reduce the cost of access control systems? Here we have presented the answers to these questions that are not usually covered in technical manuals.

Any object on which an access control system is deployed and put into operation can be called real and bear a certain cost, expressed in operating costs. Not always do we quantify the costs of maintaining ACSs in the total cost of all operating costs. But, nevertheless, they are and understanding what may affect their increase seems pretty important.Door Access Control System (2)

The main points that affect the cost increase are errors in the design of the access control system. For example, an erroneous decision on the use of access cards without the use of Smart-technologies. In the future, if the complex changes, involving the use of technology for storing data on cards, you will need a banal purchase of a new type of card, and this is the cost associated with the acquisition, the reissue of new and disposal of old cards.

A very expensive reason for increasing the cost of operating an ACS is the absence of a redundancy factor in the designed system for adding, flexible reconfiguration, or removal and transfer of equipment. If the redundancy factor is not laid, then the cost of laying communications in the already built system, installation and commissioning will exceed the initial costs.

The choice of data transmission method for connecting controllers and modules, the choice of systems and methods of data storage – all affect the cost of operating an ACS.

Over the entire period of existence of access control systems (from the creation of the simplest system consisting of a door and a lock with a key to the present day, when technologies have stepped far ahead and their capabilities are sometimes limited only by imagination), a large number of identification technologies have been accumulated:

  • Barcode card readers;
  • Magnetic card readers;
  • Radiofrequency readers;
  • Pattern recognition readers;
  • Biometric readers.

The use of these technologies is caused not only by the customer’s needs (desires and capabilities) but also by the restrictions that are imposed during the operation of identification systems – normal or extreme operating conditions in terms of humidity, temperature, media aggressiveness, normal execution or explosion-proof, etc. You can go into wild debate, which of the above methods is more preferable for a particular type of object.

In our opinion, the most rational approach is the approach stipulated by the principle of reasonable sufficiency, taking into account all operating factors.

Sacrificing initial requirements and getting a substantial price reduction at the same time, at least, looks a little strange. Initial requirements determine the composition of the equipment and its functionality. Probably, the choice of a supplier of cheaper equipment can reduce a certain part of the cost while maintaining the functionality of the ACS.