What Type of Door Access Control Do You Need?
Your business is your livelihood, and your employees are at the heart of everything you do. When it comes to security, you want to make sure your employees and resources are safe. Access systems and electronic door locks help you protect your place of business by controlling who enters your building and when.
Are you ready to make your business more secure? In this blog, we’ve shared the basic types of access control hardware you can install on your entrances.
WHAT IS ACCESS CONTROL?
Access control systems help you monitor who can enter your building or use specific resources. You can set up logical access control systems that protect your online data, and you can install physical systems that limit who can enter rooms or buildings. With an access control system, you’ll be able to make sure only those who need access have it.
PICK YOUR PERMISSIONS
Who has control, and who has access? That’s up to you. Before you get an access control system for your building, you’ll want to decide how you’d like to set up your permissions. Each type of system can fall under one of these categories.
- Mandatory. This type of system gives only the administrator the power to grant others access. Think of this as being buzzed into an apartment building. You notify your friend you’re there, and they let you in.
- Discretionary. With a discretionary setup, a select group of people has access. This group could be your employees. An active keycard or fob will let the system know if the person has permission to enter the building or room.
- Role-based. Setting your permissions up this way allows you to decide who has access to what based on each person’s role in your business. You can let certain employees have more access than others.
- Rule-based. These types of permissions have rules that designate when people can access a room or resource. You might want all your doors to be keyed down after 6 p.m. In that case, even if someone has access to the building, they won’t be able to enter after this time.
CHOOSE YOUR CREDENTIALS
After you’ve decided how to set up your permissions, it’s time to look at the types of credentials you could use to gain entry. Gone are the days of digging for your keys while struggling to hold on to your computer bag and coffee each morning. With an electronic door lock and reader, you’ll be able to quickly and easily walk into work.
KEYPAD SECURITY
With a keypad door lock, your employees will be responsible for remembering a passcode. This passcode will gain them entry into the building or room. Using a keypad for entry is simple and often the least expensive choice of intelligent readers. However, this type of system can be slower to use since people have to remember and type in a code or PIN.
KEYCARD ENTRY SYSTEM
Never worry about a lost or stolen key again! Keycards grant entry through proximity or by presenting the keycard, within a few inches, to the reader. If a keycard is lost, you can easily deactivate it from the system. Once deactivated, that card will no longer grant access to the building. You can add or remove permissions to keycards as employee roles change.
ONE-TOUCH FOBS
A key fob works similarly to a keycard. A fob will recognize when you are near the entryway. Depending on the reader, you may not have to take the key fob out of your pocket or bag. It will recognize when you’re near. With a one-touch reader, you’ll have to touch the reader to unlock the door.
BIOMETRICS
Some access control systems don’t read codes or cards: they read you. Instead of carrying other credentials, your presence may be enough to gain you entry to a room or building. Biometric access systems can scan your fingerprints, palmprints, and eyes to determine your identity. These systems are highly secure, but they are often more expensive than the previous options.
MONITOR YOUR SYSTEM
With a door access control system, you’ll be able to monitor who enters and exits your building. Having this ability is a safety precaution. Many systems leave what’s called “audit trails” behind. These can help you track who is inside a room or building when issues and emergencies arise. You can even use audit trails to track your employees’ hours each day.
Some access systems can stand alone and are programmed at the door they control. More complex systems control multiple doors. These will belong to a network and be managed by one computer within your building.
Are you ready to improve your security?
At Techtree Partners, we can help you decide what type of door access control is best for your needs. Contact or call us at 417-319-1335 to learn more about our installation process and get a quote today!
