For many businesses, access to the building or certain areas within the building will need to be more secure to protect physical and digital assets. Technological improvements have made access control much easier today, with the creation of many ways to check who is accessing certain areas and to allow doors to open or to keep them locked. Some of the most common systems in place for access control include the following.
Physical Cards
Physical key cards have long been the standard for access control. The most common type uses magnetic strip cards that have to be swiped through a lock on the door to allow it to open. Newer versions of these key cards, however, don’t need to be swiped. RFID cards can be tapped to allow entry, and they tend to be more secure than the magnetic strip cards. They are still in use in many different businesses today.
Mobile Devices
Mobile devices can now provide access to rooms or buildings. With NFC, Bluetooth, or mobile access control apps, it’s possible to allow a person to pass through areas that would be locked to limit access to them. The main benefit of using mobile devices is that this is incredibly convenient for users, as they often don’t even have to take the device out of their pocket for it to work. However, there can be security concerns to keep in mind before using this system.
Biometrics
Biometrics is another newer technology being used for access control. This includes fingerprint scanners, facial recognition software, or iris scanners to determine who is trying to enter an area or building. These are becoming far more popular for many businesses today because they are easy to implement and use. When a person loses access to the building or a certain area, whether they are fired, quit, or change positions, it’s easy to update the software to exclude them, and it’s easy to add new personnel when they’re hired.
Keypads
Keypads are older, but technology means they are often combined with other types of access control systems. It’s possible to still use a keypad with a code to gain access to certain areas, but that can be problematic if the code needs to be changed frequently. Still, many businesses opt to install keypads because they can be used if the internet is not working and can be a great backup for other systems.
QR Code Readers
Another newer way to provide access control is through QR code readers. Users can scan a QR code to be able to access the area or building. It is necessary to use a smartphone for this, and it can be problematic if people are carrying a lot of items when they need to enter a building or area, but it can still be a great way to provide access control.
If you’re looking to make your building more secure, it’s a good idea to look into security technology for business and commercial use. Implementing access control to the building or inside of it can help limit who can get into certain areas to help protect physical and digital assets. Take a look at the different systems in place to learn more about how the latest in technology can keep your business secure.