December 22, 2023
Business security will always be a concern at any company, regardless of the organisation's purpose and the building's contents. The risk becomes more serious when dealing with sensitive materials, classified information, or valuable research that can't get into the wrong hands. Installing high-end access control systems can help decrease the risk of security breaches.
Access control systems come in a few different forms, and it pays to compare these options to find the best fit. When you match the right model to your company's operation, you should find that security is more efficient, and your team has a lot more peace of mind. Expert access control system creators will guide you in making your choice. Until then, here's a quick rundown.
The first approach to access control systems you can go for is the least restrictive. As the name suggests, a discretionary control system places the final say over access in the hands of the system owner. They will determine who can access which areas of a building and the information within. Some users appreciate this more adaptive approach because it allows system owners the freedom to make amends. The problem with that is one moment of poor judgment or a lapse in concentration could see someone granted access when they really shouldn't be. That's where more rigid options like role and rule-based systems are more effective.
Here, the access control system becomes more sophisticated and can determine a user's rights to access based on their place within the system. Role-based models assign access rights to particular types of workers based on the information and resources in that area of a facility. For example, a company building may have some science labs on the third floor dealing with some serious expert research. It makes sense that only those listed as having the qualifications to be in the labs can access them with their passes. This stops visitors from sneaking in to steal research or those in other roles getting in and causing problems. There may also be areas that are purely for security personnel or executives. This method means that seniority isn't an issue. Instead, it's all about qualifications. Workers will have access rights based on the role logged in their system and nothing else.
Rule-based systems are a better fit when you want to restrict access based on set rules and guidelines more than roles. This system can benefit companies with strict time restrictions on entering areas or viewing files. Perhaps a certain group of researchers have access to a lab between 9 pm and 7 am. The rule-based system would uphold that by ensuring those without clearance can't get in during those times.
This version of access control is the highest form of security and, therefore, generally reserved for top institutions. These are the sorts of systems you would see in high-tech government and military buildings, such as the CIA or the Pentagon. The approach takes the idea of assigning access based on roles and flips that into one that focuses on seniority. The levels within the system may vary depending on the operator, both in name and number. There may be an option to add public access to certain areas if it's safe to do so. Either way, there will be access codes for those with the highest level of clearance, such as those with the right to see classified government documents and those on lower levels. A well-designed system should be able to differentiate between these users via their passes, allowing or restricting access as necessary. Employees should then be able to access files and facilities without any issues.
Whichever of these systems you believe to be the most advantageous for your organisation, it helps to set up a reliable EAC system to monitor it all. These computerised systems can read passes and codes as people attempt to gain entry to a restricted area and compare that to the database. A match means easy access, and no match means the visitor isn't getting any further.
Setting up a strong access control system is just the start for business security. You're also going to want to bring in additional tools to keep your building as safe as possible. Electronic systems can be highly effective for determining who can pass through a barrier at any time. However, you don't want to rely on machines alone. Having trained on-site security guards near the electronic systems can make a big difference. They can help challenge people who don't pass the access system and evict those who try to put up a fight. They may also act as a deterrent.
Beyond that, there's always room for improved CCTV and alarm systems. CCTV is essential in any secure facility to keep track of everyone entering and exiting a facility. Your electronic access control will ensure that authorised keycards and other forms of access codes are the only way to pass through secure doors and turnstiles. There is the threat that someone may try and use a stolen pass to get access, and that's where image recognition through CCTV can help catch culprits before it's too late. If there is a security breach, a high-end alarm system should make it easier to deter them and notify the authorities.
There is much to consider when installing the best access control systems for business security. Beyond determining the right type of access control for the site, you can decide on those additional measures and the potential for on-site security. The best way to choose the right package is to work with a reliable security team that specialises in access control and more. Talk to them about the security challenges you face, learn more about the potential of role-based and rule-based systems, and create the perfect package for your company.
