To say the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world is an understatement. Mask wearing is commonplace and necessary, but it also makes things difficult for security and facial recognition. Access control used to be all about keeping certain people from gaining access to a facility. Now it is often about making sure that you don’t exceed a capacity that is unsafe or beyond government restrictions.
How are access control systems helping businesses to meet the needs of the post-COVID-19 world? Here are some ways that you can put authentication technologies to work for your company.
Existing Access Control Technologies for Managing Facility Capacity
From surveillance systems that automatically take a headcount to turnstile systems that record how many people have passed through, there are already many existing technologies to keep track of how many people are in a facility. Whether it is a restaurant or a sports arena, being able to manage the number of people entering is more essential than ever before. In fact, it may even make the difference between a business continuing to operate or being closed down due to non-compliance with COVID-19 regulations. You always need to know exactly how many people are in the building, and that means knowing not only who enters but also who leaves.
Authentication Technologies for Contactless Access
Fewer contact surfaces help to reduce the risk of spreading disease. While a fingerprint scanner is a great way to identify an individual, you need to be able to disinfect the scanner between users. On the other hand, a scanner that uses a smartphone offers a contactless way to provide unique entry credentials. Therefore, the current push is to make this type of access control as foolproof as biometric data. Also, there is a push for biometric control devices that do not require contact. Facial recognition can be thrown off by a mask, but the eyes are still visible, so a retinal scan is viable.
What Is the Future of Access Control?
For now, card reading technology seems to be the most common means of entry. However, this is likely to change as technology becomes more affordable in other contactless types of access control. Smartphone access control, for example, is even safer than card access because someone will notice a lost phone right away. Biometrics will have to trend toward tech that doesn’t require a physical contact point.
Regardless of what the future holds for access control systems, Surveillance Secure will continue to stay at the forefront of this part of the security sector. Call 877.388.1248 to learn more, or you can request a quote.
More Resources Regarding Access Control Systems and the Impact of COVID-19:
- Automatic Access Control and COVID-19. (Infographic) https://www.cpni.gov.uk/system/files/documents/9c/3d/COVID-AACS%20copy%203%20%20%20-%20%20Read-Only.pdf
- Access Control for COVID-19 Tracking. https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/92555-access-control-for-covid-19-tracking
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