Tips for Selecting the Right Access Control System for your Business

Access control systems provide businesses with an efficient way to protect their properties. By regulating physical access to a building, a room, or a section of a facility, companies are better able to meet their security standards with access control.

However, it can feel overwhelming to decide on the right access control system for your business when you don’t know where to start.

When you want to enjoy the benefits of access control but aren’t sure what type of system you need, the following tips can help you get started choosing the right system for you.

Outline Your Security Needs

Access control provides the flexibility to start with what you need and grow or scale back as needed. Before you begin comparing access control systems, you’ll need to define your current security needs as well as your future goals.

You can begin by identifying internal and external threats to your business that you want to avoid through implementing access control. The idea is that you want your access control system to suit the dynamics of your business operations while keeping employees, data, and assets safe while at the same time being realistic about the assets you need to protect.

This is a good time to formulate a budget for your new security system as well and will help you with product choice down the line.

Decide What Devices You Want to Use

You have options when it comes to how you’d like personnel to gain access to your facilities. Whether you want to go with more traditional keycards or a more advanced biometric system all depends on what would suit your company’s security needs best.

Each method of access will have its own pros and cons. For example, keycards are easy to use, but can be lost or stolen. Key codes are also an option, but employees may forget the code or even write it down to remember, compromising the integrity of your system.

Bluetooth-enabled access control provides flexibility for businesses to use smartphone apps as opposed to physical keycards or key fobs. These types of systems tend to be offer better control and are easier to manage than keycards.

If your facility needs advanced security, biometrics can use the fingerprints, faces, or retinas of your employees to provide the most secure access.

For even more enhanced security options, you may also choose to incorporate two-factor identification which would use two methods for a person to gain entry; for example, a key code and a retina scan. These methods may be more costly to implement but are more secure.

Consider Integrated Surveillance

Access control systems allow businesses to take advantage of integrated systems, including access control combined with surveillance.

You can also use data reporting from these integrated systems to determine who is accessing what at what time. With real-time updates, integrated surveillance can be wholly effective at securing your facility.

If you choose to combine systems, you may be able to reduce your operating costs and have the system maintained and supported by one provider for all systems, reducing expenses and keeping your security easy to manage while customizing your data reporting.

Invest in a Provider for Your Access Control System

Most businesses know they need some level of access control but don’t know what they need or the options they have to choose from.

By getting a consultation from an experienced provider that can professionally install and support your systems, you can invest in technology and integrative solutions to support your business in the long run.

By starting with your business goals and working with an experienced provider, you can decide on an access control system that will support your business’ security both now and in the future!