Share it !
Building management is one of the top concerns of property managers and building owners looking to increase business security. Multiple interior and exterior doors, the presence of restricted or sensitive areas and heavy traffic all contribute to increased security issues. Access control security systems can help solve many of these issues and minimise unauthorised entry.
In this article, we'll examine the different access control technologies available to government and businesses, and then we'll take a closer look at how they can help you increase your building security (and save you money, too).
Part I: What Technology can an Access Control System be Comprised of?
Some building managers may think of access control security systems as complicated, expensive electronic networks that are difficult to implement. In reality, they can be tailored to fit many different building sizes, occupancy types, and budgets.
An access control security system allows building management professionals to do more than just control admission to restricted areas. It also keeps electronic records of entries and exits into those areas. Such records help building managers gauge traffic and identify who used a door at any given time. This makes it much easier to answer important security questions such as, "Who was in the building when that incident happened?" and so on.
What access control method is best for you depends on your specific business security needs. Four such methods are detailed below.
Access Control Method #1: Keyless Entry Swipe Cards
These cards bear magnetic strips which contain information about the cardholder. A card reader scans the stripe and allows or denies entry accordingly. The cards are relatively inexpensive, and each user can be given a different unique ID for entrance and exit tracking.
Access Control Method #2: Biometric Scanners
This type of system requires the user to input some type of biological information, in addition to or instead of an access card. The most common types are retinal (eye) and fingerprint scanners. Palmprint scanners or voice activation systems can also be used.
This kind of access control system is more secure than swipe cards - sounds silly to say, but it's quite difficult to forge an eyeball or a hand. The technology for these devices has been advancing and is becoming cheaper to make and install.
Access Control Method #3: Keypad Systems
Users enter an assigned code into a keypad in order to obtain entry into a building or area. Electronic keypads are hard to tamper with, and are reprogrammable in the event that a code needs to be changed. Unique access codes can be given to each user to track entries.
Access Control Method #4: "Smart Cards" or Proxy Card Readers (Proximity Cards)
These are similar to swipe cards, except that the user's information is contained in a microchip rather than a magnetic stripe. These tend to be more secure and less prone to damage than magnetic keyless entry cards.
Both swipe cards and proxy cards have the additional advantage of being able to display a photo and written security credentials, facilitating the work of live security guards to verify identity.
Access Control System Design
An access control security system has several major components. At its core, there is a computerised control centre and a log of each person who is granted access to the building or its parts.
The control centre is linked to entry points throughout the building. These points can include not only doors, but also elevators, turnstiles, parking gates and other barriers. There's no fixed limit to the number of points which can be monitored in this manner.
Here is how the security link works: Barriers at the entry points are outfitted with electronic scanners which serve to verify information entered by the user.
When Information is entered into the scanner (either by swiping an access card or inputting biological information, etc), the reader then relays the information to the control centre. The computer verifies security credentials and grants or denies entry accordingly, with a note in its logs that it did so.
Part II: 5 Reasons Access Control Can Increase Business Security and Government Security
Both governments and mid to large-sized buildings & businesses can benefit greatly from using access control security systems. The five biggest benefits include:
1) Reduced Cost Due to Less Security Guards Needed and Easier Lock Changing
It may be cost prohibitive in large buildings to have security guards monitor every crucial point of entry. From this viewpoint, access control security systems may pay for themselves within a few years or less, while still maintaining security.
Another important aspect of cost reduction for government or business security involves the use of smart cards. Using a swipe card or a proxy card negates the need to change the locks if a key card gets lost, stolen, or is not returned by a dismissed employee. Simply delete that one card from the system and access is prevented, while access for other users is uninterrupted.
Say the unfortunate happens - you run a few warehouses, and have a low level manager who turns out to be a bad hire. He runs off and quits one day without returning his building keys. Now you have to change all the locks... an expensive fix, but it has to be done or you leave yourself open to theft, or perhaps worse.
Compare this to the situation where an electronic access control system was installed. If all he absconded with was a keycard, take 5 minutes and delete his access credentials from the system, forever after denying him access - no locksmith needed. That's real money saved.
2) Ability to Maintain Both Public and "Employees Only" Areas Simultaneously
Many buildings see a mix of daily traffic between public visitors and staff. With access control installed, public visitors are still able to enter, but can be kept from getting past restricted points. Non-staff don't have to feel intimidated by elaborate, overbearing business security systems, and building managers don't have to worry about visitors gaining access to restricted areas.
3) Ability to Record Entries and Exits
Governments and some businesses often need to keep records of who comes and goes. Access control security systems allow them to do so in a manner that is efficient and easily interpreted.
4) Ability to Protect Sensitive Areas
Access control systems allow the user to set various levels of security access. After assigning a keyless entry card to every person who works in a particular building, specific security clearances can then be granted to each cardholder.
For example, one cardholder may be given access only to exterior doorways. Another cardholder can be granted access to both exterior doors plus some or all interior barriers. This allows for building employees to come and go with ease but keeps sensitive areas protected.
Certain situations can also be simpler to handle when access control is installed. In the event of a major security problem, electronic access control facilitates a security lockdown (or security lockout), preventing all access except by those granted high-level clearance. This helps keep the problem contained in the building (or keeps it off the premises).
5) Ensuring Employee Honesty
The true cost of employee dishonesty is difficult to estimate after a breach in business security, which these days is unfortunately much too common. With access control systems implemented in their areas, executives responsible for building management don't have to constantly wonder about employees gaining access to unauthorised areas. This peace of mind, for some execs, may have a monetary value much higher than the cost of the system!
In Conclusion
Access control security systems are relatively simple to monitor and maintain. Properly installed, they are difficult to tamper with and override, creating peace of mind for building managers and tenants. If you're in the business of building management and site security, access control can be a very appropriate option to satisfy your security needs.
Click here today to book a Sydney Access Control Installation.
Mark Pendergast is the Owner of Citiguard Protection Services, a family-owned Sydney Security Company est. 1966. He is a 25-yr veteran of the Australian security industry and lives in Sydney with his wife and children.
Visit the Citiguard Security bLogbook for more articles.
Network security is a big issue and growing bigger daily. Scams originating from around the world are increasingly sophisticated and getting harder to detect and for the legal authorities to shut down.
There are 10 reasons why you should regularly review your network security listed below:
1. Effective password policy: Employees and staff come and go but they can leave with the key that can unlock information that the ex-employee may wish to gather at a later date. Alternatively, it may be that a disgruntled ex-employee passes on the codes and passwords to a third party for a fee. In many organisations where security is crucial passwords are often changed daily. Password security is one of the most neglected areas in the business world akin to leaving the front door open at night.
2. IP leasing: there are many reasons why organisations undertake IP leasing and usually it is solely because it offers flexibility. However, involving third parties involves a tiny element of risk and it is important when an IP lease expires and is passed on that security within your organisation is entirely refreshed before taking out a new IP leasing contract.
3. Machine names: large and not so large networks name their computers which can then undertake procedures within the scope of IP leasing. Sometimes machines go missing or are lost or are stolen and so regular reviewing of all machine names within a network and identifying their presence, is a key element of network security.
4. Remote access: in business, remote access is often a key element of the day to day running of a company or organisation. Network security cannot be so tight that remote access is impossible but it is an area that should be regularly reviewed with regard to code numbers and passwords.
5. Network maintenance: it often makes sense for a network to be maintained by a third party company for reasons of efficiency. In order to examine and test network security it is part of the process to test the system. Once such tests have been completed, the code numbers and passwords should be renewed for added security.
6. Shredding: passwords are so profligate these days and there are so many personal and business passwords to remember that people instinctively write them down. Often paper is collected into recycling sacks and dumped for collection. Many banks have lost vital information through the painstaking search of crucial information jotted down on a scrap of paper. It may seem incredible that people would go to such lengths for a password, but there are organisations that have access to vast sums of money and illegal groups based overseas are more than happy to pay local thieves to collect rubbish sacks.
7. Fault tolerance: computer networks have to include a certain level of fault tolerance so that malicious attack and genuine faults do not crash the system. It is a fine balancing act for a system to defend itself against malicious attacks and at the same time to have a certain level of fault tolerance. 100% security and a level of fault tolerance are incompatible which is why regularly reviewing network security is essential.
8. Managed firewall: it is important to review existing contracts with regard to your managed firewall provider. There are new systems coming on stream all the time and what was right for protecting a small network may not be the best managed firewall provider now.
9. Renewing hardware: there are many environmental concerns when it comes to renewing hardware but the security implications are just as important. When an item of equipment is retired from active service it is important to have a competent technical engineer ensure that it does not carry with it important secrets including passwords.
10. Trojan hardware: new hardware will be tested off-site before being delivered. A critical aspect of your network security is to check that the new item of equipment is entirely free of any malicious content.
Backup and off site storage is important for network security; sometimes malicious software causes a catastrophic meltdown. To ensure that no virus attack can destroy your network it is important for data to be stored offline and off site, daily.
Ian works in the IT Industry and looks at why it is important to regularly review your network security IT Support Bristol and also IT Support Bath.
While the World Wide Web is a blessing in many ways it presents dangers in the form of spyware, adware, Trojans and so on. While adware most often is not dangerous spyware can monitor your movements and your privacy is at stake. Thieves can use the internet to steal bank and credit card information or important files form your computer system. Once spyware has entered your system it is time consuming to remove it. So, it is important to adopt systems that protect your computer at all times like anti-virus software or anti-spyware systems. The reasons you need to install anti-spyware systems are many but the most important are:
1. A serious security breach can mean loss of business or even bankruptcy. Information on the computer system that contains financial customer information can endanger not just you but your customers too.
2. Cyber theft using spyware systems can destroy your personal or business credibility, customer base, and sales.
3. When a business is dependant on online traffic downtime due to infection by viruses or the effort to remove spyware can be a huge set back.
4. Important business plans and valuable research and marketing data destroyed by spyware can be devastating. Stealing files of a computer is like stealing a person's or business' intellectual property.
5. The existence of wireless connectivity can compromise your otherwise secure networks. Identity theft can give a criminal free access to your network of clients, as well as sales and financial data.
6. Spyware attacks can destroy your future goals and plans and put your family under threat. Personal information stolen off a computer can be used for criminal or illegal activities apart from indiscriminate use of bank accounts and credit cards.
7. Spyware can track your online activities and this can be sold to your competitors causing loss of sales and customer base.
8. Spyware systems can help competitors learn of your discount schemes or special offers well before you are ready to launch any marketing promotion. This means that you are exposing your business strategy online and giving others ideas that would have lead to increased profitability.
9. If you are in path breaking research of some kind your work could be stolen or data corrupted through spyware systems. This means years of research could be vulnerable and your standing in the scientific community could be compromised.
10. Spyware can expose your personal finance and investments to thieves and you could loose your nest egg because you failed to protect your system from cyber thieves.
The list of dangers due to spyware is endless and experts advice that the computers personal or business should be like an impenetrable fortress. You should be able to enjoy the joys and convenience of the World Wide Web without loosing your sanity and exposing yourself to cyber thieves.
Arthur Raise is a writer for http://www.1855antispyware.com , the premier website antispyware software, free antispyware software, super antispyware, microsoft antispyware software, antispyware reviews, antispyware giant software, antispyware software free download and many more.
