Access control systems are systems that are simply designed to prevent unauthorized access to physical spaces and other locations. These types of technology have been implemented by both small and large organizations not only as a method of protecting buildings, but also securing the safety of the employees.
There are several advantages to investing in access control systems. They help secure locations, deter theft, and minimize instances of trespassing. Depending on the quality of your access control, you could also benefit from other features that give you an all-around visibility of your company. You could also gain access to real-time and accurate information which can be handy in the future. Continue reading to learn more.
Secure Locations
There are various types of access control equipment but all of them are equally capable of securing a location. Traditional modes of security, while they may still be commonplace, may not really be ideal. Think about it: the typical lock and key setup isn’t really the safest option to prevent backdoor entry of people with malicious intents.
On the other hand, having access control devices like electronic turnstiles, automatic locks, or biometric scanners that are attached to a computerized locking mechanism are far more effective.
For example, if there’s someone trespassing on your building property, they can’t just easily open doors that are locked using the mechanism above. More than that, the chosen access control device can also keep an accurate log on who has tried and failed to gain entry to your space. This can be helpful in alerting security personnel that are already on-site.
Avoid Theft
Access control devices are not only capable of improving the physical security of a building, but they’re also ideal for securing confidential files, documents, or even cash. This might be more applicable to large organizations that are handling physical money in their space, or also for SMEs that are housing cash inside cash registers or cash boxes.
When there’s an access control framework in place, you wouldn’t have to constantly keep an eye out on any confidential documents that you’re storing. You also don’t have to rely on having to constantly change your locks or make sure that keys are placed in secure locations.
For some people, incorporating access control into their business may be an expensive undertaking. This may be true, but the long-term benefits are simply too attractive to ignore.
Maintain the Safety of Your Employees
As mentioned before, the health, safety, and well-being of your employees are factors that you should also consider when implementing access control. You’d want to make their working environment conducive to their safety. If there isn’t a reliable security system in place, they could be prone to potential hazards that may pose a risk to their lives.
To give another example, one of the most basic forms of access control, is the metal detection system. Any person entering a facility, be it a hotel, accommodation space, bank, retail center, medical facility, and the like, would have to go through this screening process. If the individual is carrying any harmful device like sharp objects or any firearm on their person, the metal detection system can determine this presence and will sound an alarm.
Now think about if there was no metal detector in the building. That person could have easily just roamed about the space, carrying items that threaten the lives of all personnel, employees, and civilians in the area.
Monitor Incidents
CCTV systems that don’t experience any downtime are also one of the best choices that business can make regarding the quality of their access control. Although this device has been existing for almost eight decades now, it still remains to be one of the most reliable objects for security and incident monitoring.
Nowadays, modern CCTV cameras are also designed to work with computer-based equipment that are operated and constantly monitored by security teams. These specialty cameras are oftentimes placed in strategic locations where it would be able to monitor the entry and exit of different individuals, as well as, provide a clear picture of what someone is doing at a specific point in time.
CCTV cameras are extremely useful when it comes to incident-monitoring. For example, if someone from your workplace made a claim about any robbery that occurred in a particular workspace, a CCTV camera can not only verify that claim, but also give a reliable image of the culprit/s that may be involved.
Alternatively, these cameras are also useful in providing evidence for legitimate insurance claims.
Get Rid of Lock and Keys
Many modern establishments are slowly moving away from using locks and keys, and instead, turning towards using other innovative security techniques. There are many reasons behind this choice, but one of them has to do with the inconvenience of having locks and keys in the first place.
These small objects can easily get lost. If there are no duplicates, then it’s almost impossible to recover them. The next best thing to do would be to remove the already-existing locks and replace them altogether.
Meanwhile, having access control minimizes or completely eliminates the need for you to store locks and keys in your facility. You could instead turn towards other systems like keycard access, facial recognition, or biometric scanning. While there’s still a chance that you can lose physical objects like cards, it’s fairly simple to reconfigure a new one that fits all the previous credentials. There’s no need for any costly replacements and repair.
Key Takeaway
Whether you’re a private individual or you’re part of a public or private organization, it’s important that you see the value in modern-day access control systems. They can help you prevent instances of theft, deter unauthorized entry, maintain employee safety, and help you monitor and report incidents as well. You might have second thoughts about the price of this kind of security, but the long-term benefits far outweigh any short-term costs that may be incurred.
The more people realize the value of access to control, the better will security providers and companies be able to service them. Likewise, the latter would also be able to finally provide affordable access control that can be accessible by everyone looking to improve their dated security practices.