What is Access Control

Access control is a commercial security measure used to limit access to a building, system or virtual resources. In computing, it is the process used to grant access and privileges to resources, information, and systems. Users are required to present certain credentials before being granted access to systems or premises. Controlling the main entry and exit points in your business premises is always a major way of preventing crimes. You require strong locking devices and the latest security technology within your reach. 

Access control technologies define professionally installed commercial security systems. Since they are designed to ensure utmost security, they never assume a one or feature fit all approach. All the security specifications are unique to individual, facilities and the nature of business operations. The type of access control features a business needs are determined by factors like; the number of people using the security system, the number and nature of employees, possible wiring constraints, and the surrounding environment. This means that access control systems are customized to match your security needs and to bar possible break-ins before they are implemented. 

Access control options

There are numerous access control options that are designed to cater for different commercial security needs. They include; hands-free access devices, magnetic stripe cards, and long range access control devices just to mention a few. Long range devices are mainly used in gated community homes and parking garages to open barriers and gates from a distance. Magnetic stripe cards are cost effective, secure and ideal for medium size offices, while hands-free devices are highly secure, do not require card readers and can allow physical access from a short distance. 

Highly secure access control systems incorporate two-factor authentication. A person seeking access to a location must be ready to provide their system credentials followed by a second factor that should be unique to them. The second factor could be a biometric reading, pin or a computer generated access code. 

In computing, access control entails authentication, authorization, and audit of the entity or person trying to gain access. They have a subject and an object; the subject being the person trying to access the object which in most cases is software. Access control contains a list of permissions and the users who are permitted to access the object. Ultra security areas like computer labs, pharmaceutical storage, and data centers use biometric fingerprint readers or hand scanners because they are hard to hack or bypass. 

Summary 

Managing access control systems has become much easier with the advent of supporting cloud hosted technologies. With the right cloud-based support, you can easily manage the administration of system security specifications like setting access schedules and card issuance. Also, access control systems can be integrated with surveillance cameras to ascertain the people trying to gain access to your protected areas. As such, it is ideal when solving cases of who got to a certain area at what time. It is also used by human resource managers to track employees who clock in and out of work at the wrong time.