Exploring the Available Options for Secure Access Control
Supermarkets and jewellers employ security measures to limit theft, but personal information can be even more valuable. Access control is crucial for data centres. Among the most common methods used to protect businesses from theft are hiring a guard and installing CCTV. However, although these may seem like valid precautions, they have some significant shortfalls.
The human attention span is somewhat limited, and guards are often easily distracted, sometimes by accident and sometimes by design. A lot can happen during a relatively brief period of inattention, and any crime-related scenes captured on camera are merely belated evidence of a successful misdemeanour. So, is there a more efficient alternative if security guards and closed-circuit television are insufficient deterrents?
Experience has shown that investing in digital access control technology rather than dependence on human oversight and video surveillance systems is a far more reliable option. However, there are several relevant technologies to choose from, so it’s essential to understand the pros and cons of each before making your decision. It’s time for a closer look at what the market currently offers.
The Use of Keycards for Access Control
Keyless door locks and cards or fobs to control entry into buildings and sensitive areas have been used for decades and are a longstanding staple of the security industry. Initially, employees and visitors were required to insert their cards into a reader. However, more recently, the introduction of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology used in contactless debit and credit cards has meant proximity to the reader is sufficient to determine who qualifies for access and who doesn’t. Nevertheless, keycard access control systems have both benefits and downsides.
The Benefits:
Keycards are inexpensive, and so is the operating software they rely on. They are also durable and easy to use and can be attached to a lanyard for convenience. When used to monitor both the entry and exit of personnel, they can also provide an accounts department with time signatures that may be used to run or check the payroll.
The Disadvantages:
Keycard software must be run on a local server and is, therefore, unsuitable for multi-site businesses. Cards are frequently stolen, lost, or mislaid, leading to hold-ups during busy periods and perhaps even longer delays while waiting for replacements. In addition to concerns about lost cards falling into the wrong hands, because a card can be exchanged or passed to a stranger, it is probably wise to arrange some form of additional oversight.
To sum up, for a smaller company with a limited budget and little of interest to an opportunistic thief, the pros will generally outweigh the cons. However, where the security of crucial financial data is paramount, there is now a more efficient technology to ensure it – an option which displays none of the drawbacks of a typical keyguard installation.
Access Control Systems that Utilise Biometric Data
Every human being has unique physical characteristics or biometrics, which may be used to determine their identity. Under ideal conditions, facial-recognition software can also do this, but a little make-up, a change of hairstyle, or a pair of spectacles can be enough to cause confusion.
In practice, even identical twins, like all other individuals, have their differences, and these can be utilised to identify them with unparalleled accuracy. Fingerprints, DNA, and iris and retinal patterns are all unique. However, while DNA matches are too time-consuming to be practical, the other characteristics can be scanned, just like barcodes or keycards. Of the various options, fingerprint scans are a simple but highly reliable form of identification and are widely used in access control systems.
We at CCI Technologies are a leading South African specialist in wireless networking and data centre security. We invite you to contact us with details of your access control needs, and we will design and install a secure turnkey solution.
