The Main 6 Benefits Of Access Control Systems

Access control systems play a pivotal role in enhancing security measures where sensitive information is stored in a variety of settings. Whether you are keeping confidential medical records or ensuring your back office remains secure within a commercial setting, keeping documents and restricted areas secure is a top priority. Access control systems (ACS) require authentication via various methods in order to access this information, ensuring your security needs are met and only authorised members of staff are able to access data controlled by an access control system.

What is an access control system and how does it work?

Access control systems are a form of digital protection to manage and regulate specific areas within a facility to safeguard business assets and ensure their protection. They are widely used as a security measure to protect businesses from jeopardising their confidentiality by creating a secure barrier between the user and a location or resources. It regulates and restricts information to ensure that access is only granted to authorised personnel.

What is the difference between logical and physical access control systems?

There are 2 types of access control systems, the first is a physical access control system which allows the management of security in physical spaces such as buildings or individual rooms. There are various methods of physical access control including key cards, biometric devices or pin codes and each of these can be tailored to suit specific industries.

The second type is known as a logical access control system which is a digital form of security to protect digital data such as educational information and ensure that there is a significantly reduced risk of data breaches by restricting access and ensuring that all security protocols are met to maintain total control over the sensitive data and manage access.

Key components of both access control systems include:

• Verifying the identity of an individual attempting to gain access via authentication
• Authorisation by granting specific permissions to certain individuals
• Using personal identification methods to allow access to certain people such as via a username, employee identification card or even biometric systems.
• Recording and logging access attempts to analyse who is utilising the system and discover any anomalies
• Utilising biometric methods of identification for unique access, such as a fingerprint

What are the benefits of access control systems?

There are several benefits of access control systems that warrant their approval within most businesses as they assist with the successful accommodation of restricted areas on the business premises to provide increased security standards.

1) Enhancing physical security

Utilising physical measures allows for additional barriers to be placed between unauthorised personnel and sensitive areas to enhance security and restrict access to approved individuals only, limiting unwanted visitors.

2) Access level customisation

One of the most notable benefits of access control systems is the level of customisation they provide to a business owner by offering role-based access control. Controlling access for varying degrees of authority within a company is simplified with the use of a good access control system as it provides the option to grant access to specific members of staff, prohibiting unauthorised members of staff from accessing information that may cause a security breach. This also increases the level of responsibility that is bestowed upon senior members of staff who have access and place more authority on an employee’s rank.

3) Real-time monitoring

With the use of a management dashboard as part of your access control system, you can monitor activity to a restricted area or confidential information in real-time, by implementing security solutions that connect with other devices to track access to confidential documents or a designated area. This is especially prevalent when considering implementing cloud-based access control platforms as this allows this information to be accessible from multiple locations, therefore enhancing flexibility and convenience to company leaders.

4) Integration with other security systems

Seamless integration with surveillance cameras and alarm systems creates a comprehensive security ecosystem for proactive threat detection and response. Due to the way access control systems operate, they provide seamless integration opportunities with other security measures to create a comprehensive security system that can offer numerous benefits to larger premises such as government buildings. By connecting an access control system to other security control systems already in use by your company, you have greater levels of control over the protection of your company’s assets as well as staff members.

5) Cost-effective measures

For smaller businesses, access control systems may be an ideal solution to paying additional salaries as the automation of access management processes reduces the necessity for a security guard, stationed at the entrance of a restricted area and minimises the standard expenses that occur with traditional lock and key systems, due to reduced maintenance and replacement.

6) Compliance with industry-specific security measures

Access control systems provide significant value in terms of avoiding legal repercussions due to data breaches, as well as achieving compliance with relevant, industry-specific regulations. This is due to demonstrating a high level of commitment to maintaining exceptional security standards. Whether you are a small business or a well-established, multi-chain business looking for a solution to cover all bases in terms of security measures and access restriction protocols, access control systems provide multiple facets of compliance across a wealth of security regulations.

Industry-specific benefits of access control systems

Individual industries require varying methods of security protocols in order to protect confidential data, therefore the benefits of access control systems vary accordingly for each industry. Some of the industry-specific benefits are as follows:

Healthcare & medical facilities

• Patient confidentiality regulations – Ensures that only authorised personnel can access patient records, protecting people from having sensitive information shared with anyone in the facility, in compliance with healthcare regulations, as implemented by governing bodies.
• Protection of medical supplies – Access can be limited based on employee’s rank to certain areas containing pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, ultimately reducing the risk of theft and ensuring the correct medicines are prescribed to the appropriate patients.

Retail

• Stock Protection – Restricting access to storage areas, containing stock, detours individuals from accessing the stock room as further measures are required for access, therefore reducing the risk of theft.
• Employee Safety – Access control systems serve as an additional safety measure for employees as stock rooms and offices can be monitored with the use of one, integrated system. The additional level of monitorisation also minimises the risk of internal theft due to management having clarity of who has accessed the store room at specific times.

Education

• Campus Security – Protecting people, whether that be students or staff, creates a safe educational environment, which is made easier by having access control systems in place. As well as ensuring the safety of people it also protects labs, equipment and digital software and all of this can be controlled and monitored which is ideal for large campuses such as a college or university.
• Administration Efficiency – Streamlining administrative processes by automating access management tasks centralises the authorisation process and therefore, the monitoring process. It allows students and staff members to be monitored and record their access to the buildings as well as timings. As well as this, it’s also a useful way of assessing the use of specific facilities to inform planning decisions and optimise resource allocation.

Integration with network cabling

Access control systems have evolved into highly reliable tools that vastly improve security measures and adhere to guidelines within a variety of settings. As technology advances and becomes more interconnected, the benefits of access control become more prevalent and network cabling integrates seamlessly with access control systems as there are both copper and fibre-optic configurations to strengthen security and connectivity. Network cabling allows for the connectivity between security systems such as access control, CCTV monitoring systems and alarms. At Data Path we provide technical-based solutions for specific industries as our project managers are certified telecommunications project managers and our engineers all obtain the certified network cabling installer (CNCI) accreditation. To find out more about how we can assist with your business goals and enhance your security measures, get in touch today.