Access control directs how employees, contractors and visitors gain entry and exit to and from your commercial site.
Access control systems are well worth considering as part of your security system upgrade. They are able to be fully integrated with CCTV and monitored alarms giving you trusted security and a clear picture of what is happening on your site whether you are present or not.
Benefits of business access control
- Security improvements
No more lost employee keys or worrying about potential security breaches when a disgruntled employee leaves the company
With an access control system, employee access to the building can be immediately erased from the system and completely withdrawn.
- Entry and exit records
Access control systems keep track of all entries and exits. Know when employees started work for the day and left at the end and who oddly came back at 9pm for half an hour.
- Access limitation
Access control systems allow you to setup people for different levels of access to the building during restricted times.
For instance, contracting clearers may be given an access code which allows them access the building between the hours of 7-10pm Monday to Friday, outside of these hours their access code will not work.
A part time telemarketing employee may have no business being on any floor other than level 1, thus their proximity card only allows access to level 1 of the building
Types of access control systems
Many access control systems are combining two or more access control methods for flexibility and additional levels of security. e.g. A proximity card pad with finger print access control
- Proximity card access control
Currently the most common type of access control system for commercial applications. Unlike old technology swipe card systems which require the magnetic strip to pass through the reader, proximity cards only need to be waved over the reader to work.
Ideal suited to both small, medium and large business applications
- Keypad access control
Keypads and an extremely popular method of access control, they require numerical passwords that are used for keyless entry. Multiple passwords including temporary passwords can be programmed for flexibility.
Best suited for small to medium sized businesses
Biometric access control
A sub-catagory of access control that utilises a part of human body for identification. This includes finger print scanning, voice recognition, iris scanning, facial scanning. The trend in popularity is a move towards non invasive biometrics which require zero physical contact with person and scanner.
- Finger print scanning
Fingerprint scanners are well tested, fast and one of the most reliable biometric access control systems in the market at present. Finger print scanners come with attendance software which operates like a detailed punch card for employees. Fully integratable with burglar alarms, finger printer scanners are best suited to smaller and medium sized operations
- Iris scanning
Not to be confused with retina scanning which is an entirely different process. Iris scanning seems a bit futuristic though is already being applied in access control by high end hotels, leading airports and other forward thinking businesses
While still at the premium pricing end of the biometric access control market, iris scanning is quickly gaining popularity for it’s high data capturing ability and non intrusive nature.
Ideally suited for medium to large businesses
- Facial scanning
Facial scanning is extremely accurate with a low error rate and lightening fast speed. Costs are currently high for this for this newer biometric, although as prices steadily decrease it is sure to be a favored method of access control.
Best suited for medium to large operations
- Voice recognition
While there are a number of voice recognition access control products on the market many security professionals feel their reliability is not yet high enough when compared to other biometric access control alternatives.
As interest and demand is high, access control hardware companies are continuously improving voice recognition technology, it will not be long before voice recognition access control products are as reliable as finger print scanners.
Summary
A growing number of New Zealand businesses are now installing access control systems to improve site security and employee time record keeping.
The biometric access control business is focusing on the continued development of less invasive methods of scanning.
While keypad and fingerprint scanners systems remain the most popular in the NZ market, we can expect to see more voice and facial recognition technologies jostling for better position.
