Why Electronic Access Control?
Old-fashioned locks and keys leave much to be desired in anything other
than a domestic environment, because:
- Standard keys are easily copied
- Each person may require several keys
- Lost and stolen keys represent a major security risk, requiring time and
money to solve
- With a modern electronic system these problems are a thing of the
past
Electronic systems can provide additional security by enforcing time
rules, by raising an alarm in the event of an unauthorized attempt to
gain access, and by recording all access movements, in and out, for
analysis in the event of later discovery of a security breach.
Is access control difficult to specify and install?
If the customer’s basic requirements are known, then the choice of
system can be quickly narrowed down. Basic questions regarding the
number of doors people will usually indicate a particular system type.
Some customers - if they have an understanding of access control
principles - will be able to assess their own risks and be quite
positive about what features they require, while others will require
guidance.
Is there such a thing as Total Security?
Total security is something we can aspire to, but most commercial
organizations - as opposed to the government, the military etc. - have
to evaluate how much security is appropriate to the risk, and this will
inevitably involve placing a limit on the budget. The best systems are
the ones that reduce the immediate risk while allowing for non-redundant
expansion as needs grow - not just the need for more doors and more
people but also the need for more security. Unfortunately, we do live in
a time when each year, the risk increases.
The highest risk will be where there is a combination of the
following factors: an un-secured door, with no people about on either
side of the door, leading to an area containing something of value.
How much control?
Once you have established which doors need to be controlled, you have to
establish how much control to apply. This is rarely a case of
“all-or-nothing” - where any person with a card can gain access wherever
and whenever they want - and so it’s worth looking at the various
enhancements to establish which ones can be applied:
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