Tag: Access control systems
Why Electronic Access Control Systems Are Better Than Regular Locks And Keys
One of the most common forms of security for the past century has been a lock and key. As technology has progressed, more secure, efficient and convenient methods to protect your assets have been developed. Today, technology allows electronic access control systems to overcome some of the pitfalls of physical keys. Some of the common problems associated with keys include:
-Replacing lost keys
-Re-keying locks to work with existing/new keys
-Waiting sometimes days for a locksmith to arrive
-Making unauthorized physical copies of existing keys
-No door access history
By using a modern access control system such as S2 Security (www.s2sys.com) we can completely eliminate the problems outlined above.
Instead of having a physical key to open a door, a user can be given a specific electronic credential. These credentials come in the form of cards/badges the size of a credit card, fobs that can fit on a key ring, or even your Bluetooth enabled mobile device. Each credential has a unique serial number and is assigned to a specific person. When a door is unlocked, the software will record the serial number and keep a record of who requested access.
In the event that an employee loses their credential, an administrator can quickly disable it and assign a new one to the employee within a minute. This eliminates the need to schedule an appointment with a locksmith, have new keys made, and/or change the lock. In a situation where access is needed but a new card cannot be issued right away, the door can be unlocked remotely by an administrator through S2 software in to allow access.
An employee losing access due to a lost key isn’t as scary as not knowing who may have found it, and now has access to your building until the locksmith shows up. Employees should be trained to notify administrators when they lose a badge so it can be disabled and taken out of the system to prevent unauthorized access.
Another major benefit of an electronic access control systems is the ability to record door access history. If a card is used maliciously to gain access, the date, time, location, and card number are kept on record. The access control system’s timestamp can be used to pull up video of the event on an IP Camera Surveillance System.
An access control system can bring greater security and convenience to your business through the methods we have discussed and more.
Digital Provisions specializes in installing new systems or upgrading legacy Electronic Access Control systems to the latest state of the art IP based systems, all with little or no disruption to your business.
Stopping Door Propping Using Modern Access Control Systems
Building security is more than just burglar alarm systems and IP video surveillance systems. Modern Access Control systems offer users better control over their building’s overall security. A recurring problem that we are often asked to solve in New York City is the issue of employees propping open building doors. Smoke breaks, impromptu ventilation, deliveries, there are many reasons an employee will stick an object in the doorway to prevent the door from closing. They are probably thinking of just closing the door at the end of their shift but instead, they forget, and so the door remains open all night.
Modern Electronic Access Control systems, such as those manufactured by S2 (www.s2sys.com), have the ability to notify management that a door has been propped, allowing them to take action. Alerts can be configured only to be sent if the door is propped for a specific duration, so deliveries taking up to 10 minutes, for example, will not cause an alarm condition. Even doors that do not have a full electronic lock installation can be set up for this by simply running a wire to the door and adding the proper door sensor which can save money.
Alarm systems have the ability to tell you if a zone is faulted but often users just bypass the zone out of habit and the door remains unsecured. Getting an email from the Access Control system to one or more members of your management team is the most reliable means of making sure all your doors are properly closed.
Additionally, any door set up for door prop alarms can also be configured to send an email every time the door is opened. Further reporting can be added letting you know if the door was opened from the inside or the outside. If for example you have an exterior door that should never be used for entry, a ‘door forced’ event may be configured to alert you if someone came in from the outside.
Building lockdowns can also be initiated from your Access Control system and the system can show you a map of any doors that are not currently closed. Even your HVAC system will run more efficiently when all doors remain closed.
Save money and keep your staff properly protected by ensuring that all doors in your facility are adequately secured.
Digital Provisions specializes in upgrading legacy EAC systems to the latest state of the art IP based systems. We are also your choice for installing new Electronic Access Control systems, all with little or no disruption to your business. Contact us for further information at 631-209-2600.