Access Control - Everything You Need to Know

2. Access Points
As part of your ‘key components’ plan, the number of access points needs to be taken into consideration. There are many ways in which people can gain entry via a ‘physical barrier’ where access needs to be controlled including: 

• Doors
• Gates
• Turnstiles
• Elevators
• Vehicle barriers (e.g., bollards, boom gates) 

Consideration needs to be given to the areas and zones where people can gain access to and when. Once this has been mapped out the level of access control solution required will become easier to specify. Not all physical barriers need the same level of access control but mapping out the full site will ensure that a holistic approach is taken. 

3. Authorization Policies
A critical part of the considerations is to determine who has access to what and when. Having a set of ‘rules’ in place that determine who is allowed access to specific areas and at what times will ensure that things run smoother. For example, employees may have 24/7 access, while visitors may have limited access during business hours. In addition, some people may require access to certain ‘zones’ of a building (ie IT staff access to the server room), so access can be limited based on role or seniority.

4. Surveillance and Monitoring
If an additional layer of security is required then having cameras and other monitoring systems integrated with access controls can record and track entry and exit activities. These types of solutions obviously provide a high level of visibility of who is accessing the facility, but they also ensure that there is a recorded log of all of the access that has occurred. This type of solution is a great option where there is the potential for a high risk or a significant number of high value items on site.

5. Logging and Auditing
These types of systems record who accessed an area, when, and for how long. If an audit trail of who gained access is required then this is the type of solution to choose. The data that is provided is especially useful for security audits and investigations however it depends on the setting and use case as to whether this level of solution is required. 

Types of Physical Access Control Systems 

Once all of the key considerations have been taken into account, the next step is to decide on the level of access control required. ‘Basic Access Control’ uses simple methods like locks and keys. It is inexpensive but lacks the ability to track or restrict access dynamically. ‘Electronic Access Control’ uses devices like magnetic stripe cards, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), or NFC (Near Field Communication) badges. These types of solutions are often paired with centralized systems for better management and tracking.

As mentioned above, ‘Biometric Access Control uses unique biological traits, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or retinal scans, for secure and personalized access. If an alarm is required for any unauthorized access attempts then a ‘Physical Intrusion Detection System’ is required. Options include motion detectors or break-in sensors. Finally, if an additional layer of access control is required then deploying ‘Multi-Factor Access Control’ combines two or more methods for authentication (e.g., card + PIN or biometric + key card) to enhance security.
 

Advantages of Physical Access Control 

The most fundamental advantage of implementing a full access control system is that it obviously prevents unauthorized access to sensitive areas on site. In addition, the level of security is enhanced as entry and exit points can be monitored and all access activity logged systematically and recalled with ease if needed.  

A comprehensive solution also provides flexibility with role-based or time-based access permissions. This provides an additional layer of control as to who can access where and when. Some solutions allow this to be pre-programmed to reduce disruption or access failure.  

Modern physical access control systems are often a central part of an integrated security management system, combining physical, digital, and network access for unified security oversight. Understanding and implementing robust access control measures is essential for safeguarding assets and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. 

If you are looking to either install a new access control system or are looking to upgrade an existing solution our experts are on hand to provide a complete on-site survey to determine the best path forward.