Which Type Of Access Control Software Is Right For You?
Being able to make the office, residence or institution a secure place is one of the biggest challenges facing any security officer or manager. The need for this makes businesses and property owners contribute significantly to ensuring that proper security measures are in place and this, in most cases, involves a significant amount of technology-assisted security systems. One of the first technologically advanced systems to hit the market was keypads and proximity cards, then biometric readers with fingerprint and facial recognition. Now, the system with digital keys on the Smartphone is also being added.
An access control company’s choice is as crucial as the right software to control and verify the entry of people and vehicles to a workplace or restricted area. Although technological advances offer us a great diversity of solutions, knowing how to choose your access control software is essential for employees’ safety and a successful organization.
Depending on the functionalities that your access control system needs, you will have to choose between standalone or online solutions.
Standalone Access Control Software: Ideal for facility management and free-roaming control systems. Manage your facilities, equipment, and users without having to go to your facilities. The data of high, low, or substitutions, the information of changes travels inside the same identifier (Control, card, or Tag.) Recover the events of each switchboard, plugging the card into your equipment.
Online Access Control Software: This is robust real-time control; it allows the management of all users, equipment, and networks from your PC. Being a sophisticated Access Control software, it is still very intuitive and operator friendly. Its integration with other security platforms allows you to move from standalone systems to interactive systems to create intelligent buildings.
The questions you can ask yourself when evaluating an access control software are very different. What and how many zones do we have to control? It is not the same for a company in which access is through a single point, as it is for a company in which there are different accesses, whether for personnel or vehicles. Besides, we must also consider whether we want to establish restricted access areas within the facilities themselves.
What level of control do we want to install? Within access control, authorizations can be delimited by schedules, zones, permits, and other options such as real-time location.
Which identification system do we need? There are different reading technology options, such as fingerprint readers, RFID technology or radio frequency identification, license plate readers or antenna tags for access control to a parking lot, and a long etcetera.
Do we want just one access control software or a system that encompasses other solutions? This is an important question because the same software can also help your company manage time control, visitors, or even an evacuation plan.
Having a sound security system and controlled and monitored access not only protects a business or residence but also facilitates the smooth operations of the daily activities of the people who use it.
However, it is essential to keep in mind that different environments have different security needs based on various factors, both internal and external. Determining these needs will help an organization invest in the best access control systems that will work best for them.