The cleaner has an old brass key that was passed from hand to hand within a month. By 8:30 am, a new employee is standing outside waiting to enter because there is no extra key for the side entrance. Later in the day, a contractor had access to a storeroom that he only needed for a single delivery. All of these examples feel normal. This is the problem.
In the past, physical security was primarily concerned with locks and keys. With software that is slowly changing. Access control software is capable of much more than opening and closing doors. It will help a business determine if a certain individual should have access to a particular area at a specific time for a specified period of time. It doesn’t rely on memory, sticky note reminders, or a forgotten key cabinet.
Keys Can Cause Small Issues To Grow
Lost keys don’t become a major concern until the lost key is found to be missing. Once that happens, the questioning begins. What door did the lost key open? Who was the last person to have the lost key? Will you need to replace one lock or five? When a building has been converted to office space (especially in older structures), the loss of a single key can generate an incredible amount of confusion.
With access control solutions, the potential chain reaction is eliminated. Permits can be changed in minutes by accessing the access control software instead of having to contact a locksmith. Although it may seem like a minor issue, it is an important distinction. Employees come and go. Employees’ roles change. Tenants switch between units. An access control system that allows for rapid response to changes in your business is safer due to its ability to reflect the reality of your business.
Access Control Should Be Built Upon Real Usage Patterns Of Your Facility
Many security systems are still operating on the premise that employees will be arriving at their scheduled hours, visitors will sign in when they arrive, and doors will remain closed. However, very few facilities operate with such orderliness. Delivery people come and go before regular working hours; freelancers (contractors) often have varying work schedules; cleaners come in late in the evening; and managers are split across two or more locations.
This is exactly why access control software comes in. Instead of simply assigning one level of access to hope for the best, access levels can be based on actual usage patterns. Contractors may be given access to the facility every Tuesday from 9 am until 1 pm, and nowhere else. Employees may have access to the floor they work on, but cannot get into the archive room. It is a much better representation of how a facility really runs and usually causes fewer problems for everyone.
Good Security Should Not Create Excess Friction
Individuals generally attempt to circumvent systems that hinder their progress. If an entrance is difficult to utilise, individuals will prop open an adjacent door. If it takes too long to obtain a temporary pass, an individual will lend their own pass to another. Poor security frequently begins with inconvenience.
The old brass key has a place in some buildings; however, it no longer serves as the focal point of a security plan. Buildings today are far more complex and fluid than they were previously. Therefore, security has also had to evolve. Access control software is not replacing good judgment; it is merely providing good judgment and better memory.
