One of the most crucial things to ensure your workplace security is to have a robust physical access control system. Powerful software paired with an access control device, card access system, or security system allows you to track who passes through your doors, provides record-keeping of entries and exits to your premises, and more. But selecting the best physical access control system can be challenging—especially if you don’t know what to look for.
Let’s briefly discusses the types of door access control systems along with some tips for selecting the one that best meets your needs. But first, let’s understand the importance of an access control system.
Why is an access control system important?
An access control system limit access to a physical location or object. It ensures that only authorized people are able to access restricted areas, thereby preventing theft and other vulnerabilities. A physical access control system (PACS) is essential to any business security system, be it an office building, laboratory, warehouse, or retail store.
How to select the best access control system?
Commercial door access control systems are an easy way to keep your business safe and save you money. When selecting a commercial door access control system, look for one that is simple to install and maintain, cost-effective, and secure. It should provide options for controlling who has access to your building.
Here are some important factors to consider when selecting a new system.
Cloud-Based versus On-Premise: If you’re looking for a new commercial door access control system, you need to determine whether you want a cloud-based or on-premise solution. With cloud-based systems, all data is stored securely offsite. With an on-premise solution, all data is stored on local servers. Cloud-based access control systems can be managed from anywhere, whereas on-premise systems need monitoring and management from within the building.
Internet of Things (IoT): Some commercial door access control systems include IoT-compatible software. These IoT-enabled systems can connect with a wireless network or your building’s existing security cameras and sensors to provide even more data on who has access to your facilities and precisely when they enter or exit your building.
Connectivity: Commercial door access control systems have varying connectivity options, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, QR Code, remote lock/unlock capabilities, and more. These features allow you to connect your new commercial door access control system with other devices in your building so that you can gather and monitor additional data on who has entered or exited your facility at any point in time.
What are the leading PACS?
Here’s a brief overview of the top five physical access control systems:
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Honeywell
Honeywell is a trusted option when it comes to card access control system. Honeywell’s solution is appropriate for large employers and is compatible with most other systems in the market, so integration into your existing setup is simple. Honeywell’s solutions work well in diverse environments, whether indoors or outdoors.
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Envoy
Envoy’s door access control systems are well suited for large spaces with many rooms, such as shopping malls or airports. Buildings with high-traffic entrances and exits have many people moving in and out all day long, so fast-paced, automated doors are important. Envoy’s door access control systems feature locking mechanisms that ensure that no one can use an unauthorized card to enter or exit a room. It is one of the most popular access control systems for visitor management.
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Kisi
Kisi offers a cloud-based access control system that allows you to manage your business from anywhere. You can monitor who is in your building, when they enter and exit, and what they do while they are there. You can also use Kisi’s solutions to track inventory and monitor access activities. It also allows you to integrate your SSO or directory solution for automatic provisioning.
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Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls has one of the most robust commercial access control systems and a full suite of solutions tailored to meet any business need. By combining their solutions, you can create a fully customized solution for your building. Johnson Controls’ products are easy to use and incredibly reliable. Their entry-level system is a good, affordable option for start-ups and smaller businesses. Johnson Controls’ solution includes everything you need to secure an entire building: card readers, alarms on every door (to alert security when opened), a central station (to manage all of the devices), and software that ties everything together.
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HID Global
HID is one of the top commercial access control systems providers. HID Global has a large range of card readers, keypads, biometric fingerprint readers, and other components of indoor and outdoor applications. Their products work with virtually any building automation system, including BACnet, LonWorks, Modbus/TCP, and others. Their products have been deployed in hundreds of thousands of airports, hospitals, universities, and commercial buildings worldwide.
So which access control system is the best? It depends on your needs. If you’re looking for a simple, inexpensive way to manage who has access to your building, a keypad entry system might be perfect, but if you want more advanced features like remote management and monitoring, then an RFID card or biometric reader will work for you better.
No matter which solution you select, it’s important that you research the available options and determine which features are most important to you before making a decision. However, if you already have a physical access control system in place that lacks modern features, you have two options to upgrade it. One, replace the existing system with a modern access control system. Second, opt for OLOID’s retrofit access solution, which upgrades your existing systems without any rewiring or system replacement.
How OLOID’s retrofit approach can help you get more out of your access control system?
OLOID’s SaaS platform empowers your existing access control systems and upgrades your workplace access technology with frictionless mobile access, automated workflows, and physical access integrations. With OLOID’s retrofit solution, you don’t need to rip and replace existing hardware and access control infrastructure to activate mobile access. OLOID connects and manages the workplace identity and access by integrating with HR, IT, and other systems of record, thereby enabling a unified digital identity across the organization.
