The importance of an access control system for your business

Due to the growing threat of cybercrime, several businesses are giving greater precedence to online security measures. But according to the Office of National Statistics, burglaries remain an ever-present problem.

Between April 2015 and March 2016, there were 400,361 police-recorded burglary offences, which equates to 1,096 per day. On top of that, there were more commercial burglaries than domestic offences too, highlighting the fact that businesses must address the issue.

But while CCTV and burglar alarms can discourage opportunistic intruders, access control systems actually prevent illegitimate entry.

Internal and external threats

By having an access control system in place, anyone trying to access your property or premises without the correct credentials will find it extremely difficult. This means everything from your most valuable assets to sensitive customer information will be protected against.

If you still have standard locks installed, there is even a chance that previous company employees or building occupants will attempt a break-in with their old key. However, this is not a problem with an electronic access control system, which can monitor and manage permissions.

Restriction and clearance

Although a lot depends on the organisation in question, access control systems can be used to restrict certain areas. A departmental security token, such as a fob or ID card, can be used to provide or deny access according to the individual’s status and security clearance.

This type of system is extremely advantageous in other situations too. For example, in the event of a security lockdown, you can limit access to individuals with only the highest level of clearance

Administration and attendance

Seeing as several access control systems come with reporting functionality, you have the ability to fully understand who has entered the building, the exact time they arrived, and when they left. This full audit trail is invaluable when it comes to administration tasks.

However, access control can be of great assistance for attendance duties as well. You can compile a list of employees who were in the workplace at a specific time on any particular day for better and more accurate reporting.

Protect staff and customers

For businesses that experience heavy footfall, an access control system can safeguard the health and safety of everyone on site, regardless of whether it’s just the workforce or the entire general public.

This can prevent the need for a manned security presence, which can be extremely expensive, and avoid instances of human error.

Save money and reduce costs

An access control system can eliminate the need to print and photocopy ID cards, as security fobs often hold the individuals details electronically. You won’t need to store or get rid of paper documentation either, which is another added security measure.

The electronic and integrated nature of access control systems can also reduce energy bills and cut carbon emissions. Data can be exchanged with the building management system, so that when parts of the building are unoccupied, the lights and heating will be switched off.