Access Control Systems is a basic requirement of enterprises today. Both the need for security and for employee productivity require organizations to have an efficient and robust access control in place. There are some Benefits Of Access Control Systems which is ensures that only an authorized person can enter, view, use, or have access to a restricted environment.

What is Access Control System?

Access control refers to the practice of restricting entrance to a building, office or a room to only the authorized persons – employees, visitors, vendors etc. Access control can be done by various means – human intervention such as a guard or a receptionist, mechanical means such as lock and keys, or technology such as Access Control System

What is Access Control Software?

With the world adopting mobile, cloud and internet at a fast pace, access control systems are also undergoing a welcome change. There is increasing preference for digital, contactless interfaces and an attempt to move away from physical identity. This has given a fillip to development of Access Control Software, which is a huge improvement over the legacy technology used for access control so far. Access Control software is much more versatile, efficient and powerful than the traditional systems and at the same time, is contactless and pleasant to use.

 Types of Access control:

 There are various kinds of access control, basis the need and circumstances of a particular organization. Some of them are as under:

• Manual access control – Securing specific access points through doormen, stewards or receptionists.
• Mechanical access control – Putting flap barriers and turnstiles to control lift banks.
• Electronic access systems – Using electronics in these access control mechanisms
• IoT based Access Control – Using Internet of Things to make access control real-time and cost-effective

Access Control System can use various interfaces, such as:

• Keypad readers. A keypad door reader requires a user to type in a PIN or passcode to unlock the door.
• Swipe card readers.
• RFID door readers.
• Biometric door readers.
• Smart lock door readers.
• QR Code readers
• Face Recognition Systems

Elements of Access Control System

Any access control system has the following four elements:

• Access control barrier
• Access control verification or identification equipment
• Access control panel that controls the barrier
• The communications structure that connects these elements and connects the system to the reaction elements.

Categories of Access Control Systems

Access control systems come in several variations but all can broadly be put into the following three categories:

• Discretionary Access Control (DAC)
• Managed Access Control (MAC)
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

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Benefits of Access Control Systems

 The purpose of an access control system is to provide quick, convenient access to authorized persons and restrict access to unauthorized people.

Following are some of the benefits that flow from a good access control system:

• Increased ease of access for employees.
• Saving money and energy.
• Keeping track of movement of employees, visitors, vendors etc.
• Protection against unwanted visitors.
• Giving employees a peaceful and productive work environment
• Prevention against data breach.
• Increased security for sensitive areas.

 The Access Control Problem

Access Control as an ecosystem is beset with many problems and is due for a major disruption.

Traditionally, access control systems have relied on physical identity for validation and authorization. This makes access control cumbersome, full of friction and inconvenient for the users. The majority of access control problems stem from lack of a structured flow, outdated equipment, keycards falling into the wrong hands, and a lack of integration with other building systems.

Then, there is the persistent problem of legacy technologies keeping cost of access control rather high. These technologies have remained same for decades now. Massive organizations have come up around these technologies, with huge overheads. They have captive clientele in the existing customers and they keep milking them by making the equipment obsolete at a fast clip, while keeping the underlying technology unchanged. Their interest is in perpetuating the system.

With advances in technology, most of the problems of the access control systems can be taken care of. Already, there is movement away from the traditional modes, interfaces and method. Digital identity is replacing physical identity and IoT will replace legacy technologies, making access control secure, convenient and cost-effective.

truMe, an IoT platform developed by three co-founders in India is in the forefront of this change. With truMe, access control becomes super-efficient, convenient and powerful at one tenth of the cost of the legacy technologies. Better days are ahead for Access Control systems. 

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