How to choose the right access control system for your business
Security is an essential consideration and a high priority for any functioning business, and access control systems offer varying solutions to address security with additional functionality to suit the needs of your business. However, this solution has to be the right one, quite apart from the significant investment in the access control system itself, the consequential cost of implementing the wrong system can be considerable.
Access control systems are designed to manage the authorisation process so that access is restricted to only authorised personnel, but they can also regulate the access process so that it suits the operations of the business, as well as offering other technological or smart functionality. So different solutions vary in terms of complexity and functionality and these need to be applied to the nuances of how your business operates, its buildings and facilities and its people. This will result in an access control system which suits the physical characteristics and the culture of the business.
Considerations when choosing an access control system
The first thing you should do when considering investment in an access control system is to carry out a thorough risk assessment of your business. This should address which areas of the building present a risk, what controls are already in place and what the specific risk is, ie. inventory (product, materials, tools and equipment), cash/valuables, data and people. From this you should be able to develop a picture of how to address your security needs and what kind of access control system you require. But here we have outlined some key considerations you need to make:
Size of the business – How many employees are there? Do they all have similar or the same authorisation status? How many separate buildings or sites need to be controlled? The access control system needs to reflect the demands of the business, so if you have a significant amount of people arriving at one specific time, ie. at the start of a shift, you need a system that will quickly and effectively enable access of large volumes. But if you have a small business with maybe four or five employees but with high value inventory, a different kind of entry system can be considered.
Number of entry points – Is there just one access point for all employees? Or does the building have multiple entry points which all need to be linked to the same central system?
Internal risks – Although most businesses are controlling security against the threat of external risks, you also need to consider internal risks. So can you trust all your employees? Do you have different levels of authorisation between different departments? Is there valuables and cash stored on site? Do you have internal levels of authorisation for product specifications and other confidential data? Have you considered GDPR and how you secure personal data?
Movement – How do employees move between departments and different areas of the building or site? Consider where weak points are and which areas need to be more strictly controlled. It is possible to have an access control system on one outer access point and also within internal access points in order to ‘zone’ a building.
Users – What level of technology and complexity can your everyday users cope with or be trusted with? We are a long way from the traditional lock and key now and most security solutions are much quicker and smarter (biometric systems, cards/fobs, QR codes, smartphones etc) but the system you choose has to be practical and usable by most employees.
Compliance – What are your legal responsibilities in terms of GDPR and health and safety? There may be other regulatory duties that are specific to your industry or operations also, so these may present further risk which needs to be controlled.
Operations – Are your premises operating 24/7 and therefore access is required around-the-clock? Do you operate with flexible working so employees could be coming and going at any time? Can you operate with an unmanned access control system that is fully automated? Can you operate with an ANPR system which controls vehicles entering the site, and after that you either need a different access control system or you don’t need another system at all? Some businesses want to retain a traditional front-of-house reception policy, so you may want to consider an audio or visual entry system that requires a manned position.
How is the business evolving - Investment in an access control system is significant and so you don’t want to be changing the system in the next few years. Therefore a security solution needs to be right for today and for how the business hopes to develop. So are you expanding and adding more employees? Are you changing to 24/7 shift patterns? Are you looking to zone the building or add new annexe buildings or new warehouses? Do you want to eventually integrate access control with attendance records and other human resources functions? Or with CCTV technology?
Budget – First and foremost the access control system you choose should be the right one to suitably control the risks present and to be practical and workable for the business and its people, and while budget should be less of a consideration, you do need to bear it in mind. Generally speaking you will get what you pay for with an access control system in terms of functionality, technological solutions and smart integration, so choose the system that best reflects and controls the risks, but also consider the culture and ambitions of the business.
Have a look at our range of access control systems at MB Direct and order online today. We have a range of keyless entry systems, CCTV and audio and visual systems which can all provide effective and robust security solutions for your access control.