Any business owner knows how important it is to control and monitor who has access to their commercial property. Access control is a matter of keeping your property safe and keeping the occupants of the building safe. In the past, people relied on the same methods of access control that have been around for ages: locks and keys provided access control. Commercial property owners can now make use of a variety of commercial access control systems.
Commercial access control systems range from simple methods like key fobs to sophisticated tools such as biometric access control. The type of commercial access control systems you use will depend largely on your security needs and your security budget.
Obviously, the more sophisticated commercial access control systems tend to be more expensive. However, highly sophisticated commercial access control systems like biometric control systems are usually used in places with high-security needs, and they pay for themselves in time.
What are commercial access control systems? What is the importance of commercial access control systems? And what are the best commercial access control systems? This guide will offer you some basic information on commercial access control systems.
What are Commercial Access Control Systems?
Access control systems are management platforms that are connected to multiple locks and entry points and allow for control over access from a single management point. Access control systems make it possible to determine who has access to a building and when, and they allow users to track and monitor all use of the system. Access control systems range from simple methods operated by things like keypads, access card readers, and key fobs, to complex systems that rely on biometric control such as those that scam fingerprints.
The point of access control systems is to grant greater control and organization for access to property. Access control systems not only regulate who has access and when they monitor all points of access and save this data for future reference.
Access control systems make it possible to rigorously control who can enter the grounds and the property. They also allow users to grant different levels of access within a building. This gives users tighter security, and it increases accountability among those who use the system. The chief advantage of access control systems is increased security for commercial buildings.
Importance of Commercial Access Control Systems
Access control systems are an integral part of the system by which you protect a building and its occupants. They vastly reduce or eliminate threats of harm to occupants, and they make unauthorized entry into the building nearly impossible.
Access control systems also contribute to the maintenance of your building by regulating who has access to the premises and when. They also make it possible for you to regulate different levels of access. For businesses that have different levels of security needs, access control systems are an important part of how you control these varying levels of security and access.
Access control systems are also important for monitoring and data tracking. Since access control systems record all points of entry, they make it possible for you to track who enters the property. These data logs provide times and points of entry for all access points. In the event that there is a security breach, you can quickly and easily track the source of that breach. This is crucial information for high-security businesses.
You can also link access control systems to other parts of your building maintenance system. Things like heating, lighting, and ventilation can be controlled and regulated through the access control system. This means you can link these things to times when various parts of the building are in use, thus cutting down on utility costs.
What you should look for in a Commercial Access Control System?
There are a great many types of commercial access control systems, and the levels of sophistication vary greatly. The types of commercial access control system you choose depends on several factors. Some things to look for in a commercial access control system include:
Performance
The top priority is of course security. How well a system performs in protecting your building, especially secure areas and sensitive information will likely be the top thing to look for in a commercial access control system. Evaluate these systems by looking to see if they provide the correct level of control for the highest-risk areas.
Reliability
This is closely related to performance, but reliability has more to do with how well the system sustains levels of control and records data. Commercial access control systems need to function as designed at all times. At worst, unreliable systems cause inconveniences and hassles as people are unable to access the building. At worst, an unreliable commercial access control system allows for unacceptable security breaches if it is not functioning properly. The bottom line is you should not need to spend inordinate amounts of time and money maintaining the system.
Convenience
While you do want commercial access control systems that are extremely secure, you also need a system that is convenient and easy to use. People who need access to the property should be able to gain access at authorized times without undue resistance and issues. Commercial access control systems need to be secure while allowing for a certain level of practical use.
Management
Just as users need to be able to access the system easily, they also need to be convenient for administrators to manage. Operation, configuration, management, and maintenance should all be fairly straightforward and simple. Your main priority is operating your business, not managing your access control system. Therefore, you need to have a system that is convenient to manage.
Flexibility
You should be able to configure the system according to your needs. Commercial access control systems need to have the flexibility to meet the specific security requirements of your property. You should be able to configure things the way you like and make changes as needed.
Scalability
Once you have a commercial access control system in place, you should be able to increase the scale of the system as your business grows. It is important that you make sure you will not need to buy an entirely new system if your security needs increase. Commercial access control systems should be capable of increasing their reach and scope as the scale of coverage needs to increase.
Compliance
The commercial access control system needs to comply with customer security requirements, data protection requirements, and industry-standard regulatory requirements. For example, some clients may require specific security measures for data usage as part of a contract. There are also national and international regulatory requirements for certain types of business that need to be accommodated by your commercial access control system.
Overall and long-term costs
The cost of a commercial access control system is a critical factor in selecting a system for your business. Costs mean more than just the initial investment. You also need to consider long-term maintenance costs and the kinds of costs as you increase or alter access points within the system. The overall cost would include the initial installation and configuration, maintenance, and the cost of managing the system over time. A good commercial access control system is a long-term investment.
Features
Commercial access control systems are meant to provide security. But they should also be capable of providing other features that save time and improve efficiency. For example, a good system will be capable of sending automated messages from the cloud to alert security personnel of potential security threats. It should be capable of generating reports and data summaries for administrators and stakeholders. Finally, remote access may be an important feature of a commercial access control system that you will want to consider.
Upgrades
It is common for manufacturers to introduce new features and upgrades to existing systems. It is important that you look for a commercial access control system that can receive and work with these kinds of upgrades since many of these will be things like new software and automation capabilities.
Best Commercial Access Control System
As we noted above, commercial access control systems can range from simple systems that are quite affordable to more expensive and extremely sophisticated systems. You will need to assess your security needs and choose a commercial access control system that fits these needs. Some of the top commercial access control systems on the market include:
The Top 5 Best Access Control Systems
- VERKADA – Best for Video Verification
- ROSSLARE – Easy Installation
- CDVI – User’s Friendliest
- Honeywell — The Best for Large Teams.
- SALTO — The Best for Wireless Access Control.
- Envoy — The Best for Custom Health Checks.
- ISONAS — The Best for Single Users.
Commercial Access Control Systems FAQs
What are Commercial Access Control Systems?
Access control systems are management platforms that are connected to multiple locks and entry points and allow for control over access from a single management point. Access control systems make it possible to determine who has access to a building and when, and they allow users to track and monitor all use of the system. Access control systems range from simple methods operated by things like keypads, access card readers, and key fobs, to complex systems that rely on biometric control such as those that scam fingerprints.
What is the importance of commercial access control systems?
Access control systems are an integral part of the system by which you protect a building and its occupants. They vastly reduce or eliminate threats of harm to occupants, and they make unauthorized entry into the building nearly impossible.
What are the features you should look for in a commercial access control system?
Things to look for in a commercial access control system are performance, reliability, convenience, management, flexibility, scalability, compliance, overall and long-term costs, and the capacity for upgrades.
Circle Security Solutions can install and service the most reliable commercial access control systems. With everything from security and fire alarms to HD digital surveillance cameras, Circle Security Solutions has the professional knowledge and staff to help you choose the right commercial access control system for your commercial property.
Circle Security Solutions has locations in Miami and Boca Raton and provide services for Palm Beach County, Broward County, and Miami-Dade County.
To get set up with the right commercial access control system, Circle Security Solutions is the professional service provider that can meet your needs and your budget.
Conclusion
Owning commercial property necessarily means that there are assets to be protected. The property itself needs to be secure, and most important is to provide for the safety of the building occupants. Making sure that access to the property is carefully controlled is one of the first orders of security for any commercial property.
Controlling access to commercial property has always been a matter of simple locks and keys. Commercial properties with more assets and occupants would hire security guards to monitor the property and access points. With new technology, these security needs can be controlled with greater ease and efficiency. Commercial property access control systems offer levels of security that are unparalleled.
Commercial property access control systems make it possible to regulate who has access to your property and when they have access to your property. You can configure these systems to rigorously control who can gain entry to your property. You can even control access to different parts of the property to maintain different levels of security.
Commercial access control systems, since they are digitally designed and controlled systems, can provide detailed data from all entries into your property. Whenever someone uses their access mode, whether it be a swipe card, PIN, or key fob, you have an immediate record of that point of entry. This data can be extremely valuable in the unfortunate event of a security breach.
Commercial access control systems are now equipped with the most state-of-the-art technology. Commercial access control systems can be configured with biometric technology that can scan and read fingerprints and human eyes. This means that there is no way to duplicate access modes.
For the right commercial access control system for your property or business, consult Circle Security Solutions to explore your options and possibilities.
