How To Choose The Perfect Access Control Type For You
Published on : September 17, 2019
How can you choose the perfect access control type for you?
- Assess your needs and requirements
- Get a rough estimate of building traffic
- Think about the long-term
A big part of running a business or household is protecting it and making sure your assets and the people involved are safe from any potential danger. For modern homes and businesses, achieving this usually means some form of access control. From your local turnstile systems, to door access readers, and biometric systems, there are a number of great options available for you to choose from.
However, choosing the right one for your purpose might not always be easy because there are many factors to take into consideration. With that in mind, here is how you can figure out which type of access control is perfect for you.
Assess Your Needs And Requirements
Just like in many other endeavors, the process of knowing the right kind of access control starts with an assessment or an evaluation. You need to understand the needs of your household or business before making a decision that affects people’s lives.
Consider talking to other members of your organization or at least your family in order to get different ideas and perspectives. If that proves to be ineffective, you also have the option to hire a third-party security consultant to make the assessment.
- Consider the Purpose and Level of Security
The next thing you need to consider is the purpose. What does your access control need to do and for what purpose should it serve?
Do you need to monitor and regulate the number of people entering your establishment? You can employ the use of a smart gate for that. Do you need to control and facilitate the entry of people in paid access areas? Your local turnstile system is perfect for that purpose. Are you trying to protect your valuables or high-value assets? Then a biometric scanner can be a possible option for access control. There are all types of choices with different levels of security made for a variety of purposes, so make sure to assess your situation properly.
Aside from directly controlling people’s access, certain control systems can also deliver valuable data insights based on their records. This makes your company analytics more useful and helps you make better business decisions. Other things you need to assess include efficient access control placing, customer experience, and the addition of railings to make your access control more effective.
Get a Rough Estimate of Building Traffic
Now that you’ve assessed your needs and what kind of control you need for your purpose, the next thing to think about would be building traffic. This task is simpler for your home because there are generally fewer people entering your humble abode when compared to a commercial building. For the latter’s case, check the level of traffic that your business gets as well as the general traffic of the building you are situated in.
If the nature of your business involves retail or healthcare, then many walk-in visitors are to be expected. This can and will greatly increase the traffic in the building, so use the proper access control system to avoid congestion, long waiting lines, and inefficiencies
Think About The Long-Term
It is also important to remember that access control systems are an investment for the future. Making the right investment with the short-term and long-term future in mind is crucial for the success of your business.
If you are a start-up company that is looking to expand, then spending a fortune on a high-end system might not be the most sensible thing to do. That is because many things can still change and access control systems aren’t cheap.
Biometric systems, CCTV, smart cards, and readers all have different prices. Building owners and tenants need to find access systems that are both effective and affordable. There’s no reason to get expensive products when a regular smart access system is all you need.
For long-term planning, it is also important to consider the useful life of the systems being employed. Technology always advances and as a result, newer and better products will inevitably emerge. As a rule of thumb, try to review and update your systems every 4 to 5 years.
Always remember that you need to choose the appropriate system that is in line with your goals and objectives without compromising the long term.
Key Takeaway
For the sake of your assets, employees, and the people you love, security is something you should never be stingy about. After all, the perfect access control system for you is the one that should fit your budget while at the same time serving your purpose effectively. A good assessment with the right mindset is helpful in knowing how to find the right system for your business or your home.