Why Install Access Control?

There are three primary perks when it comes to using access control locks. No matter what size your business is or what its purpose is, chances are, you and your employees can greatly benefit from utilizing access control locks. Check out some of the main perks below:

• Enhanced Security

  Compared to traditional locks, access control locks are nearly impossible to break or tamper with. Deadbolts and other high-security locks can be ‘picked’ and tampered with in a way that access control locks can’t. Most models that you will find on the market today come with certain safety features that will alert owners when there is a breach of some sort, as well as freeze the lock temporarily if tampering is suspected. If a criminal were to try and enter in a combination, for example, into a keypad access control device to try and gain access to your building, the lock will shut down and not allow anyone to access the building with that lock for a set period of time.

• Better Employee Protection

  Access control locks can be used for both interior doors and entrance doors. This allows business owners to not only protect their entire building, but also designate certain areas that are only accessible to employees. You may have already seen keypad or combination lock devices on employee-only doors in certain businesses or even on restroom doors that are open to customers only.

• Enhanced Tracking and Payroll Accuracy

  Some businesses will opt to give each of their employees a different access code. This allows them to view from an external device the date and times of when each employee entered a certain part of the building or left at the end of the day. This allows for better payroll accuracy since owners and managers can view exactly when an employee arrives and when they leave.

Different Access Control Lock Types

There are three primary types of access control locks that you will see businesses use today. They include keypad devices, proximity readers, and biometric locks. Find out more about these devices below.

• Keypad and Combination Devices

  Keypad devices are the most common type of access control locks. They simply require a 4-digit code be entered into the device to allow access to a given room, corridor, or section of a business. These locks save employers a lot of money since individually cut keys are unnecessary. It is also easy to change the passcode on these devices, allowing business owners to secure their buildings at any time with a new code. This can come in handy if an authorized user learns of the code or a business is worried about former employees trying to get back inside of their business.

• Proximity Readers

  These access control lock devices are most often found in hospitals. They require that an employee use a card and hover it just a few inches above a reader pad. This is convenient for nurses and doctors, since they typically carry a badge with them while on the job. Employees can quickly open doors without wasting time with a traditional key or by entering a code on a keypad device.

• Biometric Locks

  The most expensive, but the most secure type of access control locks are known as biometric locks. These devices use specific identifiers on one’s body. For example, thumbprint or fingerprint readers will scan a fingerprint and allow authorized users access in this way. Other biometric readers will use retina scanners, using one’s iris as the unique identifier for access. Not all businesses will need locks as sophisticated as biometric locks, but they are a type you should consider. Depending on the type of business you run, the materials that are handled, as well as your budget, you may want to look into installing biometric locks of some kind. They offer the highest level of security possible over any other type of access control lock.