5 Benefits of Commercial Access Control

You may not be aware of it, but many businesses in Atlanta, Georgia utilize access control security technology. These mainly include larger commercial properties, including big box stores, schools, medical facilities, apartment complexes, and buildings with a large staff and a three-shift rotation schedule. Small businesses are also beginning to see the benefits of such an access control system in protecting their assets. Access control is an important advantage of the security of a property because it allows the business owner to have a measure of control of who is able to access the property at any given time.   

Types of Access Control for Businesses   

Before we discuss the benefits of access control for commercial properties, it’s important to differentiate between the different types of access control that are available for business owners to choose from. Key card scanners are arguably the most popular form of access control currently found on commercial properties due to the relative ease and low expense of using such a system. However, many other innovations in commercial access control exist, including:   

• Key Card Scanners
• Fingerprint Scanners
• Retina Scanners
• Magnetic Locks
• Digital Keypad Locks
• Remote Control Door Locks  

Businesses that Benefit from Access Control   

Many businesses would benefit from a full access control system. This is only a partial list. Any business property with many employees, a high employee turnover rate, multiple layers of security clearance, and high foot traffic should consider installing a commercial access control system. These include but are not limited to:   

• Hospitals
• Pharmacies
• Department Stores
• Big Box Stores
• Office Buildings
• Industrial Complexes
• Schools
• College Campuses  

Benefits of Commercial Access Control   

Restricting Designated Off-Limits Areas

In any larger business, at least in most cases, there are tiers of access afforded to the employees depending on their role in the business. General employees get one level of access, then managers a higher level, then supervisors a more advanced level still, and so on. Access control allows you to easily maintain the lines between these different categories of access control. For instance, with digital keypad locks, only certain people are given the code for each particular set of doors. In recent years, biometric entry systems such as fingerprint and retina scanners are utilized on these types of entrances.   

Makes the Process Easier & More Streamlined  

If you own a business that happens to have a high employee turnover rate or seasonal shifts, you want to be able to provide access for only the period of time in which the employee in question deserves it. This can be a cumbersome process if you are trying to accomplish it using a traditional lock and key system. Systems such as key card readers and fingerprint scanner systems make the process of employee turnover far easier. If someone is let go from the company, their access can easily be revoked, which is not that easy if they have a key. It’s very easy and inexpensive to have a key copied, and it’s a service that is available not only through a locksmith company but also all over. By utilizing a modern access control system, you ensure that employees only have access when they are supposed to.   

Allows You to Track Comings and Goings

One major benefit of modern access control systems is the ability to track the comings and goings through the entrance in question. You can usually track the successful access times as well as times when access was attempted and denied, and why it was denied. This can allow you to pinpoint security problems, especially if you pair your access control system with a CCTV system. This is true whether the access   

Allows You to Restrict Access During Certain Times

Another benefit of a sophisticated access control system is the ability of the business owner to restrict access during certain times. Usually this means making areas accessible during business hours and then locking them down once the business closes until it opens again. When paired with the above feature, you will be able to see any time that access is attempted at the building after hours and respond accordingly. You can know whether there is a threat to your business so that you’re able to act quickly.   

Connects Access Between Locations

If you own a business with multiple commercial properties involved that requires employees to travel back and forth between same, some access control systems can be easily programmed to recognize the credentials of the traveling employees and allow them access. It’s a much more streamlined and preferable process to having your employees travel with a pocket full of keys jingling around.   

As you can see, the benefits of a modern access control system extend beyond the ease of use and obvious features. An access control system can give your business the security protection you’ve been looking for to significantly reduce not only the threat of criminal activity from outside your business, but also within it. When considering the expense and the process of installing an access control system, strongly weigh the benefits against any potential negatives to determine whether it’s right for your business. If you run a very small business with only a few employees, an access control system may not offer enough benefits to be worth the price. However, if your business involves multiple tiers of security clearance, more than twenty employees, restricted areas of access, or is housed in a moderate or high crime neighborhood, an access control system is exactly what you may be looking for to provide the security you need to protect your investment in these modern times.