COVID-19 has exhibited unprecedented challenges for all markets and commercial business industries. Because the way we operate public and private spaces has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, commercial building access control systems and key fob door locks must also evolve to include building occupants' health while maintaining proper security measures.
Fortunately, an effective cloud-based access control system strategy can help enforce new regulations, increase workplace security, and provide building occupants with peace of mind.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the things we can expect to change after COVID-19 and how access control installation and key card entry systems can help commercial businesses reduce costs while increasing building security.
A Few Things That Will Change After COVID-19
Many businesses around the world have risen to the occasion, moving quickly to protect employees and transition to a new way of working that even the most stringent business-continuity plans had not anticipated.
Modern access control implemented during COVID-19 will remain long after the virus has vanished. Here’s a brief look at some of the things we can expect to change after the pandemic.
Reassess How Visitors are Screened and Monitored
Monitoring visitors has always been a good security precaution. Offices, where strangers can simply walk in, are obviously more vulnerable to corporate espionage and other threats. When visitors are checked in and given visitor credentials, make sure the rest of the staff is aware that everyone they see is there on purpose.
Furthermore, keeping track of who visits your office can be beneficial for legal and insurance purposes, and understanding how your visitors flow in and out of your building can be beneficial for administrative planning.
You might also need to redesign your lobby or rearrange some furniture to discourage people from wandering past the sign-in kiosk without first checking in.
Reassess Office Access Control Methods
If your office is like many others, only a few select employees have physical keys that allow the office to be fully open for the business day and close at the end of the day. If, on the other hand, managers have begun to stagger employees' shifts or have converted the office building into a more flexible space where employees can come and go as they please, it may be time to reconsider the office access control strategy.
If the office still uses old-fashioned metal keys to control access, managers may find that new schedules make accessing the office much more difficult. Managers may also need to reconsider whether specific parts of the office need to be secured when the office will be mostly empty.
Reassess Surveillance to Accommodate Updated Schedules
Extending your building's office hours during the shorter months of the year can mean that your employees are more likely to come and go in total darkness or alone. To improve safety and security, additional lighting and surveillance may be required to accommodate the new schedules.
If employees are more likely to enter and exit the office when it is mostly empty, they will feel more secure and will be more likely to use the office whenever it is most convenient for them, whether that is early in the morning or late at night.
How Cloud-Based Access Control Systems Can Help Buildings Reduce Operating Costs While Increasing Security
Modern access control methods can help employers create and manage safer workplaces by assisting in the implementation of COVID-19-related regulations, as well as remotely monitoring security measures without the need for on-site security personnel.
Here are a few ways that cloud-based access control can help improve overall workplace security.
Remote Security Management
Because modern access control systems are cloud-based, you can grant or revoke permissions, modify accessibility schedules, and change permission levels from anywhere, at any time. So, if you find out that an important delegation is arriving the following day, you can preauthorize the delegates' entry from home using your mobile device.
This eliminates the need for physical or face-to-face interactions to issue keycards or fobs and allows the security team to revoke permissions for laid-off or sick employees.
Touchless Door Unlock
People who return to work are less likely to use common touch surfaces such as keypads, touchscreens, or fingerprint scanners. Users with access control authorization can unlock the door simply by looking at the face reader.
The replacement of legacy access control methods with Action 1st Loss Prevention’s access control is an excellent example of using engineering controls to make the workplace more secure to enter and exit.
Implement Social Distancing
With the use of a video surveillance access control system, security teams can monitor the workplace in real-time and determine if people are keeping a 6-foot distance when entering or working.
Action 1st Loss Prevention’s access control systems can also be used for video surveillance of high-risk areas identified during the hazard assessment process. This allows front desk employees to communicate with visitors remotely and allows the programmed to sound alerts or make announcements when protocols are breached.
Protect Your Workplace with Action 1st Loss Prevention
While access control will always advance and evolve in tandem with current technological innovations, there’s no doubt that COVID-19 has forced the evolution of such to happen much quicker than many expected.
Fortunately, modern access control systems can help businesses stay safe and feel confident in their safety and security systems and protocols. At Action 1st Loss Prevention, we want to assist you in keeping your facilities safe.
With over 30 years of experience, we specialize in providing various cloud-based access control systems that meet every organization's security needs. Our team of access control experts is well-versed in providing our customers with the knowledge and technology they need to select the best access control system for their company's needs.
If you'd like to learn more about access control systems, speak with a specialist to determine the best solution for improving the safety and security of your office building.
Contact us at Action 1st Loss Prevention today!
