Whether they’re used to secure a building or to protect employees, visitors, and inventory within your business facility, a cloud-based access control system is instrumental for any business.
Regardless of if you manage a corporate office, retail office, or fitness center, or you oversee a healthcare facility, key card entry systems have a significant amount of benefits they can provide.
In this article, we will take a close look at how key card entry systems work, the different types of key cards that are available, and discuss some of the many advantages they provide a business.
Continue reading below to learn more about how key card entry systems can help you run your business or organization more efficiently.
HOW DO KEY CARD ENTRY SYSTEMS WORK?
If you’re wondering how key card entry systems work, there’s a good chance that you’ve either seen one before or used one yourself. This kind of security system has been used for decades and has become very popular with companies in various industries worldwide.
It is most commonly used in car parks, multi-tenant office buildings, corporate offices, or apartment communities.
Key card entry systems use either a plastic card, fob, pin number, your mobile credentials, or some other electronic key card that a user swipes in front of an access control reader to gain entry to a building, facility, or secure location.
When a user interacts the key card with the access control reader like a swipe, tap, or insert, a short signal is sent to the designated door or entryway. This can either grant or deny access after the key card reader recognizes the approved access credential.
Key cards also have the ability to control, restrict, and monitor hallways, elevators, stairwells, and other secure areas controlled by internal cloud access control software.
TYPES OF KEY CARDS
Today, there are several different kinds of key cards that are available. Although they all perform a similar purpose, it’s essential to know the difference between the variety of options so that you can choose the best protocol for your business.
When it comes to choosing the best key card door access for your room, much of the decision comes down to how many doors you need to secure, the number of people who will require access, and the necessary level of protection.
Let’s take a look at a few of the most common options below.
PROXIMITY / RFID CARDS
Lastly, proximity cards, also known as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards, relay data stored inside the key card to a nearby access control reader or Bluetooth readers.
For the card to transmit the user data within the key card, the card typically has to be very close to the access control reader or within a distinct frequency range.
MOBILE CREDENTIALS
Mobile phones are able to be used as a credential by either utilizing bluetooth or an app.
For many, mobile phones are the most convenient because everyone has their phone on them at all times. Depending on the system, the phone does not have to leave your pocket or purse to open a door due to the bluetooth technology.
WEARABLE CREDENTIALS
Wearable credentials are a newer and developing sector of the access control industry. The advantages to wearable credentials is the convenience.
Examples of wearable credentials are smart watches, RFID rings, and bracelets. This technology has come a long way and the advancements will keep getting better.
ADVANTAGES OF USING KEY CARD ENTRY SYSTEMS
Using a key card access control system has several benefits:
INCREASED EMPLOYEE, VISITOR, AND PROPERTY PROTECTION
When running a business, your number one priority is to always ensure the safety and protection of your employees, visitors, and inventory.
Key card entry systems not only provide business owners with peace of mind but also ensures that intruders or unescorted visitors are only allowed access to specific parts of your building or facility.
BUILDING MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT
Another helpful feature of key card entry systems is their ability to provide business owners with a unique opportunity to monitor their business in real-time.
With a key card entry system, you can easily monitor where and when employees and visitors are moving throughout your business. The system can also store information for any person who enters the building and record the time, place, and name of the person who entered.
When paired with other security technology, such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, this can prove to be incredibly useful in the event of a security breach.
DECREASES LIABILITY
If your business uses a traditional lock-and-key entry system, your organization will always be a security threat to some degree.
Whether an employee loses their key or it gets stolen, a traditional lock-and-key entry system doesn’t provide your business with the same protection that a key card entry system does.
With a key card entry system, if the security tool is lost or stolen, you no longer need to go through the hassle of making a new set of keys for the employee. Instead, you simply deactivate the misplaced card of its information so that it will not work if it is again used and issue a new one to your employee.
You may also utilize your employees’ cell phone credentials instead of proximity cards to give them access to your facilities. This minimizes the risk of them losing their card.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT KEY CARD ENTRY SYSTEM INSTALLATION
When running a successful business, it’s critical that you keep your facility secure and protected at all times. One of the best ways to do so is with a cloud-based access control system.
We specialize in providing cloud-based access control systems in Orange County that meet the security needs of every business we work with.
Whether your current access control system is out of date or you need a new system altogether, we can help you choose the cloud access control system that best fits the needs and budget of your business.
We do the installation and provide full training to ensure that you get the most out of your security investment. With more than 30 years of experience, we are more than prepared to help your business stay secure.
For a free on-site consultation and to learn more about how we can help you upgrade or install a cloud-based access control system for your business or commercial buildings, contact our team at Action 1st today!
