One Size Does Not Fit All: Access Control
Posted on Wed, Aug 24, 2011
By Steve Lowrance, ASG Application Engineer
In many facets of the world today, there is a perception that one product or solution is just as good as another and can be made to fit all of your needs. With enough options, one widget will perform just like another. In the world of Access Control solutions, this is just not the case. You have decisions to make about the specific functions you need such as N-man rules, anti-passback, first card unlock, video integration, and the list goes on.
For those not versed in the intricacies and minutiae of physical security, the options available can be daunting. Having the right partner working with you to help define your needs before you make a purchase can mitigate the risk of making a capital expenditure without meeting the needs that were expected. Translating business and employee needs into Access Control features will enable more effective decisions to be made as to which solution will best fit all of those needs.
If all that your organization expects out of its Access Control solution is the ability to flash a badge and the door opens, then the world is your oyster and you have a near limitless number of options. However, if you dig a little deeper and decide that you want to limit the number of people that are allowed into a building, or prevent the front doors from unlocking on a snow day, then you need to know which solutions are best suited for those tasks. It is not enough to make it close – you want your new Access Control solution tailored to you. Not all access control solutions offer every option; you must choose the platform that offers the variety of options that will meet your requirements.