Access Control systems

Whitepaper: Multi-residential access management – The move to digital

Sign up to free email newsletters



Access Control systems can be simply defined as the process by which security staff control who enters and leaves the premises and when.

The global access-control market is projected to reach a total value of $10.4bn by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 10.6%, according to research by Markets and Markets.

Access control technically includes the time-honoured mechanical lock and key, but when people talk about access control in the modern security industry, they mean sophisticated electronic turnstiles, gates, wireless locks and other barriers increasingly incorporating aspects of IT and physical security.


Want to know more about the future of access control? Have a listen to our interview below with Lee Odess, well-respected access control specialist, on where he sees the future of the sector going…


Keys can be lost, stolen and copied, leaving assets vulnerable and requiring an expensive change of locks. Happily, when an electronic access card is lost or stolen, access rights can be withdrawn immediately, rendering the card inactive. Should thieves gain access before a theft is noticed, operators can identify when they breached security and – if there are multiple access points – where in the building they are at any given time.

Modern access-control systems also offer flexible access rights. For example, while all staff can generally gain access through a building’s main entrance, access to certain internal areas may be restricted to those with relevant authority. Access can also be restricted to specific time periods.

The plastic access card has long been the dominant form of identity verification. While they still govern access for most installed systems, biometric solutions – usually authenticating identity through facial, fingerprint and iris recognition – are becoming more reliable, affordable and widespread.

Often accused of being a conservative industry the access control sector is finally emulating its CCTV counterpart in embracing IP, open-platform technology, the internet of things and integration with, and interoperability between, building systems. Mobile access – gaining access using smartphones – is one burgeoning trend with numerous operational benefits.

 


Latest Access Control articles


Paxton employees raise over £9k for Teenage Cancer Trust

Employees at Paxton, a security technology manufacturer, collectively raise £9,060 for Teenage Cancer Trust’s nursing support in Brighton. Read More

Radar cameras used to protect National Grid CNI site

Obsidian Security works with National Grid to encompass a Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) site with almost 10 miles of fenceline and borders facing open water, to protect the site’s perimeter and detect potential intrusion. Read More

The evolution of mobile credentialing to mobile access solutions

Mobile credentials comprised over 18% of access control credentials issued in 2023. And global market demand for mobile credentials is […] Read More

Interconnected door hardware: Shaping the future?

The adoption of innovative and interconnected door hardware systems can help overcome the challenges associated with building security, explains Daniel May of Consort Architectural Hardware. Read More

Corporate physical security: Is your organisation in safe hands?

Violent crime, incivility, and public disorder are on the rise. Office managers are dealing with increased levels of workplace violence. At […] Read More

Security perspectives 2024: Spencer Marshall of HID Global

With growing anti-social behaviour, staff shortages, increasing regulations as well as continued difficult traditions conditions, 2024 promises to be another […] Read More

Whitepaper: Multi-residential access management – The move to digital

Understand how the multi-residential market is embracing digital access control for security and convenience in this exclusive whitepaper. Read More

How RTLS asset management can enhance access control

Access control and security within buildings have become increasingly digitised in recent years. One of facility and operations management’s most […] Read More

Paxton unveils new Electronics Centre to boost global expansion

Paxton has opened a new manufacturing facility, the Paxton Electronics Centre, aimed to enhance the company's global expansion. Read More

Beyond security: How access control and video analytics can generate business intelligence

How do you measure the harms averted from security incidents that didn’t occur due to the deterrent effect of your […] Read More