Physical security is the most crucial aspect of managing an organization, and everything starts with your location. Security is always a concern whether a building is used for operating a business or housing people. Going slack with it means risking assets, people, data, and everything else inside. Not surprisingly, facility owners are more than willing to invest in security solutions. As threats evolve, you need to think beyond guards and surveillance cameras. Access control is the need of the hour for commercial buildings and community facilities. Here are some ways to ensure reliable access control for your building.
Understand your requirements
Whether you already have an access control system or want to start from scratch, understanding your requirements gives you the right start. The best way to do it is by listing the day-to-day challenges you face with building security. Consider the areas you need to secure, people who must have separate access levels, and other components already in place. Remember that the objective is to ensure that only the right people get in at the right times.
Decide your access levels
It is equally crucial to decide who has access to your building and to what extent. Also, check the building to pick the areas requiring different levels of access. Not everyone should be able to reach every part of the facility, so be selective about people and places. You can use a building map and break it down with color zones to mark different security levels needed. For example, you must have tighter control over server room entry than the reception area of your office.
Choose the relevant credentials for your building
With security systems, you cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach. Your needs depend on factors like dimensions, vulnerabilities, people, assets, and building usage (whether for business or community). Accordingly, you must know the different types of access credentials and choose the relevant ones for your needs. The most common ones include proximity cards, key fobs, biometric readers, password-based systems and pins, and mobile access with smartphone apps. Smartcards and apps are ideal for gated residential communities, while offices do well with biometric credentialing.
Conduct regular audits
With building security, you cannot take a set-and-forget approach. Conducting regular audits should be a part of your security strategy. Office facilities often have more active cards than the number of employees on board. Audits enable stringent control as it lets you identify access bloat and shut it off for employees no longer working with the organization. Likewise, communities can ensure the same for the tenants.
Perform periodic testing
Facility managers should never leave security to chance. Besides regular systems audits, you must perform periodic testing to ensure everything is in place. The objective is to check the functioning of all devices. Pay extra attention to perimeter door alarms during the testing process. A monthly to quarterly testing schedule is good enough though you can do it earlier for extra precaution.
Nothing matters more than access control when it comes to building security. Thankfully, you can rely on high-tech systems to keep your assets and people safe at all times. Follow these steps to stay ahead of incidents.
