6 Essential Benefits of Access Control for Your Business – Alert Alarm Explains
Securing people and property at your business means more than merely locking doors and installing surveillance cameras. Control is key, and it has everything to do with staying on top of who has access and when they have it. But managing operations efficiently and safely also entails not disrupting day-to-day operations, which is why implementing access control systems that do more than traditional locks are taking on so much traction for enterprises that want to keep their operations running smoothly and safely.
Today’s robust access control solutions provide smart, flexible, and scalable, future-proof solutions that protect both physical assets and sensitive information. From preventing unauthorized access to improving efficiency and compliance, the capabilities of today’s access control systems are delivering major benefits to businesses across many industry sectors.
Enhanced Security: Keep Unauthorized Individuals Out
Anyone who runs a business today recognizes the clear need to monitor who is coming and going throughout their facility. Physical access control solutions have gone a long way in monitoring that. But as technology has advanced, so too have the ways that access can be controlled. No longer do enterprises have to rely on keys that can be lost, stolen, or copied. Rather today’s savvy businesses are opting to rely on PIN codes, biometric scanners, or mobile credentials to ensure that only authorized personnel can enter.
There are good reasons why these new measures are being adopted. Let’s face it – physical keys are a security nightmare. They can so easily be lost, stolen, or copied. When an employee misplaces a key, businesses have two bad options: Do nothing and risk a security breach, or change the locks, which is a time zap, not to mention expensive.
These newer access control measures like PIN codes, biometric scanners, or mobile credentials prevent unauthorized entry and reduce the risk of theft or security breaches, and allow for authorized access to different areas, such as IT rooms, executive offices, warehouses, etc. They also can better protect confidential data, inventory, and employees from potential threats.
Additional benefits to users who adopt these newer access control measures include the convenience of knowing that credentials can be revoked instantly, eliminating the risk of lost or stolen keys. And there’s no need to go through the hassle or expense to rekey locks or replace doors – they only need to update digital permissions. Managing physical keys can become a thing of the past.
The Ability to Restrict Access to Sensitive Areas
Not every employee should have access to every part of a business. Server rooms, financial offices, HR departments, and inventory storage clearly need an added layer of protection. With these access control solutions, enterprises can easily set permissions based on role, time of day, or specific security levels.
These are all meaningful capabilities, because they empower IT teams to restrict access to sensitive data servers, HR personnel to control access to employee records and payroll files, and warehouses and stockroom management can limit entry to authorized personnel only. The beauty of it is that businesses can fine-tune access levels to match their specific needs.
Improved Employee & Visitor Management
Businesses, especially those with high foot traffic, such as vendors or temporary contractors that need to be given entry, need to keep a close pulse on who is coming and going at all times. Access control systems make tracking and managing visitors effortless, reducing security risks and ensuring accountability. These solutions enhance security and improve operations by providing real-time entry logs that detail who accessed which areas and when, allowing temporary access for guests or vendors, and helping monitor unusual or suspicious activity, such as an employee accessing a restricted area outside of work hours.
Automating Access Control Boosts Efficiency
Yes – security is super important when it comes to keeping businesses running efficiently. But it shouldn’t get in the way of takin’ care of business. Cloud-based access control systems can take that burden off of them by automating security tasks that, in the past, slowed down operations and profitability because they required manual oversight. Automated cloud-based access solutions give businesses a leg up because they automatically schedule access times for employees, janitorial staff, or vendors, allow for remote management so business owners can lock and unlock doors remotely, and they integrate seamlessly with HR systems to automatically input access and credentialing changes when employees are hired or fired. By reducing the need to manually input credentialing, businesses can well focus on operations without sacrificing safety.
Compliance & Liability Protection
Businesses that handle and oversee sensitive customer data, financial records, or regulatory compliance, know that controlling access isn’t an option – it’s a requirement. It’s absolutely essential to stay in compliance, and robust access control solutions can play a pivotal part in helping them do so. Here’s why – access control systems protect businesses from data breaches and regulatory violations (e.g., HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR), ensure that only authorized personnel access sensitive customer or financial records, and creates a much-needed audit trail for compliance reporting, investigations, or insurance claims. Access control protection isn’t only about tending to security needs – it’s also instrumental in staying regulatory-compliant and avoiding costly fines.
Better Protect People, Property, and Profits
Now is the time to leverage your access control system to do so much more than merely open and close doors. Upgrading to newer, more capable access control solutions can create for you a safer, more efficient business environment, reduce liability, increase efficiency, and protect valuable assets.
Ready to see how access control can work for your business? Contact us today for a free security assessment.
