5 core benefits of access control for businesses

Enhanced security measures

Let’s start with the most obvious one! Traditional lock-and-key systems are susceptible to breaches, as keys can be lost, duplicated, or stolen. Access control systems, on the other hand, provide a more secure alternative by restricting entry to authorised persons only. Mechanisms like keycards, biometric authentication, and PIN codes are all amongst the most popular (and reliable) ways to implement effect access control, enabling you to effectively manage and monitor access to your premises – particularly sensitive areas, or any which may contain valuable assets.

In many ways, these systems are a lot more reliable than lone security guards, who can be distracted, drawn away by other issues, or (in rare occasions) socially engineered – in other words, convinced to allow an unauthorised person onto the premises.

Improved operational efficiency

Tied closely to our above points about security, access control systems can also streamline the process of granting and revoking access, which is handy because it can eliminate the need for physical keys and manual tracking. (Potentially saving headaches when they come to be lost!)

Administrators can easily assign access permissions based on roles, departments, or time schedules, ensuring that each member of staff has the appropriate level of access to perform their duties. By the same token, if there’s a security breach, or if an authorised employee simply leaves the business, access can be promptly revoked, which minimises any avoidable disruptions to operations. This increased efficiency can often translate into cost savings and productivity gains for the business.

Detailed access logs and audit trails

This can be useful in particularly sensitive areas or industries, helping to provide peace of mind. Specifically, access control systems provide comprehensive logs and audit trails that document every access attempt and entry event.

Detailed records can be generated from the moment a credential is presented to the system to the moment access is granted or denied. That can provide useful insights into the risk of security breaches. It can also be used to make sure that employees aren’t straying from their work areas – strange or inexplicable movements can potentially indicate of misconduct. Additionally, in highly regulated industries such as healthcare and finance, access logs play a crucial role in compliance efforts, helping to give you peace of mind that your entire team is ensuring adherence to industry standards and regulations – whether or not their supervisors are present.

Remote access management

Lots of modern access control systems offer remote management capabilities (such as Remootio), which enables you to oversee access permissions and security settings from anywhere with an internet connection. Whether it’s granting temporary access to contractors, adjusting access levels for new hires, or remotely locking down a facility in the event of an emergency, remote access gives you the flexibility to manage security operations efficiently. Not only can that make things a lot more convenient for you and your team, but it also gives you the ability to respond swiftly to any security risks that may develop.

Scalability and flexibility

Now, we come to one of the often-underestimated advantages of access control systems – namely, that they’re highly scalable, and adaptable to the evolving needs of businesses. Whether you’re expanding your facilities, reorganising your workforce, or upgrading your security infrastructure, access control systems can easily accommodate changes and expansions. One of the knock-on advantages of this is that you don’t need to worry about investing too heavily in an access control system up-front – you can simply buy the essentials first, and then scale up gradually depending on what you need.

And if you’re looking at buying or building up your access control system, you’re in exactly the right place. We’ve got an extensive range of intercom and access control systems to choose from right here at Gate Auto, and with 30 years of experience behind us, you can always count on us to provide you with as much or as little help as you need. Feel free to give us a call on 01282 677300, and we’ll be happy to see what we can do!