ACCESS CONTROL: WHAT SHOULD WE LOOK FOR WHEN PURCHASING ONE? WHAT CONDITIONS MUST IT MEET?

SECURE

It seems obvious, but it really isn't. We must ensure that the person correctly identified is the one who actually gains access. In our experience within the sector, we have realized that it is not enough for a device to simply have biometric or facial detection to validate identity. Automatic alerting tools for unauthorized intrusions are essential.

Let’s look at an example: no matter how much we use a turnstile to limit access to one person at a time, that measure is of little use if a person with a valid ID identifies themselves and then lets in another person who is prohibited. Such a device gives us a false sense of security, allowing a fraud occurrence that can be very costly.

AUTONOMOUS

The goal is to avoid having a person at the entrance of the premises constantly verifying who places their fingerprint, face, or any type of biometric or documented identification so that there is no possibility of fraud. The employee should be performing their duties and should only go to the entrance in case of an intrusion or a customer requesting to be identified for the first time. The objective of an automatic access control is to save the company human effort and error so that it can operate its own business and delegate the security of its establishment to a team it can trust.

In conjunction with the previous point, in addition to filtering the customer's identity, the system must detect unwanted intrusions and record them autonomously, without depending on an employee's attention. It could communicate with the employee, however, through a smartwatch and tablet device. This way, the employee could see the video and alert information instantly without having to neglect their other tasks anywhere in the room.

MINIMUM TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED

Biometric detection, although not enough on its own as we have already said, is still absolutely necessary. It is an unequivocal way to verify the identity of an individual. Whether by fingerprint or facial recognition (either of the two is valid), the system must incorporate it and function smoothly so as not to hinder the flow of customers. Likewise, it must be updated daily and automatically with the corresponding administration's database. This is taken for granted, but it is always worth mentioning.

In any case, and we repeat, it is necessary to ensure that the following problem is always solved: That second persons cannot sneak in by taking advantage of the verification of a first person. But exactly how could this be achieved?

Obviously, an alarm is not enough to stop an intruder. Not even by helping ourselves with the passive video surveillance system of a premises would we be well covered, because at that point we already require a manual review of the recordings which is sometimes cumbersome, requires privileged access of the employee for its use, does not specifically identify the intruder and above all, we do not receive that information instantly. If we want a truly effective access control, the equipment must be specifically responsible for recording the moment of the intrusion and transmitting the recording to the employee wherever they are immediately through a mobile device, such as a tablet or a smartwatch. Thus, the worker can identify the person they need to look for through the image without wasting a single second. Furthermore, it could serve as evidence in the event of having to go to trial with an intruder.

OTHER POINTS TO CONSIDER

We have already covered the essential and non-negotiable part, which is security. But there are other aspects that, while not absolutely essential, can be very useful.

CUSTOMER DATABASE

A system capable of storing its customers' data will always work more efficiently since they will only have to register once. And it can be taken further: if a room has different entrances with the same security system, the database could be shared. This means that when the customer registers in one, they are registered in all of them.

AUTOMATIC DISINFECTION

Unfortunately, we are facing a global pandemic. Although the ideal would be for each person to be responsible for their actions, we know that this is not always the case. Therefore, the fact that the sensors that require contact with the user to identify themselves disinfect themselves automatically in a few seconds without depending on the constant cleaning of a human being is a point to take into account. We might think that the pandemic will end and with it the utility of this technology, but if there is one thing that is clear, it is that the coronavirus has set both a health and a legal precedent.

It would not be far-fetched to think that in the future we will be faced with similar restrictions with other diseases, and that this type of automatic disinfection will end up becoming the norm.

INTEGRABLE WITH OTHER SECURITY SYSTEMS

If the owner of the premises already has other security systems (such as entrance turnstiles, barriers, automatic doors, alarms), the fact that the access control is not monolithic and can be adapted to other security modules is important. Otherwise, we could hinder the flow of customers by adding intermediate and unnecessary steps in the access.

FLUID

The authentication of a regular customer in an establishment is an extremely repetitive process so, if it is not intuitive, does not develop smoothly and with the least possible effort, it can generate rejection in the customer in the short term, finally triggering unwanted conflicts.

Let's not forget that identifying oneself is a procedure, and our goal is to make it as light, simple, and secure as possible.