Key Benefits Of Access Control For Businesses
Maintaining a safe work environment is essential for the success of your business, no matter what sector you’re in. Keeping your employees safe means protecting some of the most important assets within the company, and as the manager or company owner, this is your responsibility.
While there are various forms of workplace security, one of the best is access control systems. Access control systems enable you to monitor and control who has access to the premises or key areas across the business. This is one of the most popular commercial security solutions we provide at Full Circuit Fire & Security, and we can tailor the installation to your specific needs.
In this post, we are sharing the key benefits of access control systems for business security and how these tools can be used for smarter, more effective protection of your premises.
What Is An Access Control System?
Access control systems are an effective way to monitor and control who has access to your premises. They are one of the most useful tools for business security and can be used at the main entrance of the premises as well as at key areas inside your company, such as sensitive data storage or server storage spaces.
As technology has improved, so have access control systems, and there are various ways you can permit entry to your workplace, such as:
- Card-Based Systems: These traditional access control systems rely on card readers, and each employee or permitted person will receive their own ID card to gain entry.
- Keypad Entry: Each employee will be given a code that permits entry into the workplace or specific areas of the premises, and the code cannot be shared with those outside of the business. These are great solutions for main entrances or security gates outside of the business, as well as areas inside.
- Biometric Systems: These kinds of access control systems are becoming increasingly popular because they do not rely on cards or codes that can be forgotten, stolen or replicated. Instead, access is gained by using scans of fingerprints, retinas or even facial recognition.
- Mobile Access: These kinds of systems operate similarly to card-based access control, but instead of each employee having an ID card, they can use their smartphone to gain entry.
The Key Benefits Of Access Control Systems For Workplaces
Access control systems can be extremely beneficial for workplace security and can help improve business operations, with advantages such as:
Controlled Entry and Exit
The primary benefit of access control systems is the fact you can control and limit entry to the premises. This way you can ensure that only employees or permitted personnel have access to your workplace or key areas within it, avoiding interference, data breaches or other security threats.
Access control systems are often installed at the main entrance of workplaces or to permit entry to specific areas, such as staff rooms in retail spaces or sensitive data storage. This allows you to control who can access the premises as a whole and keep key areas safe from intruders or unauthorised entry.
Activity And Entry Logs
As well as permitting entry to only approved personnel, access control systems can help monitor activity and movement throughout the premises. With access to the main control panel or internal systems, you can keep track of your employees and keep records of their arrival, timing and ensure they are where they need to be during the day.
This is not only beneficial for the productivity of your business but also essential for compliance with regulations and can be used as evidence in investigations.
Time-Based Access Rules
Access control systems can be programmed to align with business hours or specific tasks, allowing you to control who can gain entry and when. For example, you can limit all access when the business is closed to ensure your premises are safe.
If employees need to work longer or enter the workplace on a day off, they will need to gain additional access or have their program updated.
Emergency Lockdown Capabilities
By controlling the main entrance or access to the workplace, you are controlling who enters or leaves the premises at any given time. Most access control systems have an emergency shutdown program which can put your workplace on lockdown during emergencies, such as break-ins or burglaries, so you can actively keep employees and assets safe.
Reduced Risk Of Key Loss And Intrusion
Instead of giving all permitted personnel a key to the building, access control systems provide each one with an individual form of entry. Not only does this save the company money, as keys do not need to continually be produced, but it also reduces the risk of intrusion, theft or lost keys.
This risk is reduced even further when using mobile access or biometric access control systems.
Access Control Systems And Workplace Compliance: UK Regulations To Be Aware Of
Access control systems can provide superior levels of workplace security, as well as keep your premises compliant with UK regulations, such as:
Health & Safety Regulations
Modern access control systems comply with health and safety regulations as they prevent untrained and unauthorised people from accessing potentially dangerous areas or machinery. Access control can be used to stop entry into potentially hazardous areas, which limits risk exposure.
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the employer has a duty of care for their staff and keeping them away from these potentially hazardous areas aligns with this, keeping them compliant.
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
Access control systems also play an important role in upholding GDPR, which is required across various sectors and needs to be present in all forms of workplaces. Under these guidelines, businesses need to demonstrate data privacy and their role in protecting the information of staff, customers and industry.
By limiting access to sensitive areas, such as IT storage or HR files, workplaces are taking appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect information. This aligns with their responsibilities and the workplace regulations of the time.
Furthermore, the fact that many access control systems provide an audit trail means you can keep track of who has access to these sensitive areas and provide evidence of this, if required.
Insurance Requirements
Due to the importance of workplace security, many commercial premises need to demonstrate the ways they are protecting their employees, premises and assets before they can get sufficient insurance. Insurance premiums for premises without the right security will be extremely high, if at all possible, as many providers will not cover what they deem to be a high-risk business.
Access control is a high-value form of workplace security and can provide vital information, such as who has access, where and when, which can support any insurance claims made.
Having robust access control systems in place across your workplace demonstrates not only your commitment to workplace security but can also support risk identification during claims, making the process easier and more likely to be successful.
Seamless Integration For Better Workplace Security
Modern access control systems can be integrated with other forms of workplace security to provide better protection of your premises. In many cases, we can integrate access control with your existing CCTV cameras or intruder alarms. Alternatively, we can provide complete upgrades to your entire workplace security system to ensure it all works together.
By integrating access control with CCTV, you can have recorded documentation as well as video evidence of employee movement, ensuring everyone is where they need to be at any given time. CCTV can be remotely monitored and connected to a third-party to ensure any potential breaches are noticed as they occur for a prompt emergency response.
At Full Circuit Fire & Security, we can provide a complete security audit of your workplace and offer professional recommendations for the best upgrades. We will install and maintain access control systems, as well as integrate them with other security systems, for complete peace of mind.
Conclusion
Access control systems are some of the most effective tools for workplace security, offering monitoring and controlled access to key areas across the premises. You can not only limit entrance to authorised personnel, but also monitor the movements of employees throughout business hours.
These systems help your business remain compliant and in line with current regulations across data protection, health and safety and insurance requirements.
Full Circuit Fire & Security offers a comprehensive access control installation service and can integrate your new system with existing security measures for a complete solution.
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