Would you allow an unfamiliar person to casually enter your residence? We’re confident that the response is ‘No!’, and the same principle applies to businesses.

Maintaining control over who enters and exits your premises is essential for safeguarding your space and its occupants. Whether you manage a large building with significant foot traffic or a small business with fewer visitors, access control is a crucial component of any security framework.

Monitoring the entry of visitors into your building is a demanding task, and many are hesitant to employ a team or individual to handle this responsibility round the clock.

A Atogate access management system provides the solution. Tailored to suit your security requirements, our systems save resources, money, and alleviate concerns about tracking the individuals within your building. With over 25 years of experience at the forefront of access control technology, you can trust that our systems are the most efficient and adaptable in the market.

But how exactly do access management systems function? Our blog uncovers all the details.

What exactly is an access management system?

As the name implies, access management systems offer a means to regulate and monitor who can access specific areas and resources. Their primary function is to program occupant data and utilise electronic automation to permit authorised individuals while keeping others out, without the need for manual intervention.

Different types of access control and their advantages

Numerous access control types employ various technologies. These can be used independently or integrated with one another, depending on the desired level of security and the size of the facility:

Door entry: key fob or card access

How it operates: Contactless cards or key fobs transmit a low radio frequency to a door reader, granting authorised visitors entry.

Advantages: Electronic cards or key fobs can be programmed with different access rights for each user, allowing greater control over who can enter specific areas of the building. They also provide an audit trail that tracks the movement of individuals throughout the premises, making it easier to identify suspicious activity or unauthorised access. In cases where an employee or contractor fails to return their card or key fob upon leaving the site, they can be easily deactivated.

Biometric access management systems

How it operates: These systems employ biometric data, such as fingerprints, retina scans, and facial recognition, to identify and authenticate users. This technology is used to secure physical locations like offices and warehouses, as well as digital assets such as computers and networks.

Advantages: These systems offer greater security compared to traditional electronic access control systems since they rely on unique biological characteristics that are more difficult to steal or replicate. Biometric access management systems are also more convenient for users, as they don’t need to remember a password, key, or card.

Intercom devices

How it operates: An intercom enables audio or audio-visual verification. Homeowners, residents, or security personnel can communicate directly with individuals seeking entry to the premises and grant access as necessary.

Advantages: These systems provide a personal touch and can be monitored remotely. Note: these systems require manual monitoring.

Electric gates

How it operates: Electric gates are often utilised in conjunction with other access control systems. Regular users can open electric gates using fobs, keypads, remotes, or an app connection, while visitors can gain entry using an intercom system. Intercoms can be either hard-wired to physical handsets within the building or wireless through GSM, meaning the call from the intercom is made to landline or mobile phones.

Advantages: Electric gates have become increasingly affordable, making them accessible for both residential and commercial properties. When used in combination with other security systems like CCTV cameras or motion sensors, they provide an additional layer of protection. Automated gates can be programmed to open or close at specific times, making them ideal for businesses that need to restrict access during certain hours or days of the week.

Integration of access control security and CCTV

Integrating access control with CCTV offers numerous benefits. Firstly, when someone unlocks a door, the system can alert a pan tilt zoom (PTZ) camera, which can then focus on the specific door and begin recording. The system can also trigger a camera to record at a higher frame rate when the door opens. With most systems, you can access CCTV footage through the access control software and receive email and text alerts when someone opens, unlocks, or leaves a door open.

Interested in learning more? Our team is ready to assist you.

What sets an Autogate access management system apart?

Our experience, knowledge, and personalised approach distinguish us from the rest.

With over thirty years of experience in installing and maintaining access control systems and integrating them with other systems, we have the expertise you can rely on.

We are NSI Gold accredited and approved installers of various access control brands, including Paxton, TDSi, Vanderbilt SiPass, BPT Impro, Honeywell Pro-Watch, and Salto.

We provide a customised service that focuses on understanding your specific security needs and designing a system that best suits you.

Contact us at 01420 487700 or fill out a contact form to discuss your access control system installation.