Stopping Crime at the Door: 5 Ways to Approach Access Control

Monitor & Manage Who Can Enter Your Fort Worth Building

In the wake of recent headlines, many of us are wondering how we can make our public and commercial spaces safer. A tactful first approach is to prevent trouble from entering the building in the first place. 

With an access control system, you’ll manage who can and cannot enter your premises. Staff with key cards or pin codes may freely enter the lobby and elevators, for instance, while visitors must be granted permission at the front desk. 

If your company wants to improve building access control solutions, partnering with a commercial integrator like Videotex is the first step. We help businesses across Fort Worth, TX, improve their commercial security experiences. From a single system dashboard, your security team can view surveillance footage while creating or revoking access control permissions. 

There’s no single way to approach access control. Which method is right for your company? Explore your options below to create a safer environment for all. 

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Key Card Access 

Whether your building uses automatic doors or turnstiles, employees can enter by tapping a company-issued key card or FOB with customized permissions. ID photos can be printed on the cards, and visitors can stop at the front desk to obtain a guest pass. 

Access cards add a layer of security that surveillance cameras may miss since any intruders will be stopped at the door. Consider adding another card reader at elevators or hallways to create a second layer of security so that if a trespasser slipped in behind someone, they’d be blocked again. Cards may be automatically deactivated through your security system, so permissions are revoked when necessary. 

Pin Code Access 

Entering a code may require a little more time than tapping a card, but no longer than turning a metal key in the door. Pin pad readers are a smart idea for higher-security areas like labs or private offices. You can issue codes that permit a user to specific rooms while prohibiting others. And unlike ID cards and keys, a pin code cannot be stolen or lost! 

Mobile Access 

Most people carry their smartphones in their pockets or bags at all times. Your access control system can use a mobile app rather than a physical card to authenticate a person’s ID and allow them inside. Staff simply scan the app onto a mobile-enhanced reader—like we already do at concerts and movie theaters— and continue walking through the activated turnstile, door, or elevator.

Biometric Access Control 

‘Biometric’ may sound daunting, but many of us already use biometric technology on our phones. Why not in your commercial building?

For the ultimate security measures, your business can implement fingerprint readers, retinal eye scanners, hand geometry readers, or facial recognition devices at critical entry points. A person’s fingerprint, retina, or hand shape cannot be forged or forgotten, and the security system will instantly compare a scan to a database of known identities. If your building contains confidential assets, biometric security is one of the surest ways to keep it safe.

Multi-Factor Access 

If you’re still concerned about security in select units, give yourself peace of mind by combining two or more access control options for increased safety. For example, people may tap their ID cards at the front entrance, then scan their fingerprints to enter specific offices or wings. Whatever combination works best for your business, our commercial security company can help create a customized solution.

Is it time to take your commercial security to the next level? If you’re interested in building access control in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, connect with Videotex here to learn more.