An Access Control System (ACS) plays an integral role in the security of your property. It consists of an electronic keypad that secures the entire building. It will be responsible for controlling each and every function in your building. A wrong choice can actually hurt the performance and security of your business.
If your property is valuable to you, then you must consider investing in its security. Lots of vendors are offering different types of Access Control Systems each meant to provide you the security and peace you need. But how do you know which one’s the best? How can you be sure it will protect your property and it’s a worthy investment? Since an effective Access Control System is just like securing your home with guards armed with assembled AR-10 rifles, it is always better to put in place the best system you can.
To purchase the right Access Control System for your property, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Know your purpose
So what will be the role of your Access Control System? Is it for parking garage, your home or business premises? It can be for the purpose of tracking or monitoring. A basic ACS system features a swipe card or a keypad but advanced systems are available too that require a thumbprint or a card for authentication.
Check for the mobile access
Lots of Access Control Systems are optimized for mobile access. If you are running a business that requires security and in-house monitoring, you would definitely want mobile access to create a security network anywhere and anytime. Your access control system must let you monitor everything on your mobile device as well as desktop. Such kind of integration will create flexibility which is important for the security of your property.
Features in the Access Control System
You will come across different vendors claiming to sell the best access control system and so, you will get overwhelmed with the choices. Check out these features in the best Access Control Systems:
- Ease of use: The system must be user-friendly. It must support configuration and execution of the procedures with minimum support and training.
- User management: Check if the system offers tiered administration or can it be accessed and managed by multiple users at the same time.
- Reporting: The system must have the ability to generate standard and custom reports that are easy to interpret.
- Backup and restore: The system must have automatic data backup capabilities. If it doesn’t create backup automatically, you will have to purchase additional hardware and staff for this purpose.
- Notifications and schedules: Can the access control system set schedules and notifications easily?
- Support and training: What kind of support and training is the vendor willing to provide for using the system?
- Product updates: How often are the system updates introduced? You must also know if the updates are included in the maintenance and what or not you will have to pay for them additionally.
In the end, the Access Control System that you choose will depend on your budget, the type of security you are looking for and what you use your property for. Just remember not to compromise on the security just because of the price.
