An access control system is an invaluable security measure for any business, no matter the size of your property or the number of employees in the building. Even a two-person operation running out of a 500 sq. ft. space could benefit from a few measures of access control security. But the sheer number of options out there can be incredibly daunting. The best way to get proper access control security set up is to work with your local locksmith for professional, customized guidance. However, if you’re just dipping your toes into business security, start with these basic pointers to help you narrow down your selections.
Evaluating Security Weaknesses
The basic idea behind any access control is to improve your space’s security. Access control includes a wide range of different locks and sensors — everything from keypad locks to biometric scanners, and pretty much anything in between. While a deadbolt or a mechanical high-security lock can be sturdy, they do pose a bit more of a weakness because they require physical keys. So, before you start worrying about which access control elements you want, take a step back and figure out where your security weak points are and how useful your existing security is. This is where a commercial locksmith can step in to help, but broadly speaking, you’ll want to look for things like how well your locks were installed and how well they work currently. Also look for other points of entry, like windows that may get overlooked, or roof access that an enterprising burglar could use to sneak in.
Review Who Has Access
In addition to the physical security needs dictated by your space, the other big concern is the number of people who have access to your space, particularly other keyholder employees. As we touched on briefly, physical keys are a big security risk because there is no good way to know when one has been copied, nor are there good ways to track who has a copy of your business’s key or where it is in the world. Access control systems give you a way to secure doors with the same power as mechanical locks (or better) while removing physical, copy-able keys from the equation. So, if you are not the only keyholder for your business, it’s worth looking into digitally-based access control measures to remove any physical keys.
Creating Your Access Control Security System
Next, you’ll want to consider how much security you really need. In a smaller business that doesn’t keep much cash on the property overnight, you will likely not need security measures as stringent as, say, a biomedical engineering facility. If you haven’t connected with a local provider for access control help, this would really be the time to do so. We can walk you through the many options out there, talk about different lock and sensor options, and discuss the access control security measures that will give you the best control over your security without blowing your budget.
As you contemplate different options, it’s also important to consider two main concerns: how you’ll need to partition different spaces, and how you’ll update the system when someone leaves your employ or changes roles.
Creating Zones
If you need to separate your space and control access to it in any way, you’ll want to create zones — and yes, that includes something as simple as separating a back office from a front retail space. Creating zones is simply using different locks or different credentials to control who can access each space. In a simple shop with a single office, one zone would be the main space, as controlled by your entrance and any other access points. The second zone would be the back office, to which only certain people would have access. In larger businesses, there can be an almost infinite number of different zones, but the idea carries over the same. The more zones you need, however, the more you’ll need to be able to set multiple sets of credentials for a single user, or to create different roles within the access control security system as a whole.
Adjusting After Employment Changes
With manual locks, any time someone leaves your employ, you’d need to rekey or replace the locks, otherwise there’s no telling whether they somehow keep a copy of the key. But employment roles can change frequently, and one of the biggest boons of an access control security system is that it makes it easier to handle employment changes. For smaller businesses, a digitally programmable keypad lock would give you the control to update a universal PIN or that one individual’s PIN from any internet-connected device. For larger operations, something like a key-card based access control system would give you greater control over each employee’s security credentials.
Ready to get started in boosting your business’s security? Connect with Urich Lock for experienced, individualized help in Milwaukee and the surrounding areas.
