For many businesses, security starts with a simple question: who has access to your building?
Traditional keys can seem like the easiest answer. Hand them out to employees, keep a few spares on hand, and lock the doors at the end of the day. But as your business grows, managing physical keys can quickly become a security and administrative headache.
Lost keys, former employees who still have access, multiple copies and limited visibility into who is entering your facility can all create unnecessary risk.
That is why more businesses are turning to commercial access control systems.
With electronic access control, businesses can manage employee access, restrict specific areas, accommodate visitors and have greater visibility over who is entering their facilities.
The Problem With Traditional Keys
Physical keys are simple, but they give businesses very little control once they have been handed out.
If an employee loses a key, you have to consider who might find it. If someone leaves the company and doesn’t return their key, that physical access still exists. And if you have a larger team, keeping track of who has which key can become difficult.
There is also no easy way to know when a particular key was used to enter the building.
For businesses with sensitive information, valuable equipment, inventory or restricted areas, that lack of visibility can be a concern.
Access control gives you the ability to manage access without relying entirely on physical keys.
Better Control Over Employee Access
Not every employee needs access to every part of your facility.
An access control system allows businesses to assign permissions based on an employee’s role and responsibilities.
For example, your general staff may have access to the main office, while managers have access to additional areas. An IT employee may require access to a server room, while other employees do not.
Access permissions can also be adjusted as roles change.
When an employee leaves the organization, their access can be removed without changing locks or collecting every physical key.
That makes access control particularly useful for businesses with larger teams, multiple departments or frequent employee turnover.
Manage Visitors and Contractors More Easily
Businesses don’t only need to manage employees. Contractors, vendors, delivery personnel and visitors may also need temporary access to a facility.
Giving someone a physical key creates an obvious security concern if that key isn’t returned.
With an electronic access control system, businesses can provide temporary or restricted credentials based on the situation and remove access when it is no longer required.
This gives businesses more flexibility while maintaining greater control over who can enter the building.
Know Who Is Accessing Your Facility
One of the biggest advantages of moving beyond traditional keys is visibility.
Depending on the system, businesses can monitor access activity and maintain records of when credentials are used.
That information can provide useful insight into activity at your facility and help support your broader security procedures.
For businesses with restricted areas, multiple shifts or multiple locations, having this additional visibility can make a significant difference.
Access Control Can Strengthen Your Overall Security
Access control doesn’t have to be a standalone security solution.
It can be integrated with other technologies, including commercial alarm systems and video surveillance, to create a more connected approach to facility security.
For example, businesses can combine controlled entry with security cameras to improve visibility around key access points.
This type of integration can be especially valuable for businesses that want their security systems to work together rather than managing several disconnected technologies.
Is Access Control Right for Your Business?
If your business has employees coming and going throughout the day, restricted areas, multiple locations, valuable equipment or sensitive information, it’s worth considering whether traditional keys are still giving you the level of control you need.
An access control system can help businesses:
- Manage employee access
- Restrict specific areas
- Deactivate access when employees leave
- Provide temporary access to visitors and contractors
- Monitor access activity
- Reduce the risks associated with lost or unreturned keys
- Integrate physical access with other security systems
The goal isn’t simply to replace a key with a key fob. It’s to give your business greater control over who can access your facility and when.
A Smarter Approach to Business Security
As your business grows, your security needs grow with it.
What worked when you had a small team and one set of doors may not be enough when you have dozens of employees, multiple departments or valuable assets to protect.
Modern access control gives businesses a more flexible way to manage physical security while making employee and visitor access easier to control.
At Servall, we design and implement integrated access control solutions for businesses, including key fob access systems that can work alongside your existing security infrastructure. Our team can help you determine what type of solution makes sense for your facility, employees and security requirements.