If you’ve worked in an organisation, the first important device you would get is an Access Control System. It is a sort of a biometric system that not only marks your attendance, but keeps a tab on your every movement. For instance, time and date when you accessed the second floor of your organisation or department entered. It is a security system that permits that much need flexibility at the same time controlling your every movement in a particular premise. Used extensively in organisations and companies, the access control system helps in protecting the assets of the company and its staff members. This biometric system keeps a track of every movement of the employee, records data of employees and visitors as well as gives them access to a premise they want to enter. This security system proves extremely beneficial for high security premises and businesses like military offices, workplace, hospitals etc.
Access control system also works as a biometric system that verifies an individual who enters a premise or area by authenticating them through remote access systems. The entire understanding or requirement of a remote access control system is so that manual presence or work is not required to mark the employee’s presence at work or the actual hours worked for. The remote access biometric devices makes life and work much simpler today and does away with ‘proxy attendance’ which was an issue most organisations faced. Moreover since the access control system marks attendance and logs in worked hours, the employee gets paid accordingly and justly. The most commonly used biometric access control system that most organisations use today is the fingerprint reader. Other remote access biometric systems used are iris scanners, facial readers, hand geometry readers etc.
Accessing these biometric systems is where the access control system comes in handy. For e.g. a typical access control system is a card reader also known as a pin reader, door strike or an electromagnetic lock and push button. Let’s understand how the access control system works through a simple workday scenario.
When you need to enter your work premise or a department that needs you to validate your authenticity, the first thing you do is pull out your card and present it to the security system that is installed at the entrance. After a few seconds, the remote access system validates the reader and unlocks the door or the lift that allows you to enter your work premise. It’s the same process if you have to visit a specialised department at work. There are a few remote access systems that are programmed to unlock only after you enter a pin code after presenting your access card. Although the process is the same, the biometric systems primary job is to authenticate you first. Before you leave the room or the work place you will have to press a door button or switch after which the door unlocks itself. This logs in your out-time from work. The logged in entry time and exit time is recorded and sent to the respective department. With an efficient biometric system in place, organisations today can cut down on major expense like stationery for registry entries and security men who are meant to verify every employee.
To understand remote access in biometric systems further here is an insight into different types of access control systems that are in use
Card Reader – This type of access system is commonly in use and can be identified as a magnetic strip, barcode, weigand or proximity card. Once the card is swiped across the card reader and the user verified, the door lock opens, permitting entry to the individual. In case the individual is not registered in the remote access systems database, the access is denied.
Keypad reader – In this access control system, the individual is granted a pin code or keycode. Once the pin code is entered in the keypad reader the electromagnetic lock opens granting access to the user. If an incorrect pin is punched in, access is denied. Sometimes there is a limit to the number of times a wrong pin code is punched in. In which case, if the individual exceeds the incorrect pin code limit, they might have to seek permission for pin code reset.
Proximity card reader – Just like the card reader, once the individual presents or swipes the proximity card assigned to them, the electromagnetic lock on the door releases.
Magnetic Swipe Card – This is another type of remote access system where the information of the individual is stored in the magnetic strip and everytime the card is swiped, the information is checked on its remote system. Once the information is authenticated, the lock releases and entry is permitted.