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Workplace security is an unfortunate necessity in today’s world, especially with so many people working from home. Office buildings are emptier than ever, but assets need to stay safe and secure.
Physical access management is part of a business’s larger security strategy, and it’s designed to protect a company and its people from vandalism, theft, and unauthorized entry that can damage physical property or help execute a data breach. It can include measures like physical entry cards and codes or security cameras.
Below, we’ll look at the best ways to enhance a workplace’s physical security access management and the tools that help keep businesses most secure.
Install Surveillance Systems
Surveillance technologies like CCTV cameras may seem old-school, but facilities such as schools are exactly where they’re needed most. In some facilities, real-time monitoring can save lives. Cameras can also record incidents for investigations that take place down the line.
An instance of this can be seen with Genetec, a renowned provider of security solutions, who introduces cutting-edge video management software aimed at optimizing surveillance operations. Their primary offering, Security Center, combines video analytics and access control to facilitate effortless monitoring across various platforms.
Access Control System Tools
Physical access management in the workplace is necessary to protect both physical and digital access. That’s why deploying a modern access control system can involve everything from PIN codes to cutting-edge technologies like biometric scanners.
Businesses can also use technology like RFID chips to grant guests entrance to your facility while simultaneously restricting (or tracking) where they go once they’re in. For example, you may be happy to give a guest access to meeting rooms, but you probably don’t want them in your server rooms.
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Track Your Traffic Using a Visitor Management System
Facilities like hospitals, hotels, co-working spaces, distribution centers, or government buildings typically require guests to sign in and identify themselves. But old-fashioned paper sign-in sheets can be illegible, forged, easily lost, and just plain inconvenient to file away and store in perpetuity. By employing a visitor management system (VMS), you can automate guest check-ins, even using kiosks that can scan IDs and ask specific questions about why a person is on-site.
A VMS can also provide your employees with a heads-up when guests arrive to reduce interruptions.
Double-Up on Security With Multifactor Authentication
Access badges can be a good means of access control, but they can also be lost, stolen, or even duplicated. As a result, some companies are using multifactor authentication
for both physical and digital security.
Combining two forms of ID – something the user has (like a key card or badge) with something the user knows (PIN) or is (biometric data) – makes it much more difficult for bad actors to penetrate your facility’s defenses.
Be Sure To Update Access Permissions
Updating passwords, PIN codes, and even badges is crucial, especially since most companies have some level of employee turnover. When a worker leaves a company or a contractor finishes a job on-site, deactivating their access permissions can prevent them from misusing those privileges in the future.
Take Employee Training Seriously
If employees don’t see the point of your access control system, they’re more likely to find it an impediment and look for workarounds, such as leaving doors propped open. It’s vital to explain to your people that the access control system also protects them, the company’s most valuable asset.
Summary
Investing in physical access management tools helps you safeguard your facilities, equipment, data, and personnel. How you set up your system will depend on the type of facility you run and the threats you may face. Finding the right solution requires auditing past security incidents, taking stock of assets that require protection, and getting advice from the pros.
