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If you are a business owner considering access control locks, the variety of options available today will give you confidence in switching to a new system. You are sure to find the style, type, and features that best suit your commercial building and overall security needs. To get an overview of what options are available for you to choose from, continue reading. Think about what benefits you are most interested in for your commercial building and how you might best benefit from any number of access control locks.
If you need help deciding, remember that you can always call a local locksmith to help you with any questions or concerns you may have. Additionally, once you are ready to have access control locks installed for your business or commercial building, you will want to make sure you hire a professional locksmith that is skilled in access control lock installations and set up. Access control locks are far more complex than traditional locks. You will need the trained and trusted eye of a locksmith who knows what they are doing, if and when you decide to make the switch.
Stand-alone models are one of the simpler forms of access control locks. The features of stand-alone locks resemble their name. The lock itself is usually the only component involved in the access control system. There is typically no external monitoring, set-ups, or wireless controls. There are options to have stand-alone systems work with keypads, proximity cards, or both.
These types of locks may also be referred to as battery-powered access control locks. Even though they are the most cost-effective option for access control, these systems are highly durable and offer enhanced security. They can even be installed and used in the same day and are fully operational as soon as they are set-up by a locksmith.
Keypad access control locks are affordable and great for certain types of businesses. Usually, a four- or five-digit code is given to employees and others who need access to the building. These access control locks omit the need to print out individual keys for employees entirely. Depending on your business budget, this may be the best option. However, keypad locks are not as secure as other models, since codes may easily be passed around or shared. They may also not include the ability to audit activity in and out of the doorway or building. Depending on your needs, you may need a simpler system like this, but may also want to pair it with security cameras or other measures.
These convenient locks require little other than being near the lock itself and scanning a card over the proximity reader. Instead of swiping a card, these locks usually just need the card to hover a few inches near the reader. This is a great option because the card keys themselves do not suffer the kind of damage that traditional card readers might. This can help companies cut down on cost since employee’s proximity cards do not need to be replaced often.
Proximity readers offer heighten security in a couple of ways. Each employee receives an individual card key, which omits the need for pin codes. Codes may be written down or shared with those who are unauthorized to access the building. With proximity readers and corresponding cards, you do not have to worry about a pin code ending up in the wrong hands.
Additionally, because most businesses require employee identification cards to be carried by staff members, proximity cards can often be built into such ID’s. This not only helps heighten security, but can also save companies money. Instead of having to print a separate proximity reader card and an employee identification card, the two can simply be combined.
For the absolute best security, biometric readers are by far the most secure out of any of the access control lock types. If you own or manage a commercial building or business that works with highly sensitive information where a breach may threaten privacy or even people’s lives, biometric readers are a must.
Fingerprint or thumbprint scanners are an excellent security option if you choose to upgrade to access control locks. For these types of locks, a thumbprint or other fingerprint is required of each employee to access a portion of the building or certain rooms. These systems may not be ideal on every door, but for certain sections or areas, they can provide optimal security. Hospitals, for example, may put biometric readers on medication rooms or laboratories. Because hospitals have a lot of people entering and exiting on a daily basis, making sure certain areas are 100 percent secure is essential.
No matter which access control system is right for your business, getting it installed correctly is critical to getting the most out of your new locks. You will want to make sure you work with the most credible and experienced locksmith in your area so your access control locks function properly. A poorly installed system or one that is serviced by an inexperienced locksmith could cost you more time and money in the long run. Pick a locksmith that is certified, bonded, and insured if you want your access control lock installations to go smoothly. Since you may also require the occasional maintenance on your access control locks, working with a locksmith in your area that you can continually rely on is important. For the safety of your business, you should have a local locksmith on-call that you trust and is available to help anytime.
