What is Access Control System ?
The purpose of access control is to grant entrance to a building or office only to those who are authorized to be there.
People new to access control may think the system is made up only of the card and the card reader mounted on the wall next to the door. There are a few more parts behind the scenes, all working together to make the magic of granting access to the right person.
Basic Components of Access Control Systems
Access control systems vary widely in types and levels of complexity, most card access control systems consist of at least three basic components:
User Control:- Card Reader
Access cards are typically proximity cards that, rather than being swiped or inserted like credit cards, are held two to six inches in front of the card reader. The same procedure is followed for phone apps. The benefit of using credentials is that they are personalized, so any unlock event can be traced back to the person associated with it.
Admin Control:- Management Dashboard,Card Reader
The admin control is the management dashboard, or portal, where the office administrator, head of security, or IT manager sets the parameters of persons allowed to access the premises, and under which circumstances. This involves a management dashboard, often in the cloud, and a way to provision access such as a card programming device.
Infrastructure:- Locks, Access Control Panel, Access Control Server, Low-Voltage Cables
Electronic locks are used to electrically unlock the door on which it's installed. They usually have a wire that powers them. Some locks lock when they are supplied with power while others unlock when supplied with power. The former are known as fail safe locks and the latter are known as fail secure.
Also known as the access control field panel, or intelligent controller, the access control panel is not visible to most people in a facility because it is installed in the IT room or the electrical, telephone, or communications closet.
Every access control system needs a server where the permissions are stored in an access database. As such it acts as the center or "brain" of the access control system. It is really the server that makes the decision whether the door should unlock or not by matching the credential presented to the credentials authorized for that door.
Cables are a critical part of access control and can prove to be very expensive if installed improperly, so they should never be overlooked in planning an access control system.
