Innovations in Access Control for SMBs
While many people tend to believe that big business is key to an economy’s growth, the fact is that small and medium businesses (SMBs) play a vital role in the economy of the United States. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, there are 5.83 million employer firms in the United States. Enterprises with less than 500 employees accounted for 99.7 percent of those businesses, while firms with less than 20 workers make up 89.4 percent of businesses. No matter what size an enterprise may be, access control of entrances and exits is a critical part of a security strategy. SMBs are increasingly seeking access control solutions that are scalable and feature-rich and that deliver the cost savings, efficiency and improved security that will generate the highest return on investment (ROI) today and into the future.
New access control Technology has enabled systems with fewer doors (most systems are eight doors or less) to have more features as well as an ability to integrate with other systems. The systems boast ease of use, configuration, installation, and scalability. Access control solutions that are purpose-built for SMBs are also increasingly flexible: they can grow with an enterprise as their access control needs expand, creating a future-proof solution that provides all the benefits of an enterprise-level solution, yet that is priced for SMBs and that will continue to deliver ROI long after deployment.
Innovative access control software platforms for the SMB markets are an extremely viable option, as they provide tremendous functionality, are ideal for small system applications, and allow systems to be easily upgraded and expanded if need be. Expansion with the access control system can be done easily and quickly with minimal effort and few hardware changes.
An access control and event management software platform offers multiple layers of scalable control for small office environments to global corporations with multiple buildings and unique access requirements. With a software platform, cardholder database management and access level assignments are made simple to easily modify additions and deletions of any cardholder data record. A display of access and alarm events are available in real-time via an event monitor, along with a wide range of event filters and alarm notifications provide visibility to specific needs.The solution also includes the ability to accommodate an unlimited number of cardholders and controllers, a wide range of administrator option settings and compatibility with third-party solutions.
Other access control platforms include plug-and-play, browser-based access control solutions that accommodate up to forty doors, and can connect to IP cameras on an alarm event to display video, which makes it both extremely versatile and affordable for small and mid-sized organizations. Using an IT-friendly network appliance, the platform can be configured in minutes, providing a cost-effective, easy-to-use yet robust access control feature set.
The growth in IP-based devices is leading to advancements in access control solutions that together, create an environment where systems are increasingly being integrated, allowing information sharing that boosts security and provides a powerful tool for more effective investigations. Some platforms can provide a built-in video management system (VMS) for smallscale surveillance with free licenses for multiple cameras. Those types of solutions can facilitate video push integration for events generated within an access control software, providing the capability of saving and playing event-related video from a flash drive on any PC. This provides even greater value and savings for end users.
Wireless lock solutions are another effective solution for SMBs that can dramatically reduce installation time and costs to create even greater ROI for security. Wireless locks can provide complete access control in locations where it would be difficult or cost-prohibitive to install a wired lock. With no wires to run, installation time is reduced, as the device is installed on a door and set up to communicate with a wireless network. The solution can also provide real-time door status monitoring. SMBs have the same requirement as larger enterprises to control entrance and exits to their buildings and other areas. Today’s access control solutions include advanced features and functions that address specific SMB security needs and challenges, and offer a wide range of options and possibilities to secure facilities.