/ By Gateway Team / access • access control • access control equipment/ 0 Comments

6 Ways to maintain access control

Finger scanner on the scanner glass by card.Installing access control is a simple concept and is simple to incorporate into your security system, however, a business must also maintain access control. Although they are extremely efficient and effective, a business needs to ensure that the access control equipment is maintained in order for it to fulfill its potential and provide the best level of security.

Here we discuss 6 ways to maintain access control:

Remove dirt build-ups

A build-up of dirt can severely impact your security. It can stop the card readers from working which can cause several issues and prevent anyone from entering the building. 

Back up your system

It is vital for your systems to be backed up on a regular basis. If there was a system failure, data could be lost and the access control system would not be able to be used until this data is reloaded. If there is no backup, the process of reloading could be substantial- as would the chaos it would cause. 

Update your system

Jus like system backups, ensuring your systems are up to date is equally as important. If you have the system connected to the internet, it shouldn’t take long to update remotely. If not the process will have to be done locally.

Conduct Emergency testing 

Regular tests need to be done on the systems to recreate a real-life emergency scenario. If the fire alarm goes off, for example, your system needs to be working correctly. Tests need to be done to ensure they automatically unlock and no one is at risk of being trapped in the building. 

Keep your information up to date 

When an employee leaves, you must ensure their information is removed from the system and if necessary, pin codes changed. Disable any access cards or fobs that have had a large period of non-use as well.

Be careful with keypads

A maintenance task that can often be overlooked is cleaning the keypads for access control. Fingerprints can often be seen on the digits that make up the code. If the code is only a few digits long, the combinations are not that endless. For example, if the keypad code is only 4 digits, there are only a total of 24 combinations. If an intruder can see what these 4 digits are, they could work through these combinations.

There is a lot more to maintaining an access control system than just seeing if the door opens when you enter the correct code or provide your ID card. However, having these checks booked regularly can provide you with the peace of mind that the security is working at its best.

What’s Next? 

For more information on how Gateway Automation can help keep your premises secure, please contact us on 01522 682255 for a free, no-obligation quotation and feasibility survey to assess your perimeter security equipment. 

/ By Gateway Team / access • barriers • gates • security/ 0 Comments

Things to consider before buying barriers and gates

Buying barriers or gates can be a big investment, so you need to ensure that you are choosing the best option for your needs. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before deciding which is best for you to buy.

1.    What level of security do I need?
This is the first question you should ask yourself. The barriers or gates needed will completely depend on the type of business you have and what security you need. If you require the strongest and most secure barriers then these will inevitably cost more, but you need to think about it as a long-term investment and how much they will benefit the business by protecting your assets.

2.    What access do I need?
You need to think carefully about who needs to access your building. Will staff members be needing vehicle access on a regular basis? Do you also need access for delivery vehicles and if so, how regularly? If the answers to these questions are yes then you will need to think of a barrier or gate which is easy and quick to open. Will you have a high number of pedestrians coming onto your premises? If the answer is yes, then you may want to consider the use of turnstiles.

3.    What space do you have available?
Another major thing to consider is what space you have available on your property. Do you actually have the space to install the gates you want? For example, if you are thinking about getting swing gates, you need to consider the extra space required for the gate to open fully.

4.    What is your budget?
For most businesses, you need to stick to a strict budget and although it would be great if money wasn’t a factor, it often is. You need to ensure you get the product you want which meets your needs whilst still being affordable. Again, you need to think of it as an investment and not automatically go for the cheapest option, as it could lead to your property and assets not being as protected as they should be.

5.    Will you have any staff members for security?
If you are planning on having security at your entrance then this will change the type of barrier and gate you want significantly. If you have someone there to open and close the gates and monitor who enters and leaves, then your options will be different.

6.    What do you want them to look like?
Last but not least, you need to ensure that the barriers and gates you choose are secure but also look good and fit in with the rest of your property. You also need to think about what impact you want to make. If you want to make an impression and deter people from entering, then you may go for imposing gates. On the other hand, you may want the property to have a sense of people being welcome when they enter, so you may go for a more subtle option instead. Each business is different.

At the end of the day, each business has its own needs for barriers and gates. They vary significantly depending on the sector you work in and the location of the business. There are many factors that will determine what you require from barriers and gates. They are a big investment for companies, so you need to ensure you choose what is right for you. If you ask yourself the six questions above, then hopefully you will know exactly what you require, and we can help you go through the options available to you.

To find out more about our barriers and gates, please contact us on 01522 682255 for a free, no obligation and feasibility survey to assess your perimeter security equipment.