What is access control?
Access control is essential for securing your business by limiting physical access to certain areas of the building, protecting sensitive data. Whether users are identified through usernames and passwords, biometric scans, or key cards, installing various access control systems will ensure constant protection.
Depending on your industry or the size of your organisation, the access control systems that are relevant to you may vary. Each offers a different set of features. That’s why we’re here to share four different types to help make your decision a bit easier.
What are the different types of access control?
1) Discretionary
Discretionary access control systems allow the business owner to determine how many employees are permitted access to any particular location. If the credential is on the system, users will be allowed to enter using key cards, a PIN, or a fingerprint scanner.
Although this method offers heightened flexibility, it’s not as secure as other systems. This type of system may be more beneficial for organisations that value ease of use.
2) Mandatory
As one of the strictest types of access control systems, MAC is the preferred choice for high-risk clients. It targets those with a heightened emphasis on security to protect their data, such as the government. Access will be permitted only by system administrators, based on a hierarchical approach, and any settings put in place cannot be changed or removed without their permission. All users will be classified on the system. For example, if there were 200 employees, 200 would need separate user permissions. This means each person would be granted access to certain areas according to the programming.
Although mandatory systems offer an advanced level of security, the settings aren’t easily changed. If you did need to adjust something, you would need the administrator to reprogram the system.
3) Role-based
Onto one of the most common types of access control systems. Role-based assigns permissions to employees based on their role within the business. This method makes the task of changing access much quicker, as opposed to MAC, and rather than every single person being added to the system, job titles instead group permissions. For example, if your business were made up of product managers, project managers and a sales team, you would only require three different security profiles. Doing this ensures that lower-level employees aren’t gaining access to highly sensitive information.
4) Rule-based
Although they sound similar to role-based systems, these two systems aren’t to be confused. It is most commonly used as a security extra rather than a stand-alone system. Set permissions can be changed based on the administrator’s input of specific rules into the system. For example, the start and end times of a working day can be established, as no one should access the building between these times, regardless of their title.
There are various steps you can take to secure your business. Access control should always be paired with a secure entrance solution, and that’s what we specialise in. From automatic doors to gates and barriers, we can provide you with everything you need to protect your premises, regardless of the sector you’re in. Get in touch with us today to discover the best option for you.