ACCESS CONTROL – Security or Convenience?
I have seen the Access Control Industry evolve dramatically over my last 25 plus years in the Electronic Security Industry.
In the late 90’s in India, EM based RFID cards that opened locks with just a simple tap were an almost magical phenomenon. RFID evolved and complex encryption technologies (I-class, MiFare etc.) replaced the less secure methods. Fingerprint tech revolutionized the Access Control space, followed by even more ‘secure’ (read on to know why I have used inverted commas) tech like Retina / Iris scanning, palm / fingerprint veins, and now even wireless tech like NFC, Bluetooth and Wi-fi.
While Access Control devices do a great job of regulating / preventing access, I always believe that SECURITY can never be complete without a strong lock / door combination, and safety and security of the database which serves as the master reservoir from which the devices (or controllers) actually regulate access.
It is also important to understand the use of fail-safe or fail-secure methods with regards to Fire Compliances. Also, certain use-cases warrant a manual override, which if ignored at the design stage can lead to disastrous consequences. (I recently came across a case where the client’s staff got stuck inside the office for a whole night due to bad system design which allowed no recourse in case of electronic malfunction).
I have had many a ‘form vs functionality’ debate with Clients and their Interior designers with regards to their access control solutions. I always tell them that unless we provide a strong Fail-Secure locking mechanism, which is also mounted on a strong door / frame, Access Control is more about convenience rather than security. Which is also fine, as long as the client knows what exactly they are getting into.
Clients also often believe that an access control system is enough to prevent and / or detect intrusion. But the truth is that multiple facets of Electronic Security need to be used to stitch together a robust, or if even more ambitious, a fool-proof security solution. An effective Access Control solution can be complemented well with a sprinkling of Intrusion Alarms, a garnish of CCTV cameras, but most importantly, a generous dollop of common sense.
—Rohit Chabria