Organizations spanning every industry and size can understand why access control is a cornerstone of physical security. From banks and schools to medical clinics and corporate offices, every organization needs a way to ensure that the right people have access to the appropriate spaces at designated times. 

While the technology behind access control has come a long way in recent years and cloud solutions have made their way into many corporations, there are still a few key pain points in modern access control. In this article, learn about these common pain points and discover a few exciting solutions to address them. 

1. Inability to smoothly scale

Some access control systems, particularly on-premises systems, are difficult to scale. Whether you’re adding to your workforce, opening new locations, or hoping to add tiered access to certain spaces, you need an access control system that is flexible enough to adapt alongside your needs. Inefficient and expensive scaling options leave organizations stuck in an impasse of stifled growth and spotty security. 

One of the key benefits of hosted access control is the built-in scalability. Opting for cloud-based access control solutions when your business is still small will mean you don’t need to grapple with costly overhauls or integration issues later on when it’s time to grow. For example, LenelS2 offers features like the Elements ‘OnGuard Connector,’ which allows on-prem systems, called OnGuard, to use Element Cloud systems at satellite offices. This hybrid capability makes it easier for businesses to open new locations and scale smoothly, keeping a single monitoring platform for various locations.  

Organizations managing remote and hybrid staff members, multiple sites, and shared security teams need to be able to access their systems remotely. Remote capabilities like locking and unlocking doors based on a video stream can allow small security teams to seamlessly scale without exponentially increasing staff requirements. 

2. Inefficient processes

From maintenance processes to employee enrollment, too many access control systems use inefficient, clunky processes that quickly drain security staff time and company resources. 

For example, managing guest passes is a crucial pain point for many office buildings and campuses. In many cases, especially in offices where NFC systems are in use, guests are prompted to download an app on their phones in order to create an account and request access to the building as a guest. This is a tall order for visitors who just plan to attend one meeting or have lunch with a friend on staff. 

Solutions like LenelS2 allow for guest passes to be shared via direct links, making them much easier to access and use for both senders and receivers. This added efficiency allows for a better user experience and more reliable, consistent systems as a result.

With the rise of remote work and multiple site management, ensuring secure and manageable remote access to physical spaces is increasingly complex and crucial.

3. Reliability

Most importantly, organizations must be able to rely on their access control systems. Despite advances in technology, access control systems are still vulnerable to breaches. The redundancy provided by cloud-based access control solutions helps ensure that unexpected downtime does not arise and allow for unauthorized entries. 

Another recent development helping improve the reliability of access control systems is NFC. While key cards are lost and stolen all too frequently, some providers like Genea allow staff members to use the Apple Wallet to store their credentials. Since the average person is very in-tune with the location of their phone and tools like Apple Wallet require authentication to access, this credentialing method is much more reliable than traditional alternatives. 

Every year, we see exciting advancements in access control solutions. These pain points are quickly becoming easier to address as more organizations embrace the cloud advantage and leverage the latest tools. If you’re looking for the right solutions for your access control needs, we’re here to help. Get in touch today!