When people talk about electronic security, they are usually talking about using cyber and network security to protect electronic information. Just as important as your company’s information security is the physical security on your premises. Having an access control system on site can help protect your properties, employees, and your business operations. So which type of security is best for you and your business?
Discretionary Access Control
A discretionary access control system is one of the simplest forms of security for your building. With this type, the business owner usually makes all decisions about who can access each area of the property, limiting which employees can get to different sections of the building. Whether this is a privacy concern (such as “management only”) or a training and safety issue (for example, restricting access to a dangerous warehouse or factory floor to trained staff only, or a health concern in a biohazard area), it is entirely up to the employer to decide who goes where with this access control system. This type of system is very flexible and customizable, but this also means that it needs to be actively managed on an individual employee basis.
Role-Based Access Control
This is an access control system where access is still largely controlled at the employer’s discretion, but it’s more automatic because your employees’ access is determined as a group based on their job titles, allowing only certain job assignments to have access to their selected areas. If an employee’s job title changes, their card access will also be adjusted accordingly! Depending on the security software, you may be able to customize this access to specific employees whose jobs have overlap that requires them to access both job title areas—although you may have to reach out to your security folk to remotely modify that person’s access.
Rule-Based Access Control
A rule-based access control system might build on both the discretionary and role-based access control systems, incorporating portions of both but also bringing in additional security measures, such as time-based lockouts, where some employees may not have access outside of regular business hours. This is useful for companies that have a large number of employees who likely have no reason to be on site outside of their shift’s hours.
Mandatory Access Control
Mandatory access control systems are usually a much stricter option for security of your premises. These types usually end up being selected for high-end research facilities or government and military spaces. With this type of security, the operating system has full control of the facility, making it impossible for individual users to modify their permissions within the facility. Contact your security company to determine if this access control system is the most appropriate choice for your location.
Whatever your security needs, placing access control systems on site will help you establish and maintain functioning security without the need for a large unit of armed security guards walking the halls, or without having to manually lock every door in your building and distribute multiple keys to every employee. Contact a professional to determine which security type works best for you and your company and what they can do to help you keep your people and organization safe. Click here for more information.
