A door access control system is a security feature put in place to prevent unauthorized access to certain buildings or areas within the building. Unfortunately, people are still finding ways around them and able to gain access without authorization. In this article, we’ll look at how they are gaining entry and offer some tips on stopping them.
How Difficult is it to Bypass Door Access Control Systems?
A “door access control system” is a system that controls access to a particular area. A standard lock is a simplified form of an “access control system.” However, controlling access to a specific building or area has become much more sophisticated over the years.
Today, an “access control system” typically involves a computer-based, electronic, or biometric control system. These systems use keycards or biometrics, such as fingerprints, vascular patterns, or iris scanning to allow individuals to access the secured areas.
Typically, these control systems are used on the exterior doors of buildings but can also secure certain areas within a facility. The purpose is to allow access to authorized people and prevent those who are not authorized from getting into the area.
How do People Bypass Door Access Control Systems?
Unfortunately, even when you have a door access system in place, there are ways that people can bypass it.
Tailgating/Piggybacking
This is one of the most common ways that an unauthorized person may bypass your door access control system. It is when an unauthorized person follows someone through an open door. They may not have any intentions of causing trouble, but they are still not authorized to be in the building. The person who is being followed may be unaware. It might be innocent, but it does expose your organization to security risks.
To prevent this, consider installing turnstiles for entry control. They usually keep people from walking away quickly, and they’re more likely to be caught by security.
Collusion
While it’s true that tailgating/piggybacking is a real threat, collusion is also a possible way for unauthorized individuals to gain access to your building. Collusion is when an authorized individual allows an unauthorized individual to enter the premises. Of course, the authorized individual is at fault here because they allowed the unauthorized entry.
In some cases, it’s innocent, as it’s an employee that has misplaced their keycard- but in other cases, it’s a problem because the person does not belong in the building.
Fraudulent Access Cards
One of the significant issues with a keycard door access control system is: the keycards can be lost, stolen, shared, and even duplicated. Additionally, they can also wear out, making it challenging to identify the card’s person.
However, there are a few ways around this: photo recognition, fingerprint scanners, facial features, and voice can be used as part of a door access controls system. These are next to impossible to duplicate, which means that unauthorized individuals are less likely to gain entry.
How to Prevent Unauthorized Access to Your Building
There are a few things you can do to prevent your access control system from being bypassed.
Access Control System
For the most part, a door access control system keeps unauthorized people out, but as you can see, they can still get in. Smart locks can help you control who is entering your building and when.
Some systems even include the option to set tracking alerts so that you are alerted every time someone enters the facility after hours. Additionally, there are options to lock/unlock your doors even if you are not in the building.
Some access control systems include cameras that allow you to see who is coming and who is going. If an employee forgets their card or a delivery driver is late, you can let them in without being on the premises.
CCTV
Another great option to use along with the access control system is CCTV. These cameras track who is coming in and who is going out. These are great for when no one is at the facility, and there’s a late delivery or an employee that needs to access the building.
However, cameras must be strategically placed, and someone needs to be monitoring them at all times.
Armed Security Guards
No matter how many safety protocols you have in place to prevent unauthorized entry, there’s something to be said about manpower. If you have an armed security guard on the premises, they can physically remove unauthorized individuals from the property and keep them from breaching the security system.
Additionally, it’s good to have security guards on the property if something happens to the door access control system, such as a power outage or network failure. Finally, you can hire a team to patrol the entire building/property.
Conclusion
A door access control system is put in place to prevent unauthorized entry into a building or area. However, there are ways that they can be bypassed, from tailgating/piggybacking to duplicating a keycard. You can still prevent unauthorized individuals from entering your property with the right system.
To have a security specialist review your system to make sure it truly is secure, please schedule an assessment and we will review your system with you!
