Page 36 - Security Today, September 2019

The Access Solution Why multi-campus facilities are investing in centralized access control
BPy Jeremy Saline
roviding security, managing budgets, gaining efficien- cies—these are just a few of the many objectives that facility managers have to balance at once. And for organizations with multiple campuses, the challenges can be even more significant. Whether a university sys-
tem, a commercial organization or a hospital network, multi-campus facilities are looking for ways to improve outcomes at scale. Thanks to technological advances and a growing move to centralized systems, access control is proving to be a valuable solution for achieving the many goals of multi-campus facility stakeholders. However, the path to an centralized access control system is rarely without challenges.
Organizations of all types must be budget-conscious, and with fi- nite funds, access control doesn’t always make it to the top of the list. If there is enough budget for access control, an integrated system is passed over for a stopgap measure to address short-term needs.
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This can be particularly problematic for multi-campus facilities where existing infrastructure varies in age, type and quality. On uni- versity campuses in a state-wide system, localized decision-making could result in card readers that don’t communicate with other campuses’ ID cards. In addition, aging infrastructure often includes analog video equipment that can’t be merged with a main campus’ digitized system. At each location, there could be thousands of access points and a host of technologies—from mechanical to wireless and everything in between.
Moving to an integrated system can require an upfront invest- ment of time, finances and other resources. But the potential long- term benefits and efficiencies these systems deliver can actually yield an even greater return. For multi-campus organizations contemplat- ing an access control evolution, here are four benefits to consider.
Better resource management. Implementing a multi-campus ac- 0919 | SECURITY TODAY
MULTI-CAMPUS FACILITY SECURITY
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