Page 38 - Security Today, September 2019

“These integrated systems allow facility managers to achieve econo- mies of scale, free up personnel to focus on new priorities and identify opportunities for improvement.”
cess control system allows facilities to leverage their size for pric- ing. Ultimately, a centralized system centralizes spend, providing a holistic picture of the total cost of access control across locations. Managers, buying committees and stakeholders can use this infor- mation to evaluate where resources need to be allocated—are there opportunities for infrastructure upgrades? Where can efficiencies be gained, or systems streamlined? A clear picture of spend across locations can drive cost-saving decision-making without sacrificing performance.
Talent is prioritized. With a centralized access control system, the roles and responsibilities of team members can be consolidat- ed, allowing personnel to be re-deployed to other priority projects their talents can serve. For example, with centralized access control that gives cross-campus line of sight, the task of monitoring the function of card readers system-wide can be handled by one team out of one location rather than by separate teams at each campus. This frees up staff to focus on preventive maintenance and other security priorities.
A seamless experience for users and operators alike. Another key benefit is that centralized access control enables facilities to deliver a consistent user experience and address the growing complexities of
today’s environments, all without creating additional back-end chal- lenges. More specifically, it provides flexibility to operate multiple technologies with varying system topographies. On the main campus of a university, student housing may require Wi-Fi electronic locks for every residence hall room door. But student housing at a sister campus could select locks that use local wireless communication with a hub that connects to an access control panel. With a centralized system, a university can easily install multiple types of technology— in this case, card readers and electronic locks—that can work with varying power sources and infrastructures without negatively affect- ing the experience of students and staff accessing the spaces.
Identify opportunities to improve. When multi-campus facilities harmonize access control systems, it allows them to identify patterns at scale and learn from issues across locations. For example, data can show the times users are accessing certain facilities most, which can be used to inform onsite security staffing needs or to adjust the level of access to restricted buildings during peak hours. In the event that a theft occurs on one campus, all campuses across the organization can use insights from the incident to identify and improve potential weaknesses and prevent similar attacks.
Moving to a centralized access control system can seem daunting, but there are several valid reasons to do it. These integrated systems al- low facility managers to achieve economies of scale,
free up personnel to focus on new priorities and iden-
tify opportunities for improvement—all of which
drive long-term efficiencies and improved outcomes
that make the move a worthwhile investment.
Jeremy Saline is the director of business develop- ment, Higher Education, at ASSA ABLOY.
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