Page 54 - Security Today, November/December 2019

“Increasing the use of security entrances with integrated access control technology can give security managers powerful tools to meet their organizational objectives.”
executives, facility directors and C-level executives that there was an urgent need for heightened security measures. That new aware- ness quickened the demand for more secure entrances, from sim- ple turnstiles to optical turnstiles, security revolving doors and mantrap portals.
Initially, the demand for more advanced entrance security was strongest on the east coast in corporate and industrial sectors. To- day’s market is widespread as large technology companies, retail centers, universities, healthcare facilities and other organizations deploy high-security entrance solutions in growing numbers.
As more news reports communicate the grim toll of active shooter incidents, the demand for greater protection at building entrances has surged as people realize how potentially costly and devastating an ill-intentioned intruder could be. The question of “who is in your building” has been the impetus for many organi- zational discussions aimed at preventing intrusion employing a combination of technology, physical security entrances, people and processes.
The fact is that 10 years ago, most security entrances used simple RFID card readers with two-factor authentication using a secondary PIN code if more security was required. Today, us- ers are considering cost-effective biometric solutions, even for single-factor authentication, to enhance throughput and verifi- cation of identity. Users are also opting for security entrances that can actually prevent tailgating, versus monitored alarm solutions, after the fact, if a breach should occur. Some facili- ties are also more interested in critical security features such as bullet-resistant materials being used in their security entrances, as these can potentially save lives and buy time for first respond- ers during an incident.
Ensuring Duty of Care at the Front Door
Duty of care is a high-priority issue in today’s C-suite. The prin- ciple behind duty of care is that an organization has an obligation to anticipate risks for its customers, visitors and staff and take action to prevent them from coming to harm.
Appreciating the security and risk drivers that are key to any security solution, most security consultants stress that protecting organizational assets, people and data must start at the front door. Consequences of unauthorized entry can be as minor as vandalism, or as terrible as violence or loss of life. Beyond the human toll, there are additional devastating con- sequences including workplace stress, negative news stories, re- duced productivity and civil lawsuits, and even potential shut- downs due to the premises being declared an investigative crime scene. If the organization is subject to government regulations, there can also be severe fines if they are found to be noncompli- ant in preventing intrusion.
Security practitioners must make their clients aware of the overall liability they could incur if an intruder enters their build- ing. Recommending the use of advanced security entrances, along with access control technologies, can create a working se- curity formula where credentials and identity are verified during passage into a building, and if necessary, human supervision can be used to respond to intrusion alarms.
Future-proofing Your
Access Control on a Budget
Security is typically viewed as a cost center. In order to justify the capital expenditure, it helps to present management a data- rich solution that goes beyond security and delivers metrics, audit capabilities and advanced analytics that provide business operational insights.
Assuring the C-suite that security entrances are cost-effective solutions that prevent tailgating and piggybacking, and can also be integrated with access control devices to include biometric technology to verify identity, makes for a strong business case. Not only does a security entrance solution limit access to au- thorized people, but that same system can also provide metrics, based on actual data, about the future probability of an intruder successfully piggybacking in, how many piggybacking attempts may occur, what time it occurred and the identity of the culprit. This wealth of data can strengthen the ROI proposition and help management better manage people as well as liability.
Another quick note - most clients today want high-security performance from security entrances, along with aesthetics and fast throughput. They also want a small footprint, but not a cramped experience, with sleeker designs that can be integrated with biometric technology and are able to keep people moving quickly and effortlessly. This trend will definitely continue in the coming years.
Creating Technology Buy-in
Selling technology solutions to management is sometimes easier than getting employees to buy in when asked to use it.
When deploying a new entrance technology, be sure to com- municate the benefit to the employees. Assure them it is not about employees being watched, it is about providing them with protec- tion. Set up meetings showing them new solutions and how other firms are implementing entrance solutions. Show them what is coming and what will be installed, then provide them a chance to ask questions.
Benefit by Increasing Integration
Increasing the use of security entrances with integrated access control technology can give security managers powerful tools to meet their organizational objectives. By updating their entrances and procedures, maintaining future flexibility,
and increasing buy-in in their user groups, busi- nesses can gain the benefit of improved security along with operational improvements.
Valerie Anderson is the president and managing director of Boon Edam USA.
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 | SECURITY TODAY
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