Page 30 - Security Today, May/June 2022

You’re Not Alone Choosing the proper access control system has many considerations
By Steve Bardocz
Is facility security something that you’re worried about? If you answered yes, you aren’t alone. According to the 2022 Ontic Center for Protective Intelligence Report, 88% of secu- rity correspondents are experiencing a dramatic increase in physical threat activity that is anticipated to grow this year.
A staggering 66% reported receiving or investigating at least one physical threat per week. The top things that are keeping security leaders awake at night include physical threats related to social or political issues, active shooters and C-suite focusing more on supply chain and cyber security instead of location spe- cific facilities. Facility security is more important now than it ever has been. To understand how to mitigate risk in 2022, we have to start at the beginning.
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IT ALL STARTS WITH ACCESS CONTROL
Physical locks and keys can and should continue to be used, but the evolution of access control has provided enhanced technolog- ical innovation to facility security. Quality access control systems allow for employee access to be restricted or granted into indi- vidual facilities, campuses, buildings, and rooms. Door security, whether using doors, turnstiles, or, lift gates is controlled by the parameters set by your access control settings.
Selecting the right access control system for your organization is the foundation of a quality facility security plan. Choosing the right access control system for your organization has several main considerations. Will you use cloud or on premise hosting? Is there one door or hundreds of doors? Will you use prox cards and do
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MAY/JUNE 2022 | SECURITY TODAY
FACILITY SECURITY