Entrance Control vs Access Control: What’s the difference?
If you Google ‘entrance control’ and ‘access control’, the search engine returns pretty much the same results. However, there are some subtle, but important, differences between the two which need to be understood before you start shopping for a security system which prevents unauthorised pedestrian access.
We’ve summarised the key differences in this video, but for further detail, keep reading…
Access control: discriminating authentication
Access control is an incredibly broad term used to describe a system which performs identification of users and authentication of their credentials, deciding whether or not the bearer of those credentials is permitted admission – this could be to a physical or logical asset. Both physical and logical access control is concerned with regulating who or what can access restricted areas, but logical access control refers to restricting virtual access to data, digital resources and computer networks, whereas physical access control restricts actual pedestrian footfall to buildings, rooms and other tangible assets.
In this article, we’re only concerned with physical access control, so from here on in assume that by access control we mean the physical kind.
Reflecting on the difference from the access control side of the fence, Ray Phillips, Managing Director at ACS Ltd., comments: “Access control is a discriminating authentication process. Entrance control takes the output of that validation and either grants or denies access as appropriate. We create the software and hardware that defines the criteria for acceptance or denial, and Integrated Design Limited create the intelligent hardware that has the capability to see whether this criteria is being adhered to, for example the ‘one card, one person’ rule, and respond accordingly.”
Entrance control: keeping people honest
If access control verifies authorised personnel using their credentials – their face, fingerprints, PIN number, key card etc – and decides whether or not they are permitted access, entrance control is the system which enforces that decision, by either opening to allow users to cross a threshold, or remaining closed to bar entry and potentially raising an alarm.
Tony Smith, Major Accounts and Marketing Manager at Integrated Design Limited, comments: “A card reader may act as an access control device, recognising the card holder as having the correct permissions and saying ‘yes, this person can pass’. But, it’s the entrance control system – a turnstile, for example – which actually physically allows or denies the access. So, entrance control enforces the correct use of the access control system, keeping people honest by making them present their credentials in the correct way, before allowing entry.”
Some entrance control systems don’t feature a physical barrier, however, so what happens in this instance?
“We have a range of Optical turnstiles which don’t feature physical barriers,” continues Tony. “Although they don’t physically block an unauthorised person from passing through, they do alarm when someone fails to present valid credentials, alerting security staff that a breach has occurred. And now, with FastCam, we can capture a video of any incidents, allowing us to identify users failing to abide by the access control system’s rules, and using this footage to decide on the level of response required. For example, it could be a member of staff in a hurry failing to show their card before passing through, in which case they can be reminded about the security protocol. Or, it could be an unidentified person who needs to be escorted from the premises.”
Entrance control and access control working together
Access to a door can be controlled by fitting an electronic lock and card reader but, as soon as the door is open, you no longer have control over who, or how many people, pass through it. Door Detective, IDL’s product for monitoring the throughput of access-controlled doorways, corridors and passageways, enforces the ‘one card, one person’ rule.
“For optimum security, I believe that access control and entrance control should work together, with the entrance control system enhancing the use of the access control system, making it more efficient and better value for money,” continues Tony. “The two can’t effectively operate without each other. Our Fastlane and Door Detective products need something to tell us that someone is about to enter – the access control system does this – and, the access control system needs a method of stopping people when they don’t badge in correctly. The two systems are complementary.”
Fastlane turnstiles can be integrated seamlessly with every known access control system. If you’d like to speak to us about the most suitable solution for your security requirements and environment, get in touch with our team on +44 (0)2088905550 or email info@fastlane-turnstiles.com.
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