Access control is nothing mysterious. It is simply controlling access
to certain parts of a building or area. Folks have been using various
forms of access control for thousands of years and will always continue
to do so. Access control helps control crowd flow as well as act as a
security and safety enhancement. Remember that last time you checked
into a hotel. You didn’t go into the hotel manager’s office and log
yourself in on his or her computer! No; instead you waited your turn
inside the check-in line out in the lobby. In fact, that line probably
had a check-in sign and a roped off area for you to stand in.
Remember the last time you visited your local jeweler? Did you
rummage through the store safe looking for precious gems? Did you get
behind the glass cases and open them up to get a better look at some
rings or watches? Of course you didn’t. You stayed in the customer area
and only the sales staff or the management ventured into those
previously mentioned zones. Why? Because you knew better and also
because there were signs, locks, doors, and other barriers that
prevented you from doing so.
Access control works!
Here at Mequon Locksmith,
we know access control works. Why? Because our many clients have told
us so! We also know from numerous customers, case studies, and examples,
not only here in Mequon, WI but all over the world – access control is a
much needed and highly successful way of limiting access to key areas
of a building or property.
Access control is everywhere!
Now that you are learning what access control is, you’ll start noticing
it everywhere; indeed, it is everywhere! When you go to a sports event,
you sit in certain seats that correspond with your purchased ticket. Do
you go hang out with the team manager in his office? He would probably
call security if you tried! Do you go and congratulate the winning team
in the locker room after the game? Access is certainly limited there!
Remember that nice dinner you and your spouse went to last night? Same
situation; different location! You sat at the booth or table that the
waiter led you to. You didn’t go visit the chef in the kitchen and
inspect the walk-in cooler or walk behind the register area and count
the cash receipts. Not only are those actions improper but you were also
prevented by locks, doors, signs, gates, counters, bars and alarms. By
now you have a pretty good idea what access control is and how society
uses it to maintain order and better security.
You can find access control all over town and in every town! You see it
in grocery stores, hotels, museums, restaurants, movie theaters,
apartment buildings, office rentals, nursing homes, sports arenas,
retail shops, amusement parks, banks, schools, warehouses, resorts,
cruise ships, ski lodges and even military boot camps! These places and
many more just like them make use of access control methods involving
signs, alarms, locks, gates, security doors, badges, swipe cards, key
codes, combinations, scanners, video surveillance, retina scanners,
panic bars, deadbolts, peepholes, intercom, loudspeakers, CCTV and lots
more!
Locks
Locks are instrumental in access control systems. They are one sure-fire
method of keeping unauthorized persons out of an area. You see this in
stores, government offices, medical facilities and entertainment
locations. You also see locks in residential settings where homes,
condos and housing units are secured for safety and privacy. All kinds
of locks can be used for access control purposes including padlocks,
deadlocks, cam locks, mortise locks and cylinder locks.
Badges and swipe cards
These are used more and more in both commercial and residential
settings. Call centers and banks use badges to grant access to staff
members and to verify employment and rank. You see badges in use in
military operations, custodial staff, management and visitors. From VIP
status to charity volunteers, badges and swipe cards are a strong and
useful form of access control.
