Access control systems are used to control entrance to a building, facility, or a computer network and make sure only authorized persons are allowed in.
Access control can be achieved in different ways: electronically, with a smart card or an encrypted password, or physically with a lock or via a security guard. Electronic systems are becoming more prevalent, with the increasing deployment of RFID and biometric technologies.
Listed below are some of the styles of access and controls
- Card Scanning Solutions
- Card Reading Systems
- ID Cards & Passports
- Smart ID Card Printers and Laminators
- Access Control Hardware
- Internal communication controls
- Alarm and security surveillance
- Access Control & Alarm Monitoring Systems
- Intelligent Padlocks & Electronic Locks
The key to understanding access control security is to break it down. There are three core elements to access control.
Identification: For access control to be effective, it must provide some way to identify an individual. The weakest identification capabilities will simply identify someone as part of a vague, poorly defined group of users who should have access to the system.
Authentication: Identification requires authentication. This is the process of ensuring that the identity in use is authentic - that it's being used by the right person. Authentication involves validating a password linked to a username. Other forms of authentication also exist, such as fingerprints, smartcards, and encryption keys.
Authorization: The set of actions allowed to a particular identity makes up the meat of authorization. On a computer for instance, authorization typically takes the form of read, write, and execution permissions tied to a username.
