Computerized Access Control – Control and Management from One System
When people talk about computerized access control, it is easy to imagine a computer with software installed on it for opening doors. In practice, modern systems have long since stopped being limited to a single computer.
They can be managed through a browser, use a phone as a means of identification, open doors remotely, and connect readers and controllers using different technologies. The computer is just one of the ways to manage an entire system.
How does computerized access control work?
A decision is made behind every entry attempt. When a user identifies themselves to the system, the controller must identify the means of identification, check the relevant permission, and decide whether to allow the door to open.
In a computerized system, this entire process becomes information that can be managed and documented. You can view events, change settings, add means of identification, check entry attempts, and manage door activity through software.
In other words, the door still opens through a controller and locking mechanism, but behind them is a software layer that makes it possible to manage the entire system.
The computer no longer has to be near the door
In the past, it was common to manage access control systems using software installed on a dedicated computer or server at the site.
Today, there is another way to work. In a cloud-based system, the management interface is available through the browser and does not depend on a particular computer station. You can view events, perform actions, and manage the system without being physically near the controller.
That is why the term “computerized access control” no longer refers only to a computer, but to the connection between the hardware, software, and means of identification.
The phone has also become a key
One of the significant changes in the field is the use of a mobile phone as part of the access control system.
Depending on the technology supported by the reader and the system, a phone can be used as a means of identification through technologies such as Bluetooth or NFC. Instead of carrying another item, the device the user already has can become their means of access.
The phone can also be used on the management side. A system with an adapted interface makes it possible to view information and perform actions without sitting at a computer station.
What happens behind the scenes?
Computerized access control is, in practice, a combination of several layers working together.
The means of identification allows the user to identify themselves. The reader receives the identification details. The controller performs the required logic and activates the door, while the software makes it possible to define how the system operates, manage it, and view the information collected.
The connection between these layers is what turns a collection of readers, controllers, and locks into one system that can be managed, monitored, and updated.
Not just a computer
The term “computerized access control” has stayed with us, but the technology behind it has changed.
Today, such a system can combine a computer, browser, phone, readers, controllers, software, and the cloud, all working as part of the same access control environment.
This means the system is no longer concerned only with opening the door, but with connecting the organization’s physical world to its digital world.
Meet EntryBit
EntryBit connects access controllers to a central software platform, making it possible to manage the access control system, view events in real time, and perform remote actions from one place.
The system is available as a cloud SaaS solution and supports controllers in 2-door and 4-door configurations. The connection between the hardware and software enables simple, centralized management while keeping the controllers operating even if the cloud connection is temporarily interrupted.
Interested in getting to know EntryBit and assessing whether the system is right for your organization? Contact us and we will be happy to help.