Access Control Systems for Construction and Contracting Companies

In general construction companies have access control systems requirements in two ways

 

  1. For managing access controls for setting up their own temporary or permanent offices
  2. To add access control systems in their clients projects to add more value for the projects they are carrying out. 

What Is an Access Control System and How Does It Work?

An access control system allows or restricts access to a building, a room or another designated area. It is an electronically powered form of physical security that manages who has access to a location at a particular time.

THE SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE

The infrastructure of an access control system covers electric locks, card readers, door status for monitoring traffic and request to exit devices all reporting to the control panel and then the server:

  • Electric locksFail safe locks, which will lock when supplied with power, and fail secure locks, which will unlock when supplied with power. Fail safe locks are necessary for doors on fire escape routes, and fail secure doors are for rooms that need to be protected in the event of an outage, such as an IT office. Fail secure doors will still need push bars that allow people to exit but not reenter in the case of an emergency.
  • Access control panel: The control panel is usually set up in a secure location, such as an IT room or an electrical closet. Whenever someone’s credentials are scanned, the signal is sent to this control panel, which then sends the authorization to unlock the door
  • The access control server: The server stores the access control system’s data and permissions. This system decides to unlock a door for a specific user and tracks data for who enters and when. Servers can exist on a dedicated computer, a cloud-based service or in the card reader itself.

Why is access control important?

The goal of access control is to minimize the security risk of unauthorized access to physical and logical systems. Access control is a fundamental component of security compliance programs that ensures security technology and access control policies are in place to protect confidential information, such as customer data. Most organizations have infrastructure and procedures that limit access to networks, computer systems, applications, files, and sensitive data, such as personally identifiable information (PII) and intellectual property.

Access control systems are complex and can be challenging to manage in dynamic IT environments that involve on-premises systems and cloud services. After some high-profile breaches, technology vendors have shifted away from single sign-on (SSO) systems to unified access management, which offers access controls for on-premises and cloud environments.

How access control works?

These security controls work by identifying an individual or entity, verifying that the person or application is who or what it claims to be, and authorizing the access level and set of actions associated with the username or Internet Protocol (IP) address. Directory services and protocols, including Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML), provide access controls for authenticating and authorizing users and entities and enabling them to connect to computer resources, such as distributed applications and web servers.

Organizations use different access control models depending on their compliance requirements and the security levels of information technology (IT) they are trying to protect.

Types of access control

Access control systems can be housed on a cloud server or a local server. You can control access via keypads, card readers or mobile devices. When it comes to setting permissions, you have three options for how you can manage access:

 

The main models of access control are the following:

  • Mandatory access control (MAC)

This is a security model in which access rights are regulated by a central authority based on multiple levels of security. Often used in government and military environments, classifications are assigned to system resources and the operating system (OS) or security kernel. It grants or denies access to those resource objects based on the information security clearance of the user or device. For example, Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) is an implementation of MAC on the Linux OS.

  • Discretionary access control (DAC)

This is an access control method in which owners or administrators of the protected system, data, or resource set the policies defining who or what is authorized to access the resource. Many of these systems enable administrators to limit the propagation of access rights. A common criticism of DAC systems is a lack of centralized control.

  • Role-based access control (RBAC)

This is a widely used access control mechanism that restricts access to computer resources based on individuals or groups with defined business functions — e.g., executive level, engineer level 1, etc. — rather than the identities of individual users. The role-based security model relies on a complex structure of role assignments, role authorizations, and role permissions developed using role engineering to regulate employee access to systems. RBAC systems can be used to enforce MAC and DAC frameworks.

This is a security model in which the system administrator defines the rules that govern access to resource objects. Often, these rules are based on conditions, such as time of day or location. It is not uncommon to use some form of both rule-based access control and RBAC to enforce access policies and procedures.

  • Attribute-based access control (ABAC)

This is a methodology that manages access rights by evaluating a set of rules, policies, and relationships using the attributes of users, systems, and environmental conditions.

Implementing access control

Access control is a process that is integrated into an organization’s IT environment. It can involve identity management and access management systems. These systems provide access control software, a user database, and management tools for access control policies, auditing, and enforcement.

When a user is added to an access management system, system administrators use an automated provisioning system to set up permissions based on access control frameworks, job responsibilities, and workflows.

The best practice of least privilege restricts access to only resources that employees require to perform their immediate job functions.

Challenges of access control

Many of the challenges of access control stem from the highly distributed nature of modern IT. It is difficult to keep track of constantly evolving assets as they are spread out both physically and logically.
Some specific examples include the following:

⮚ dynamically managing distributed IT environments;

⮚ password fatigue;

⮚ compliance visibility through consistent reporting;

⮚ centralizing user directories and avoiding application-specific silos; and

⮚ Data governance and visibility through consistent reporting.

Modern access control strategies need to be dynamic. Traditional access control strategies are more static because most of a company’s computing assets were held on-premises. Modern IT environments consist of many cloud-based and hybrid implementations, which spreads assets out over physical locations and over a variety of unique devices. A singular security fence that protects on-premises assets is becoming less useful because assets are becoming more distributed

THE USER EXPERIENCE

An employee who wants to enter an access controlled location presents their credentials. Credentials could be physical, such as an access control key card, or digital, such as information on a mobile device. A person makes an unlock request at a card reader, which then sends the information to an Access Control Unit, then authorizes the user and triggers the door to unlock.

THE SYSTEM MANAGER EXPERIENCE

On the administrative side, an access control system has a management dashboard or portal. The control portal allows office administrators, IT managers or heads of security to specify who can access the premises and under what conditions. The manager can create settings based on shifts, time of day, the employee’s rank or job title and more. This system may also include a physical component, like a card-programming machine.

What Are the Benefits of Access Control Systems?

How can an access control system help your business? No matter the size or industry, automated access control can protect employees and let administrators know who accesses the premises. The most significant benefits of access control systems are:

  1. INCREASE EASE OF ACCESS FOR EMPLOYEES

An access control system allows you to “set and forget” who has access to each area of your business. Once you give the authorization, an employee can access all the areas they need to get their jobs done. With the scan of a key card or input of a PIN, the employee can get to wherever they need with ease.

  1. GET RID OF TRADITIONAL KEYS

The use of traditional keys has a few drawbacks. Restricting access to particular areas requires individual keys. The larger the building, the more locks you need. For an individual like a janitor or a high-clearance individual, this can mean a bulky key ring and confusion about which keys do what. An access control system saves time for those accessing restricted areas and also saves you visits from the locksmith.

Also, keys can be duplicated, leaving you vulnerable to unauthorized access. If an employee doesn’t turn in their key before they leave your company, you leave yourself unprotected or must get your locks changed. Access control security does away with this.

  1. SAVE MONEY AND ENERGY

With access control security, you save money on locks and security personnel. An access control system can verify a person’s identity without the need for a security guard.

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