Access control and entrance control – two parts of the same system

The terms access control and entrance control can be used interchangeably. And while there are differences between the two, they are both part and parcel of the same overall system. This is worth keeping in mind if you’re planning to invest in an access control system and are perhaps unsure about the terminology. It is important for you, as a business owner, to keep your company secure against unauthorised personnel and to properly verify who is entering your office space. So when you get the ball rolling on setting up an access control system at your place of work, make sure you know the ins and outs of the system being installed. Here’s what you need to know when it comes to defining access and entrance control.

Access Control

Broadly speaking, the term ‘access control’ is used to describe a system that, through processes such as biometric scanning and the use of devices such as tags and access cards, identifies and authenticates a person in order to allow or deny them entry into a restricted space. An access control system essentially provides establishments with a process of “discriminating authentication.” These systems comprise the necessary software and hardware that will help to determine “the criteria for acceptance or denial of an individual to a restricted area.”

Biometric scanning is one means by which access control systems can verify whether or not someone is authorised to enter an office space. Fingerprint readers and facial recognition technology are examples of biometric scanning, and are tools that feature in Nashua’s various access control solutions. For example, some of our ViRDi Biometric Terminals incorporate user-friendly dry and wet fingerprint reading, while others incorporate facial recognition technology. 

As for other kinds of access control, we also use a selection of ViRDi readers and scanners which authenticate people by reading proximity and MIFARE cards. According to the folks at Tech To Review, a proximity card is a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device that does not need to be inserted into any kind of reader device. As its name implies, it merely has to come into close proximity with a reading device in order for its holder to be verified. MIFARE refers to a brand of RFID chips used in access devices such as cards. While MIFARE and proximity cards serve the same purpose, there are certain differences between the two in terms of their frequency, the codes embedded within them, their memory and their programming.

Entrance Control

While access control is a means to verify a person, entrance control refers specifically to the physical measures put in place to allow or deny access to that person. While access control decides whether or not a person is allowed access, entrance control enforces that decision “by making users present their credentials in the correct way, either opening to allow pedestrian access or remaining closed to bar entry and potentially raising an alarm.”

An example of entrance control in practice would be a turnstile, security gate or boom that allows entry or exit to an authorised individual only when they have first verified themselves with biometrics or an access control device. Such a scenario exemplifies the way in which access control and entrance control both work hand in hand with one another and are mutually beneficial parts of the same system.

Access control and entrance control are both beneficial modern means of ensuring your organisation is protected against physical intrusion by unauthorised personnel. If you’re in the process of opening a business and are concerned about the security of your office premises, then it would be wise to consider investing in an effective access control solution. Nashua offers a variety of these solutions, all of which are suitable for many types of business, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). So, no matter the size of your company, you’ll still be able to deploy a robust access control solution that’ll increase security for your office.