Why Your Office Should Consider Using Keycards
A growing number of companies are issuing keycards to employees. This post delves into some of the benefits of a keycard system.
What are keycards?
A keycard system is a popular access control system. It involves scanning a plastic card against a reader in order to open doors or gates. Traditional keycards use a magnetic strip, while more modern keycards use RFID or NFC technology. Keycards are able to store data, which can be controlled and monitored using software.
The benefits of keycards
They’re fast and convenient to use
Using a keycard to open a door is so much easier than having to fiddle with a key and lock or enter a code on a keypad – you simply tap and enter. This allows employees to quickly enter and exit restricted areas. Keycards can even be attached to lanyards and worn around employees' necks for quick use.
Distributing them and activating them is easy
Distributing and activating keycards is much quicker and easier than having to get keys cut or requiring employees to remember a passcode. Using software, you can quickly activate cards to interact with specific readers and then hand these out to new employees. You can also customise which cards work with which readers, allowing managers to potentially have access to areas that regular employees do not have access to.
You can easily deactivate them too
What happens if a keycard is lost or stolen? Or if an employee quits and takes their keycard with them? With a traditional key, this can be a major security risk. However, individual keycards can be remotely deactivated – so if the card falls into the wrong hands, it will no longer be usable.
You can remotely monitor their use
Another perk of keycard systems is that you can use software to track when and where each individual keycard is used. This allows you to monitor suspicious activity (such as someone using their keycard on the weekend when the office is supposed to be closed). Keycards can also be used to monitor employee punctuality – if employees have to start a shift at a certain time, you can track when they used their keycard to enter the office to ensure that they don’t turn up late.
They’re very difficult to duplicate
Keys are easy to duplicate – if you are given a key, you can take it to a keycutter and get a copy without any questions asked. Keycards cannot be easily duplicated without having the exact same type of card and access to the keycard management software. This can make them a much more secure form of access control.
Conclusion
Keycards are a convenient, secure and customizable form of access control. In order to set up a keycard system, find a company that is able to install keycard readers and distribute keycards. You will have to download specialist software to activate, deactivate and monitor your keycards. Take your time to compare different keycard solutions – different suppliers charge different prices and use different types of card technology.