What is Access Control System?
Access control system is a technological way to allow or restrict physical and logical access. In physical access control, we can control the movement of men, material, and machines while in logical Access Control we can control the access of users to any database or to any companies confidential file or to any web-based system.
Before this technology, the movement of men, machines & material was controlled by human beings only. They used to allow or disallow access by stopping on entrance only. We know them as security guards or watchmen. At every restricted entry human presence was a must but as technology improvises, human presence was reduced by electronic system. Similarly in logical system access was restricted by password only but as technology changed, this concept is also changed, now to control the logical access password, OTP, Iris scan, biometric impression are used.
The access control system is broadly classified as based on the Architecture of the system & Management of the control system.
- Web-based control system
In this type of Access Control System, all permission or logical data is stored on the cloud. Hence, it is also known as a cloud-based access control system. In this system administrator can add or edit or modify user ID and user details from anywhere and anytime. This system needs an internet connection to operate. This system provides flexibility for administrator, If data is stored in the local machine then without internet also this system works & when internet-connected then it upload all data to the cloud.
- Mobile-based access control system
In this system, all the restrictions can be opened through mobile. All operations can be done by mobile. All data can be accessed from the cloud via the internet or GPS the system can work on Bluetooth and near field communication. Also, this will overcome the issue of internet availability.
- IoT based access control system
IoT is a key element in the home automation system, but it can be used in Access Control System too. All the readers and controllers are connected to the Internet and then with the help of IoT devices, we can control them. The advantage of IoT based system is that it restricts unauthorized devices for communication. Hence it prevents hacking of the system.
Based on system management, access control system are classified as,
- Mandatory Access Control
This form of Access Control is used by the military, Air Force, Navy, and security agencies. It is the stickiest type of control system. In mandatory Access Control, no one can easily change the user or user rights like other systems.
- Discretionary access control system
This is the most basic type of system management. This system allows the owner moderator or admin to add, change, and modify user details in this system .owner can give different rights to different people like one can access server room while others cannot.
- Role-based access control system
As name suggests this type of system generally works on different roles of users. Admin or moderator Define the access level for each roll and when user assigned a particular role, he gets all the access allowed for that particular role. This system is very easy and useful for admin.
Summary of this is that access control is the system which allows owner or admin to Grant permission by means of more and more technology and less human interference.
How access control system works?
Access control system works on five basic principle method,
1) Authorization
2) Authentication
3) Access
4) Manage
5) Audit
Authorization – Authorization is the first phase of an access control system in which we convert strangers or visitors into members of our system. This is done by admin or owners who define who can access which door or which area. This authorization can be role-based or individual, based on the type of system management selected by admin that is role-based DAC or Mac. For giving authorization to users, several types of Hardware are used such as input and output devices like RFID reader or encoder, RFID cards, tags, biometric impression, Iris scan. These are used for authorization purposes.
Authentication – This is the next phase of the access control system after authorization. In this member will be authenticated by the system for further action. This process is more hardware-based. For authentication, multiple hardware like reader or decoder, locks, exit button add are used. Here member shows his authorization to device and device authenticate for further action by reading and matching details with database stored.
Access – This is Phase where all deciding action is taken that whether to allow or restrict the access. Once the user shows his authorization item or device authentication device like reader and or decoder they collect the data and cross verify with the database if the database approved the same detail then the user gets access for further action.
Manage – In this phase admin manages access point, maintain security levels. In this, all systems at multiple locations are monitored and controlled by admin remotely. which include operation like synchronization of data, decoding of data, and device functioning Etc.
Audit – This is the Final Phase in which all final data is processed and audited and available as a raw material for further action. This can be useful for attendance making or any incidents monitoring.
Why use an access control system sometime?
Sometimes it’s mandatory to restrict people for entering any premises and if any human-like security and Watchman restrict them they can harm them too. So to avoid such a condition access control system is too useful. CCTV system is used for security purposes only but they cannot take action hence to stop the incidents at the very beginning stage only the access control system is very important. Web-based or cloud-based systems can be operated remotely also which provides great flexibility to the owner to give Access to anyone remotely Without giving any key. As we know technology is developing rapidly hence we need to secure our data and confidential details, for that logical access control system is almost mandatory nowadays. So similarly for physical restriction also, we need a strong physical access control system.
