John Squire, CEO, Squire highlights why smart wireless access control is becoming essential for securing critical national infrastructure.
Securing commercial environments, particularly critical national infrastructure, has its challenges, but there’s one key security update companies can make to enhance their physical security.
Traditional wired systems, once the backbone of secure entry, are increasingly being supplemented or replaced by smart wireless solutions.
These modern systems offer further convenience, intelligence and scalability – the ideal route for critical national infrastructure businesses, who often have many sites to secure at any one time.
To maintain control over their security, national infrastructure businesses must adopt smart wireless access control systems.
One of the biggest issues faced by critical national infrastructure providers is site location.
Often, power, energy and water plants are in remote locations, far from any main road, surveillance cameras and even the company’s head office.
This can make monitoring the safety of the area much more difficult and if security is breached, it could be days before anyone is notified.
Keyed security is still a popular option, requiring keyholders to carry around large bunches keys with each opening a different lock on the site.
Should a key set be misplaced or stolen, the entire security system is compromised and a complete installation of new security system is required – a costly and time-consuming process.
In addition, any breaches of security at these critical sites can have serious consequences, not just for the business, but to the wider national infrastructure.
Physically policing these sites with security personnel is costly, which is where smart wireless access control systems step in.
Traditional hard-wired systems come with their own challenges – junction boxes exposed to the elements can degrade over time and they require precision installation by professionals, which takes time and money.
Smart wireless access control systems eliminate the need for hard wiring and in some cases, such as with Squire’s inigma system, require no specialist knowledge to install.
Usually, harnessing Wi-Fi or Bluetooth technology to connect to electronic locks, card readers or software, these types of systems are easy to set-up and convenient for users.
Once access has been provided, users of the system simply present their credentials, be it a card, fob, smartphone or smart key and the system decides whether access is granted, based on pre-set requirements.
There are no bulky keys to carry or replace should the worst happen and these methods of entry are much more difficult to duplicate than traditional keys.
With some systems, such as inigma, if an access fob is lost or stolen, the system automatically invalidates it after five minutes.
This means all connected locks across the site stay safe and no unauthorised personnel can access and unlock them.
While replacing an existing security system with a smart upgrade can seem like an expensive, time-consuming task, it’s a much more reasonable cost than some may expect.
As smart wireless access control systems gain popularity, costs decrease and the benefits of the system in the long-term far outweigh the initial outlay.
Arguably the biggest benefit of wireless access control is the ability to control a business’s security from anywhere.
An offshore wind farm located off the coast of Scotland, for example, would be difficult to man and maintain using traditional keyed padlocks.
However, with a smart access control system, those based in the head office, even if it’s hundreds of miles away, can monitor who is accessing the site and when and even revoke access using a connected smartphone or desktop app.
Should a smart credential fall into the wrong hands or should an employee or contractor go rogue, administrators of the system can instantly revoke that credential’s access, something that cannot be done with a regular key.
Many of these smart wireless access control systems also provide detailed data logs, accessible from anywhere, at any time, to show who has accessed which lock and when.
These detailed audit trails provide real-time site access management, allowing the administrator to make quick security decisions should they notice something that doesn’t look right.
In highly secure areas, such as generator rooms or chemical storage units, system administrators have the option to shut down access to the area completely, ensuring no personnel can access it until authorisation is granted.
Once requested, the administrator can grant temporary, time-restricted access, which will allow that person to enter the area for a short time and not access it again once the time limit has passed.
In critical national infrastructure, this component of smart wireless access control is a key aspect.
Many areas of these sites will be off-limits for safety reasons and by completely locking down access to all but accepted personnel, administrators can carry peace of mind that the area will remain secure.
With any digital system, there can always be a concern with privacy and data protection.
That’s why any business, but especially those in the infrastructure space, should select systems which offer the highest levels of not just physical security, but data security, too.
Look out for systems, such as Squire’s inigma, which are certified by Cyber Essentials – a government-backed scheme which helps to keep customer and business data safe.
Another key credential is the BSI Kitemark for Secure Digital Applications, an independently verified certification which demonstrates that a smart wireless access control system’s software has undergone rigorous testing to the highest standards.
By making the switch to smart wireless access control, critical infrastructure businesses can ensure sites remain secure and that should security ever be compromised, real-time alerts, remote lockdown capabilities and detailed audit trails enable rapid response and quick restoration of safety.
This article was originally published in the February edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.
