3 TYPES OF ACCESS CONTROL: WHAT IS SUITABLE FOR YOUR BUILDING?

When you think about it, the benefits of access control are pretty obvious. Having a building-wide system can protect your employees, visitors, information, equipment and other assets without question. Before discussing the types of access control, let's talk a little more about the benefits and how access control works.

Three types of access control systems

Access control is used to identify the person who is doing a certain job, authenticate him, and then give that person only the key to the door or workstation he needs access to, and nothing more. There are three types of access control systems: discretionary access control (DAC), mandatory access control (MAC), and role-based access control (RBAC).

1. Discretionary Access Control (DAC)

Discretionary access control is a type of access control system that makes the business owner responsible for deciding which people are allowed to be in a particular location, physically or digitally.

DAC is the least restrictive compared to other systems, as it essentially allows each person to have complete control over whatever objects they own, as well as the programs associated with those objects.

The downside to discretionary access control is that it gives the end user full control over setting security settings for other users, and the permissions granted to the end user are inherited by other programs they use, which could potentially lead to malware running. without the knowledge of the end user.

2. Mandatory Access Control (MAC)

Mandatory access control is more commonly used in organizations that require increased attention to confidentiality and data classification (for example, in military institutions). MAC does not allow owners to have voting rights in organizations that have access to a department or facility, instead, only the owner and custodian have access control management. The MAC usually categorizes all end users and provides them with labels that allow them to access through a security system with established security rules.

3. Role Based Access Control (RBAC)

RBAC, also known as rule-based access control, is the most popular in access control systems. RBAC is not only in high demand among households, but also in high demand in the business world.

In RBAC systems, access is assigned by the system administrator and is strictly dependent on the role of the subject in the family or organization, and most privileges are based on the restrictions imposed by their job responsibilities. Thus, instead of appointing a person as a security manager, the security manager position already has access control permissions assigned to it.

RBAC makes life a lot easier because instead of assigning specific access to multiple people, the system administrator only needs to assign access to specific positions.

Access Control Benefits

1. Always know who comes and goes

Many businesses have valuable equipment and tangible assets in place. An access control system keeps track of who comes and goes so that no one gets into the building.

If the business is large with many employees, it can be difficult for everyone to understand who is an employee and who is not. The access control system helps prevent strangers from entering undetected.

2. Keep track of employees

If the company has multiple shifts, with large groups of employees coming and going outside of hours, an access control system can help create chaos and inform you if an employee is in a building when they shouldn't be. It can also help you keep track of who came to work and who didn't.

3. Protection of confidential documents and data

Many businesses have documents or data that should not be available to everyone in the company. An access control system allows a company to restrict access to certain areas containing the hardware or software that stores this information.

4. Reduce theft and accidents.

An access control system allows a business to provide access only to approved or specially trained employees to areas where valuable or hazardous equipment may be located.

5. Protection of multiple properties

An integrated access control system will allow a business to provide access to employees who need to enter several or all buildings.

6. No need to worry about keys anymore

When an employee quits and can't get their keys back, the business gets stuck in the cost of making new keys and possibly even replacing locks. The same applies when an employee loses the keys to their company. If an employee leaves in poor conditions, this also eliminates the possibility that they will try to re-enter the building and cause damage.

With an access control system, an enterprise can simply remove an employee's access digitally from the system.

How Access Control Works

Access control readers grant access to the building based on established credentials. Things like a key card, key fob, or biometrics like fingerprints are considered established credentials.
The door readers are connected to the network. Each person who needs access has a code associated with their credentials, and the system recognizes that they have the right to be in the building.
The software keeps track of who enters and leaves a building and has the ability to alert security inspectors, business owners, and more when someone enters a building outside of business hours or an intrusion occurs.

Your security needs and access control

When it comes to protecting your home or business, as well as the building's residents, access control is one of the best ways to find peace of mind. But access control is much more than just giving people access to your building, access control also helps you effectively protect your data from different types of attackers, and your organization's access control policy determines which method is best for your needs.

There are a number of access control systems that you can choose for use in your home or office; some are superior to others.

Below is an overview of the three main types of access control systems available for your company, so you can see which ones are best for day-to-day operations.

Choosing the best access control system for your organization

As you can see, there are a number of factors when it comes to choosing the type of access control system that is most suitable for your organization. Some of these factors include the nature of your business, organizational security procedures, and the number of users on the system.

Businesses with small or basic applications are likely to find it easier and better to use discretionary access control. However, if you have highly sensitive or sensitive information on your business platform, you may want to consider two options for mandatory access or role-based access control.