It’s Time For Your Yearly Access Control Check-Up

The security needs of your business are ever changing and as with any technology so are the access control tools available to you. A yearly check-up of your access control system and the security access policies you have in place is vital to make sure they are up to date and satisfying your company’s security needs. If this is not something you do already it is a best practice you should adopt today.

In this post, we are going to go over some of the card technology access control systems available on the market today and rank the level of security they provide from best to worst to help you choose the most appropriate access control system for your business needs.

Security of Card Technology Access Control Systems (best to worst):

• Smart Card Using Cryptographic Authentication – This type of access control system is the most secure of all card systems currently available on the market. These cards utilize mutual authentication and cryptographic protection mechanisms with secret keys. They also feature electrical methods to prevent an external hack attempt.
• Smart Card Using CSN or Proximity Card – This type of access control system is better than the outdated Magstripe card system but not as secure as the Smart Card with Cryptographic Authentication. These systems do not provide secure authorization of the Card Serial Number (CSN). While devices do exist that can copy and emulate these cards, they are not as readily available as the Magstripe encoders at this point in time.
• Magnetic Stripe Cards – This type of access control system provides the lowest level security of all card systems on the market. When these first came out they were a very good option to secure your business, but like any technology, with time, it has become obsolete. Did you know that anyone can purchase a magnetic stripe encoder and make themselves an access card to gain access to your business? They sell on Amazon for as little as $127.

Is your business still utilizing a magnetic stripe card technology for access control? It’s definitely time to upgrade. While the cost of a cryptographic access control system is slightly more expensive than a proximity card system, it’s definitely worth the cost. A proximity system may be good enough for right now but in a matter of time those emulating devices will be as easy to purchase as the magstripe encoders are right now. In the long run, upgrading to a cryptographic access control system is going to save you money.

Keeping your security access controls up to date ensures both your assets and your employees are appropriately protected. To learn more about how a Smart Card Cryptographic access control system can help secure your business, contact us at Ring and Ping Communications today. We’d be happy to provide you with a 100% free, no obligations consultation. Just give us a call at (714) 617-4025 and we will send out one of our expert technicians right away.