Mobile Accessibility
With more companies adopting an acceptance of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies, the number of employees going mobile at the workplace is rising. The statistics prove our increasingly mobile world: 12.1 billion mobile devices are in use; half of the globe’s employers currently require BYOD; 67 percent of CIOs and IT professionals are convinced that mobility will impact their organizations as much, or more, than the Internet did in the 1990s. That’s why having a web-based system is so important.
The convenience of mobile access helps security personnel respond to alarms or view video footage immediately and helps IT professionals log into the system easily for reconfiguration or support.
Web-based PACS can also help reduce costs and increase efficiency for large organizations with multiple locations that want to upgrade, manage and centralize facility access control. Without the added software and individual user license costs, companies can free up their IT and security budgets to protect additional doors, buildings or facilities.
Ease of Use
The right access control platform can make it easier for everyone to do their jobs — from the front desk to the computer room — and ultimately reduce the risk of security breaches.
For security personnel, an easy-to-use, intuitive design that enables them to adjust door schedules and update credentials comfortably helps ensure that the system stays up to date. The ability to integrate with video surveillance can increase efficiency and improve forensic investigations.
For IT professionals, important features are the ability to support Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), integration with HR databases, Active Directory and Identity Access Management systems. Some PACS can also integrate building security data into Security Information and Event Management (SEIM) systems.
Flexibility
Having a PACS that can grow and scale with the size of your business is critical. With a significant proportion of the cost attributed to door controllers and card readers, it’s important to choose a system that relies on open, nonproprietary door hardware.
Open architecture gives companies the ability to more easily and affordably upgrade their PACS. As an organization expands its footprint or the number of doors increases, IT can simply add more nonproprietary hardware, without worrying about prior investments growing outdated.
Choosing the right PACS can help keep expenses down, both now and in the future. Organizations that seek out systems that bring together access control with video surveillance, identity management, and SIEM can operate more efficiently and intelligently in all situations.
