When selecting a Physical Access Control System (PACS), there are basic guidelines you can follow to help choose a system that’s right for you.
Virtual Environment Compatibility
The virtual environment market has matured rapidly over the last few years; according to Gartner, many organizations have server virtualization rates that exceed 75 percent. That’s why, when it comes to choosing a physical access control system (PACS), it’s important to select one that not only protects your facility, but can also make your IT department happy.
The new breed of affordable, web-based PACS provides several key advantages over a traditional system:
• Leverages your virtual server infrastructure
• Eliminates the cost of standalone servers and software
• Manages building security in a private cloud
• Reduces downtime and enhances reliability
• Reduces setup and deployment time
System Security
Many legacy PACS run on a standard application or database server, which can require continual IT resources to ensure the system is protected from security threats. A secure, open-source, Linux-based PACS can significantly reduce system setup, support and maintenance issues while eliminating patch management and security headaches.
Look for platforms that have assurance that the PACS received an industry-recognized certification or endorsement such as VMware Ready to verify that the application was tested against known software vulnerabilities to reduce or eliminate the risk of network attacks.
Platform Reliability
A next-generation PACS can simplify system redundancy and provide cost-effective auto-failover and hot-standby capabilities, particularly when delivered as an affordable, all-in-one, access control network appliance or SATA rack-mounted server.
When run on a virtual server, PACS setup can be quick, hardware costs can be minimized and failover processes can be streamlined. Unlike traditional systems, a failover virtual machine can be automatically provisioned and implemented while an existing virtual machine deployment is repaired with no interruption in service.
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