Seamless Visitor Management
Using wireless access control provides necessary security tools
- By John Hayde
- Apr 01, 2010
The most efficient visitor management and access control systems for
corporations or private communities contain at least one element of
wireless technology.
One of the biggest limitations of most security software systems
is that they can only be used from a PC at a security station, whether
that is a concierge desk or a guardhouse. But using wireless technology adds mobility
to a corporation's security. Besides providing an added layer of protection,
wireless technology also saves time and presents the visitor or guest with a seamless
experience.
Devices for Multi-Processing
Many private communities provide security software that protects the homes, family
and assets of its members, which may include CEOs, celebrities or political
figures. Meanwhile, corporations are liable for the protection of their employees
and company information.
Providing these layers of protection calls for all entrance and destination points
to be able to communicate with each other in real time, particularly during periods
of increased traffic or congestion, such as public events. This is where implementing
wireless technology into a security system can present a major advantage. For
example, in a gated community, while one officer or guardhouse processes a lane
of traffic, another lane can be processed with a wireless handheld device. Similarly,
while a corporation's guard is entering a visitor's information into the computer to
print a badge, another guard may use a handheld device to process a second visitor
and print another badge, eliminating wait time and increasing efficiency.
Lightweight ruggedized handheld devices use a security application that can
run on operating systems such as Windows Mobile 6.1, MacOS and Android from
Google. Combined with wireless Internet technologies like 3G networks, Wi-Fi
or WiMax, wireless handheld solutions provide security officers with the proper
tools to process visitors in any location, as opposed to being tethered to a desk or
having to rely on radio or phone communications. Handheld technology enables
security personnel to complete many actions in transit or heighten the security of
a community.
Guards can process visitors while walking down a lane of cars, document security
incidents and upload photos taken from the handheld device in real time.
Completing the process, hosts who
are expecting visitors can choose to receive
text messages or e-mails on their
wireless Blackberry, iPhone or other
device, notifying them of a visitor's
arrival. There is no delay in transmitting
or receiving information.
At the Touch of Your Fingertips
Since many corporations have used the
same software for years, they might not
realize that with a few simple software
updates, their current system can go
wireless in a short time.
First of all, security officers must
go through a training process to understand
how to use both wireless technology
and the individual handheld device.
After becoming familiar with the tools
and the technology, even business processes
offered by staple security systems
can be accessed via handheld solutions
as well. Wireless ruggedized handheld
technology can process a broad range
of jobs, including scanning bar codes
on visitor badges or arriving products,
search capabilities—such as scanning
an identity against terrorist lists, sex-offender
lists or previous employee lists—
guest check-in, guest car pass printing
and guest pass deactivation.
Wireless technology truly provides a
business' security force with the following
abilities on the go:
Incident tracking on site. Incidents
happen every day in business and within
communities. Whether that incident
is minor, like a traffic violation, or
more significant, like a security breach,
proper documentation is paramount to
security. Wireless technology via handheld
devices allows security officers to
log incidents on site and review previous
incidents as necessary. The need
for extensive note taking is eliminated.
Thanks to built-in cameras, officers no
longer have to rely on their memory to
recall information after the fact.
Data tracking. When security officers report to work, they log in and
all transactions conducted by that
individual are automatically tracked
back to the individual's specific profile.
This ensures data is tracked efficiently
and permanently stored even with
personnel changes. Data also can be
disseminated resourcefully. For example,
security officers can view a list of
all upcoming events or activities and
work ahead by printing visitor badges,
tags and car passes via a wireless
handheld device.
Reliability of wireless technology.
All data on the handheld devices and
main software is stored on a remote
server, often referred to as a thick
client. A network feature constantly
monitors the connection to the server.
If the connection is broken, due to a
poor Internet connection or failed
wireless network, for example, the application
will attempt to reconnect so
that no data is lost.
To maintain 100-percent uptime,
many wireless devices can be configured
to operate on the local wireless device
database and synchronize every few
minutes with a remote server. This type
of data replication proves invaluable
in the case of spotty
wireless connections
to the host server.