Have you ever considered how many times a day you use an access card? Not many people think about this simple piece of plastic which they carry around with them everywhere they go. Yet life would not be the same without this small modern equivalent of the key.

Universities have been very quick on the uptake of access card technology, and this can be seen with a simple search on the internet for the term “access cards”. Interestingly, university websites seem to devote a large amount of time to the procedures that must be followed when students lose their access cards – I suppose that this is to be expected from such a large body of young students who need their access cards to open a whole range of doors at their universities.

The trend towards swipe card access at universities began with the use of smart cards at librarys. This was a natural progression because every body expects to carry a card to a library so that a record of the books that they take out is linked to them. Moving to an entry system using a swipe access card was a natural progression. This was also forced by a large and growing amount of petty theft from university libraries.

Another driving force for the growth of access cards within university campuses was the students unions or student clubs on campus. To keep out non-students, a strong form of access policing has always been needed – the temptation for non-students to use student bars, with their lively atmosphere and good prices, has always been high. In the past, it was often necessary to use a bouncer on the door at large events. This bouncer would check photographic identification to ensure that it was a student entering. This of course has led to a market in counterfeit or copied identification.

With the advent of automated access card systems, often integrated to a CCTV or closed circuit television system, has meant that on campus security has been greatly improved lately. Using modern access and control systems, it is possible that an automatic barrier only becomes unlocked for a valid user, and that only one person can enter the building at a time. It is also a simple matter to trigger the camera system to film a timestamped entry of the student.

As the risk of unauthorised entry to university buildings has grown, and the value and portability of the equipment has increased, it has more recently become vitally important to prevent or control access to a wide range of areas within universities. This includes computer rooms which may contain many tens of thousands of pounds worth of state-of-the-art computer equipment. Chemistry areas are a security risk because of the wide variety of chemicals which could be stored, and even in general areas there is a risk of damage or theft of furniture or stationery.

The combination of an increased security risk and the decrease of the cost of installation and supply of access card technology has meant that it is now typical for a university campus to have access card points on all building entrances, and also to specific areas. The technology is advanced enough to only allow access to specific areas. This means that an engineering student cannot get access to the business school, and the business school student cannot get into the engineering building, yet both are able to enter the library or common areas.

It is unknown whether universities are combining the computerised access systems to keep a track on students. It is completely possible that the attendance of a student could be tracked using a computerised system – if they are not in the building for a lecture then the system could flag it to their tutors! However, the use of computerised access systems have revolutionised life at universities.

Access, Cards, Increased, Security, Universities

Smart cards, access cards or what are commonly known as ID cards (identification cards) are used for a wide variety of reasons. Originally used simply for door access, or even access through turnstiles, access cards are now typically connected to a computer and therefore much more can be done with them – this is why they are now often called smart cards.

One application of a smart identification card, or smart access card is to monitor attendance at a place of work. In the old days, paper punch cards were used to clock-in and clock-out again, including at lunch and mid-morning breaks. With the advent of smart cards, this is now done electronically. Complicated systems will relay the user’s time of arrival to the back office computers and this can even be used to work out monthly payments and so on. Computerised smart card systems can therefore be used to analyse staff attendance and even flexi time completely automatically.

Another use of smart cards is in the control of access to restricted areas. Rooms that used to be controlled by a simple key system are now often controlled with a smart card. This card is typically swiped through a reader, or held against a sensing point, before the door will open. Even higher security can be achieved with an access code combined with the smart card. The security achieved with this dual approach is much higher than a simple key system because even if the smart card is stolen or duplicated (just like a key could be in the past) access still cannot be achieved.

Another addition that is often made along with smart access cards is the application of a CCTV system, or closed circuit television systems. With the advent of digital hard disc recording, a trigger from an access point can activate the recorder for a pre-determined length of time. A timestamped record of the access is the ultimate in high security because there is definitive proof of the person who entered a restricted area. Because of the high availability of digital hard disc storage, many hundreds of hours of recordings can be kept at a very low cost of ownership.

The advent of radio technology such as radio frequency identification (RFID) has yet again revolutionised the application of access cards. These days it is not even necessary to remove an access card from your wallet to do what would once have required a key. The radio technology means that a passive access card (that is, one without a battery) can be used to uniquely identify the owner, and the features such as the granting of access or time keeping functionality can be done without the user even lifting a finger. Add to this an automatic door opening system and the world of the future has arrived!

So, where is the world of smart card technology heading next? It is of course not possible to second guess what the developers are going to come up with next, but it is fair to say that the use of radio technologies will only increase in the future. Already, RFID technology is used in the passports of many countries. Car manufacturers are sure to be close behind in an attempt to improve the security aspects of their cars, and of course to gain an edge on their competitors. It is possible to assume that very soon a car will be able to use radio technology or contact-less smart cards to unlock the doors, possibly also with an automatic door opening mechanism, and that if you sit in the drivers seat it will automatically start up the engine ready for you to drive away.

The days of mechanical swipe cards are now well and truly passed, and modern technologies continue to advance in the field of access cards.

Access, Applications, Cards, Current, Future

As with all useful technologies, the explosion of ID cards has been dramatic in recent years. Everywhere from football grounds to hospitals and schools, colleges and universities and even individual houses now have their doors controlled by an access system

As can be expected, the wide variety of techniques used to provide an access card, or identification card has also greatly grown of the past few years. Ranging from simple photo ID cards, through bar coded cards and magnetic strip cards all the way up to contact-less radio ID cards, and every combination inbetween, identification technology has become big business.

In the old days, staff members would be issued with a photographic card with their name and position on it, and if they needed access to an area, they would be issued with a key for that door. Keys are good because they rarely break, and they are simple to replace if they become damaged or another one is needed. Unfortunately this is the main reason why keys are vunerable – anyone can make a copy and then your security is breached. If a master key is stolen or lost, the cost can be incredibly high – do you risk leaving the locks as they are, or does every door need to be re-keyed and then each staff member issued with a new key… the long term costs of a key only system can be very high.

A key only system has an additional limitation – there is no way to keep a record of entry times. This means that a criminal can enter the building at any time and leave again unnoticed. Few businesses and facilities cannot afford this to happen.

Door access can also be restricted with a key pad access system. This method can be stand-alone, where each secure door has its own access code, or they can be linked back to a main controller. Upgrading doors with a keypad access system is simple, and can be very effective. Each authorised user must learn and remember the access codes, and this sometimes provides a temptation for secure doors to be propped open, thus over riding the security. Users must also be careful to preven unauthorised users from seeing their code, or the lock becomes useless.

Bar code and magnetic code access cards have some of the characteristics of keys – they can be lost, but they are more secure in that it is difficult for the average person to create a copy of the card. If the system is linked to a central controller, then the times of access can be monitored, and an advanced system will spot if the same card is used in two places within a very short period of time which would not be normally possible.

Just like keys, bar code and magnetic code access cards can be lost. This is actually a common occurrence with access cards, because staff are constantly getting the cards in and out of their pockets. It is all too easy to leave the card lying around or for it to fall out of their pockets. However, combined with a keycode access system, card and code systems provide a very high level of security.

More recently, non-contact technologies, using RFID for example, have become available for use. These cards fo not wear out because they are read from a distance. It is now possible to gain access to a door without even taking the security card out of your pocket. This is ideal for areas which used to suffer from doors being left open because of the “hassle” of the old security systems.

Doors will always need to be secured, and a non contact access card seems to be the best option at the moment given the costs of technology and ease of use on a daily basis.

Access, Cards, Expansion

If you want to protect your business or even just a particular part of it than you can do it very easily and efficiently with access cards. If you were pondering access card use but were sitting on the fence procrastinating than this article may offer you some educational assistance. In this article we will discuss the access card and the benefits there of. Access cards are plastic ID cards the size of a typical ID or credit card. These cards are programmed by computer software utilizing the magnetic strip that contains smart technology. Now lets look at some of the great benefits the access card can offer.

If you own any type of business than it is vital that you allow access to particular parts of that building only to certain people. By utilizing an access card you can program that card for various employees and only allow them access to areas that is under their job code. The use of standard ordinary keys is becoming a fast thing of the past. If you give keys to every employee or even certain employees and one of keys gets lost or stolen than you have an immediate security breach. However, if you are using the access card system all you have to do is go to the system and block that access card.

In addition, by utilizing access cards you not only limit access on a need to know basis but you can also track the cards that are being used. You can monitor who is using the card more often and where. If you have a theft problem the access card can tell you who was in the area. The access card is a simple way of monitoring your business access and can offer you great peace of mind. But access cards are not just for normal businesses. What if you are in a hospital for example? There are areas in hospitals that the average employee should not have access too rather it be labs or certain offices. Access cards readers can be placed at any door so the access card can be programmed for the readers you want.

Many police stations, security buildings and Department of Defense buildings have to use access cards to control access. Many high tech companies use access cards to control access as well. The benefits are enormous. By limiting access to certain areas you are not only protecting employees but you are protecting products and information that should be limited to a certain few. Access cards are easy to maintain and make security a lot easier to implement.

We touched on quite a few benefits in this article but in many ways we have only scratched the surface. Access cards are used in large financial and educational facilities as well. Anywhere that accessibility is restricted to a chosen few access cards are very beneficial. The ability to control access and monitor activity inside your domain is a benefit that cannot be underestimated.

Access, Benefits, Cards, Many