What Are Card Access Systems?

Card access systems are security devices used to manage and monitor entry into restricted areas. Unlike traditional locks, card systems can be customized to prevent unauthorized access to specific areas at certain times, based on the individual’s role within the company. They’re a common feature in schools, hotels, hospitals, office buildings, parking garages, government buildings, and other places that need to protect valuable assets, equipment, and information. For organizations worried about safeguarding their property, here is a full rundown of the different types of card access control solutions, how they work, and the advantages they offer to operations in both the public and private sectors.

Key Card Entry Systems

Access control technology has evolved significantly over the past 3,000 years. The first tumbler lock was invented in Egypt around 930 B.C. After the Romans improved the design, it remained the standard until the mid-19th century, when Linus Yale Jr. patented the cylinder lock.

The first keyless entry system arrived in 1965, with the introduction of the pushbutton lock. Electronic keypads entered the market in the 1980s, but while they were more convenient, they didn’t offer the same level of oversight as keycards, which emerged at approximately the same time.

Keycards not only allow businesses to grant access and alter permissions from a central location, they’re also affordable and easy to scale – capable of managing an almost unlimited number of doors, buildings, and users.

How They Operate

Though no two systems function exactly the same way, they all rely on several core components that work together to secure access. These are:

• Access Cards. Issued to employees and visitors. Contain the user’s credentials.
• Card Reader. Installed at every access point. Scans the card and communicates with your database.
• Central Server. Stores and processes each user’s information.
• Electronic Lock. Provides physical access control.
• Management Software. Allows you to modify access, review access logs, and adjust security settings.

Once the card has been issued, the individual simply presents it to the reader when they approach the door. The reader decrypts the data on the card and sends it to the central processor for authentication. If everything matches up, the system unlocks the door or gate and allows the person to enter. It also records the entry time, user, and location in your security logs. The entire process takes only a fraction of a second.

Card access systems can be integrated with other security measures, such as alarms and surveillance cameras, for additional protection and verification. Though they are all equally simple to use, their safeguards are not equally robust. New systems are harder to infiltrate. Despite this, many organizations still rely on older technology, partially due to costs, but often because it meets their security needs. The most common systems you’re likely to encounter on the market are:

RFID Cards

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) cards emit a signal that’s received and processed by a proximity reader connected to a central database. (Key fobs utilize the same technology.) Each card is programmed with unique identification information that can be rewritten as needed. When properly encrypted, they resist common hacking and cloning techniques.

What’s more, unlike swipe cards, RFID cards don’t require physical contact. Readers can detect one from 2-3 inches away. If the user has been granted the right authorization, the door activates and allows them to enter.

Wiegand Cards

The precursor to RFID cards, Wiegand cards have a wire embedded inside them with specific magnetic properties, which can be detected and processed by a reader. They operate on the same principle as magnetic stripes, but with greater durability. Embedding the wire inside the card protects it from damage, so it doesn’t degrade over time.

It doesn’t demagnetize, but it’s not encrypted. Hackers can still capture and decode the data, though the process is more complicated. RFID cards scramble their data, so it cannot be easily read by outside parties, which is why they gradually supplanted Wiegand as the industry standard.

Smart Cards

Smart cards contain a microchip that stores highly encrypted data. Initially reserved for high-security applications, such as verifying financial data, they are now a common feature of door access control systems, protecting all types of commercial, industrial, and government operations. Based on their circuitry, smart cards can be divided into two basic categories.

• Contact Cards. Requires users to insert the card into the reader, so it can decrypt and transmit the information on the chip. Direct contact makes it difficult to intercept the data, which is why they’re often found at facilities with sensitive or valuable assets, such as banks, military bases, and research laboratories.
• Proximity Cards. Use radio frequencies or Near-Field Communication (NFC) to exchange data with card readers. When the card is in range, the reader sends a signal that powers the chip inside the card, enabling it to transmit its data. Smart cards use symmetric algorithms such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) and DES (Data Encryption Standard) to reduce the risk of duplication or data theft.

Though more expensive than RFID cards, smart cards provide an additional layer of encoding that makes them even more difficult to clone. They can also store significantly more information, an important feature in secure areas where speed and simplicity are not top priority.

Biometric Cards

A smart card that uses a thumbprint sensor to verify a person’s identity. The individual enrolls their thumbprint by pressing it against a specialized sensor on the card, where it’s stored as a digital template. In order to gain access, the user inserts or taps the card against a reader while pressing their thumb on the sensor. The sensor takes an imprint of the person’s fingerprint and compares it to the template. If they match, the door unlocks and allows the person inside.

Mobile Credentials

Instead of storing information on a physical card, these systems store the user’s credentials on a smartphone or mobile device. Mobile access control is a convenient way to regulate entry into restricted areas. It uses a combination of Bluetooth, NFC, and Wi-Fi to facilitate communication, while also taking advantage of several built-in security features, such as passcodes, biometric scans (faces, fingerprints, etc.), and wireless encryption techniques to screen out unauthorized users.

However, because the data is stored on a private system, many companies implement mobile credentials as part of a multi-factor verification system, which requires staff to present two forms of identification (e.g. card and a PIN code) before entering critical areas.

Mobile electronic access control is also an effective tool for visitor management. All permissions are altered remotely, on a device carried by nearly everyone who enters your facility. The person does not even need to be on the premises in order to issue, adjust, or revoke their credentials.

Electronic Security Solutions

Card access systems are a perfect fit for both large and small operations. Their centralized management platforms can be customized or expanded to meet your evolving security needs without compromising quality or performance. Switching to card access control systems offers several advantages, including:

• Limitless Scaling. Because they rely on basic hardware and existing communication lines, card access control systems can be installed at any number of entry points, creating a grid capable of overseeing multiple buildings and a large number of users.
• Flexible Scheduling. Weekends and holidays may require an alternative schedule. Certain areas may be restricted at certain times of day. The system’s software allows you to change the permissions for the entire staff or select individuals whenever and however you want.
• Real-Time Monitoring. Whether you prefer a cloud-based or IP-based OS, card access systems allow you to supervise your facility at any time, day or night.

In addition to controlling access to your building, these systems are also capable of controlling entry to individual rooms. Restricting access is an important safeguard against theft, but also helps you meet legal guidelines, avoid accidents, secure sensitive information, and protect critical business functions.

Vortex Card Access Repair

Vortex service teams provide peace of mind. Leveraging our expertise in card access control systems ensures your operations remain safe and secure. We eliminate administrative headaches and security risks associated with outdated equipment, uncontrolled perimeters, and unreliable hardware.

Regular inspections allow us to diagnose and correct errors. Our technicians replace and upgrade malfunctioning systems on doors, gates, barrier arms, and turnstiles before they result in unplanned downtime – for reliable protection at all entry points to your building or complex. Keep your business secure. Contact us today to schedule your next service visit!