Author Archives: tensor_accesscontrol

1. Access Control Systems for Office Buildings: Types and Benefits

   5 January 2023 10:57 am Leave a Comment

   Access control systems are security measures that regulate the movement of people within an office building. 

   These systems are used to grant or restrict access to specific areas within the building based on predetermined permissions. There are various types of access control systems that can be implemented in an office building, and the choice of system will depend on the size and layout of the building, as well as the level of security required.

   Types of access control systems for offices

   One type of access control system is a card-based system. In this system, individuals are issued with a card or key fob that contains a unique identification number. To gain access to a restricted area, the card or key fob must be presented to a card reader, which will verify the identification number and grant or deny access based on the permissions associated with that number. Card-based systems can be used to control access to individual rooms or areas within the building, such as offices or server rooms.

   Another type of access control system is a biometric system. This system uses physical characteristics, such as fingerprints or facial features, to identify individuals and grant or deny access. Biometric systems are more secure than card-based systems because they cannot be easily duplicated or stolen. However, they can be more expensive to install and maintain.

   Benefits of access control for office buildings

   Access control systems can also be integrated with security cameras and other security measures to provide a more comprehensive security solution. For example, if an unauthorised individual attempts to gain access to a restricted area, the access control system can trigger an alert and send a notification to security personnel. The security cameras can also be used to monitor the individual and provide additional information to security personnel.

   Overall, access control systems are an important security measure for office buildings. They can help to protect sensitive information, prevent unauthorised access to restricted areas, and ensure the safety of employees and visitors.

   
   If you would like to learn more about how your office building can benefit from an access control system, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team today who will be happy to help.

2. Benefits of Access Control Systems

   3 November 2022 5:13 pm Leave a Comment

   Global recession is just around the corner and more and more Britons are fearful of losing their jobs and not being able to keep up with the rising cost of living. 

   Of course, when it rains, it pours. An economic crisis almost guarantees an increase in the number of robberies and burglaries. This means people are likely to have less money in their pocket at the end of the month, but they may also experience being deprived of valuable assets gained through years of hard work.

   An Access Control System is the solution that, without spending too much time or resources, will guarantee you the highest standard of security for your business, allowing you to sleep peacefully. 

   Read the following article in full to discover what an access control system is and which benefits you will have by installing one. 

   What is an Access Control System?

   An Access Control System grants access to people by verifying a login credential. Our ranges of access control systems include smart card access control as well as biometric access control such as fingerprint, facial recognition and hand scanners. The system can store credentials of a person in the access control database and will only give access if these credentials match with data stored in the database.

   6 Benefits of Access Control

   1. Improve your site security

   An access control system will deny access to those who have not registered their credentials in the database. It can be a smart card or biometrics such as fingerprint, hand size or face.

   2. It works perfectly both indoor and outdoor

   Our range of access control systems are able to work at the highest standard even throughout treacherous weather conditions. For this purpose, our outdoor fingerprint and smartcard access control systems are ideal.

   3. Get rid of traditional keys

   Traditional keys can be a hassle if lost or stolen. They can be duplicated or used to enter a site before a lock is changed if in the wrong hands. Access Control Systems permit you to deactivate a specific smart card and assign a new one. Furthermore, Tensor’s Access Control Systems can be integrated with biometrics features which make it more difficult for those who do not have access to your buildings to enter them.

   4. Keep track of all the movements within your site

   An Access Control System will provide you with all the data regarding the movements of your employees or visitors within your facilities. The data is tracked and stored in the system and can be monitored remotely.

   5. Streamline the entering and exiting of your site

   An Access Control System will not require guards controlling who enters or exits your building. In this way you will save both money and time that can be used for more crucial activities for your business.

   6. Increase Security for specific areas

   Many companies have specific rooms or areas that contain goods or data that have a high economical or strategic value for the enterprise. Our access control systems enable you to restrict access to some employees/visitors to specific areas, giving you peace-of-mind.#

   If you’d like more information regarding our  Access Control Systems, whether that’s Smartcard or Biometric Access Control, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of the team today, who will be happy to help.

3. Multi-Million-Pound IT Company Install Access Control System

   19 July 2022 9:53 am Leave a Comment

   XMA Ltd is a multi-million-pound organisation that delivers IT solutions to a wide range of customers such as the Police, Councils, Schools and many other public sector services. These IT solutions also include hardware, from desktop computers, IPads and laptops, to printers, scanners and monitors.  

   The XMA HQ is in St Albans, with two other sites based in Nottingham and Glasgow. All three sites either have a Tensor Access Control System installed, or are due to have one installed in the near future. 

   The Network & Infrastructure Manager at XMA said, “As we are a forward-thinking company, we wanted to put everything into the Cloud. I gave my vision to the Tensor team, told them I needed global access and they made it all happen”.

   Access Control Systems for Businesses

   Installing Access Control for your business can have a whole range of different benefits. The biggest benefit of installing an Access Control System is the extremely tight security measures it can bring for your business. 

   The type of Access Control System required is dependent on the level of security that a business needs. As mentioned above, XMA Ltd has a combination of Smart Card Access Control and Biometric Access Control installed across their three sites. Ultimately, should a business require a strong level of security, then a Smart Card Access Control System is perfectly suited. However, should an organisation require an extremely strict security measure, then a Biometric Access Control System is the path it should take. 

   Smart Card Access Control

   A Smart Card Access Control System uses Smart Cards which are scanned by an Access Control Reader. This is an excellent Access Control System as it allows users to allocate authorisation through specific doors or into specific areas of a building depending on the individual’s access rights.

   Smart Card Access Control is the perfect Access Control Solution for organisations with a mid-high turnover of staff, such as warehouses, retail and hospitality. This is because each Smart Card can be assigned to a member of staff for the duration of their employment, then handed back in and reassigned to another employee. 

   Biometric Access Control

   A Biometric Access Control System provides a much tighter level of security for businesses who require it. A Biometric System essentially scans a biometric feature of a person’s body in order to grant or deny them access through a door.

   For example, Biometric Access Control can be either Fingerprint Access Control or Facial Recognition Access Control, depending on an organisation’s preference. Both systems provide an unmatched level of business security and ensure that only authorised personnel can gain access to your site. 

   Biometric Access Control Systems are more secure and more reliable than a Smart Card access Control System. This is due to guaranteeing the actual individual must be present when access is granted, as biometric features cannot be duplicated or stolen whereas a Smart Card can be both lost and stolen in order to unlawfully gain access through a door. 

   
   Should you require further information regarding any of our Access Control Systems, or if you are interested in booking a Demo, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team today who will be happy to assist you.

4. Benefits of Biometric Access Control

   16 June 2022 2:50 pm Leave a Comment

   Biometric Access Control has many security benefits for businesses up and down the country. Here, we break down those benefits and explain how your business can’t live without a Biometric Access Control System.

   Maximum level of business security

   A Biometric Access Control System offers an even stronger level of security than a Smart Card Access Control System can offer. A Biometric System ensures that the authorised individual actually has to be present when gaining entry to a room or area that is access controlled. 

   Smart Card Access Control requires Smart Cards or Key Fobs to have access through specific doors, which of course can be lost, stolen and even broken. With a Biometric Access Control System, this is not the case. It doesn’t require anything to work, just the correct individual at the reader to have their own face or fingerprint scanned. The readings are then compared to the ones stored in the Access Control database, to then be either granted or denied access depending on the reading.

   Fast, easy & reliable Access Control System

   The actual system itself is complex and technically advanced, but from a users point-of-view, a Biometric System is extremely easy-to-use and ensures employees feel safe at the workplace. Both Facial Recognition Access Control Systems and Fingerprint Access Control Systems offer ultra-fast biometric verification, with less than 1 second matching speeds. 

   In terms of reliability, Biometric Access Control is the real deal. Fingerprints are deleted from the Access Control System as soon as an individual’s credentials are read. Then, once the face reading or fingerprint is in the system, coordinates are created. This allows the system to match the coordinates with the person’s credentials when the same employee scans their fingerprint again. This feature adds an extra layer of security for your business and for employees, ensuring the system cannot be hacked and biometrics cannot be stolen or replicated.

   The future of Access Control

   Staying ahead of the curve is a must for many businesses in the UK and indeed worldwide. So why should it not be the same with your Access Control System? 

   With a Biometric Access Control System, your business will have a modern and up-to-date Access Control System. It will allow you to get rid of paper timesheets and will be an upgrade from a Smart Card Access Control System. Biometrics uses the latest Access Control Technology and is the future for businesses going forward. 
   

   For more information regarding our Biometric Access Control System, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our sales team today who are on-hand to assist you with any queries you may have.

5. Access Control Systems for Food Manufacturing Facilities

   13 May 2022 9:49 am Leave a Comment

   Avara Foods is a UK-based food manufacturing giant who have 6,700 employees across the UK, on farms, mills, factories and in offices who work together to produce the finest chicken and turkey products for their customers. 

   They have recently installed Tensor’s Access Control System to help improve food hygiene and security levels, as well as having the ability to know exactly who is on site at all times.

   The Systems Manager at Avara Foods, said “We are a food manufacturing company, so food security is very important”. He added, “The interface is intuitive. I like the fact that it can be set up so that individuals can have their own unique access profile”.

   Access Control for Food Manufacturers

   Installing an Access Control System at a food manufacturing facility, whether it be a Smart Card Access Control System or a Biometric Access Control System, has endless benefits from a food hygiene as well as a building site security perspective.

   As a food preparation business, it is essential that you are aware of who you are letting on site as well as being able to track your employees whereabouts. In this way, you can ensure that your customers are receiving the highest quality products possible. 

   The nature of a food manufacturing business often means that there is a high-turnover of staff with agency work and temporary workers. In this case, Smart Card Access Control is the way to go. This means that the Smart Cards can be handed back in once the employee leaves, and can be recycled and re-issued to new employees starting out. However, if your food manufacturing organisation has stable, long-term employees, then a Biometric Access Control System could be better suited to your needs.  

   Biometric Access Control Solutions

   Biometric Access Control, both Facial Recognition Access Control and Fingerprint Recognition, provides the maximum security levels possible for your business. 

   Facial Recognition Access Control is especially important in the food manufacturing industry. It provides a completely contactless method for employees to gain access and egress to and from a building, ensuring that all of the germs and diseases cannot be spread on door handles and by touching Smart Card Readers. Not only this, but both Facial Recognition and Fingerprint Recognition do not require the use of Smart Cards, making it nearly impossible for employees to enter an area of building that they are not authorised for. It also means that employees cannot pass each other their Smart Cards and the cards cannot be lost or stolen.

   
   If you would like more information regarding our Access Control Systems and would like to learn more about how your food manufacturing site can benefit from one, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our sales team today who will be happy to help.

6. Improve Business Security with an Access Control System

   26 April 2022 9:03 am Comments Off on Improve Business Security with an Access Control System

   Our range of access control systems will undoubtedly enhance your business’ security measures and help to prevent your premises from theft and trespassing incidents. 

   With statistics from the Crime Against Businesses report on the Gov.uk website to express the rising crime rates for businesses within the UK, this article demonstrates how our access control systems can combat these crime rates and ensure the ultimate level of security for your business.  

   The 2021 Commercial Victimisation Survey (CVS) estimated that 38% of business premises in the Wholesale and retail sector in England and Wales had been a victim of crime between April 2020 and March 2021. This is similar to the 2018 prevalence rate (40%), though lower than the 2012 prevalence rate (53%).

   The most common type of crime experienced by premises in the sector was theft (27%), followed by assaults or threats (12%) and burglary (10%).

   Access Control Systems Improve Business Security

   Access Control, including Smart Card Access Control or Biometric Access Control, has the ability to combat these high theft percentages of recent times. Not only do Access Control Readers help to reduce crime rates and improve the overall security of your business, but they also give you peace-of-mind that both your employees and assets are safe.  

   Smart Card Access Control Readers

   Contactless Access Control is an effective and streamlined method of ensuring only authorised personnel are granted access to and from your building at all times. With the use of Smart Cards, and our advanced smart card radio frequency reading technology, allows users to hold their smart card close to the reader to gain access or egress without actually touching the reader. 

   Of course, only delegated individuals can have their smart cards programmed to gain access into specific areas. Should an employee leave or change locations, the smart card can be handed in and reallocated to another employee with that person’s specific access requirements. 

   Biometric Access Control Systems

   Biometric Access Control is the modern and technologically advanced way of keeping your business’ assets secure as well as ensuring employees are safe in the workplace. 

   Using a Biometric Access Control System takes your security measures to the next level. This is because it is virtually impossible for employees to share access using their facial features or fingerprints, whereas with smart card access control, it is easier to share smart cards around. Not only this, but smart cards can also be lost or stolen, and fingerprints cannot. This is why Biometric access control, such as Facial Recognition Access Control and fingerprint access control gives your business that extra layer of security.

   If you would like further information regarding any of our Access Control Security Systems, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our staff who will be happy to help.  

7. Smart Card Access Control Readers For Businesses

   30 March 2022 10:07 am Leave a Comment

   Having the ability to protect your business’ assets and remain in control over who is granted access into specific areas within your building is vitally important for business owners. An access control system can give you the peace of mind that your business is safe and secure.

   According to the Office for National Statistics, theft was the most common crime throughout 2021 and is likely to retain the number 1 spot for 2022 too. This article explains how our access control system can help your business to combat the high rates of theft and ensure a safe and secure workplace.

   Smart Card Readers & Clocking Systems

   Our impressive range of access control systems, including smart card readers and biometric access control, can undoubtedly enhance business security 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Providing a safe environment for employees and enhanced security for employers, access control readers typically sit at the entrance and exit of a building, as well as on the wall next to an access controlled door. With our access control software (explained below), an employee can have their smart card programmed to only be granted access into the rooms/areas that they are obliged to do so.

   Advanced Access Control Software for Maximum Security

   An extensive range of equipment, devices and releases can be connected to your security network, which can be operated through our access control software. These include alarms and hooters, break glass buttons, door locks, door release buttons, electro-magnetic locks, fingerprint readers, CCTV cameras and access control scanners. 

   Our access control software is designed for all shapes and sizes of businesses. For businesses just starting out, or for companies employing less than 50 people, our Start edition is the perfect solution for you. We then offer the Lite edition for companies with 250 or fewer employees. The Business edition and the Enterprise edition are also on offer for large scale businesses looking to secure multiple sites and multiple businesses. 

   CCTV and Time & Attendance Integration

   Our access control system can be fully integrated with a range of other systems to enhance your businesses security measures as well as improve the day-to-day operations. 

   CCTV surveillance is fully-integratable with our access control systems in order to improve building site security. CCTV systems can provide you with footage of forced entries, alarm events, and even users of smart cards gaining access or being denied.

   In addition to this, your access control system can also be integrated with a time and attendance system. This will not only streamline employees clocking in and out of shifts, but it will also give employers an honest recording of an employee’s working hours. 

   
   If you would like more information about our access control systems, or to book a live demo for your business, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our sales team today who will be happy to assist you.

8. Deter Post-Covid Rising Crime Rates with an Access Control System

   4 March 2022 9:00 am Leave a Comment

   The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a substantial increase in crimes like burglary, shoplifting and theft. 

   This article shows how to defeat this rising phenomenon through the use of Access Control Systems such as Biometric Access Control Systems, Smart Card Readers and Gates, Barriers and Turnstiles.

   Access Control Systems

   During the first national lockdown in 2020, crime rates dropped in most categories, except for antisocial behaviours and drug offences, which had registered a higher rate than the standard. This was easily predictable since there were less chances of burglaries, robberies and shoplifters when shops and businesses were shut and people were home. However, the pandemic has unfortunately led to a loss of many jobs and closures of businesses, resulting in a rise in poverty and social disparity. Therefore, once back to ‘normal life’, the economic crisis created by the pandemic has changed the incentives to commit crimes, leading to a huge rise in crimes like burglary, theft and shoplifting. 

   Access Control Systems can massively increase your business security, ensuring that only authorised people have access to your site and/or sensitive areas within your building. Examples of Access Control Systems are Smart Card Readers, Biometric Access Control Systems and Gates, Barriers and Turnstiles. 

   Biometric Access Control Systems

   Biometric Access Control Systems verify the identity of a person based on specific biometric details like fingerprints, facial or hand features. The Access Control Terminal will grant or deny the access to somebody based on whether they match the information stored in the access control database or not. The technology is so advanced that it is able to work perfectly in all temperatures and all weather conditions with no performance differences whether the system is inside or outside. Access control terminals typically sit at the entrance of your building to act as a 24-hour security guard. 

   Access Control Smart Card Readers

   Tensor’s Smart Card Readers are fully touch-free and combine an elegant design, supreme functionality with high-quality engineering. Available in a variety of colours in order to adapt to your building or your personal preferences, Tensor’s Smart card Readers can be integrated with our Time and Attendance and our Access Control System.

   Gates, Barriers and Turnstiles

   Able to perform excellently in the most extreme weather conditions, with strict security standards, Tensor’s Gates, Barriers and Turnstiles ensure that only authorised individuals and vehicles will have the chance to access your site. Gates can also be integrated with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), which instantaneously identifies vehicle number plates in order to grant or deny access to a car park. 

   If you would like more information on our access control systems, in order to help fight against the rising crime rates following the lift of covid restrictions, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our sales team today who will be happy to help. 

9. Access Control Integratable with Building Energy Management System

   3 February 2022 9:00 am Leave a Comment

   Many village halls across the country are beneficiaries of advanced access control systems that can be integrated with a building energy management system (BEMS) which helps reduce energy bills while ensuring their building is safe and secure.

   Kington Langley Village Hall, based in Wiltshire, installed a BEMS in 2013. Dr. Peter Giles, the treasurer of the village hall, said that he “had been looking for some time at bringing heating control into the already installed access control and booking system arrangement but there was nothing out there at the time that offered this sort of diary input” before he came across HeatingSave.

   Save money on bills and ensure building security

   A building energy management system can integrate access control which enables your business to simultaneously cut heating and energy costs while also being in complete control of who has access to your building, ensuring the maximum level of security for your business and/or building. 

   Whether your business has an existing access control system, or it requires a BEMS with integrated access control system, then we have you covered. Should your business require the latter, then our advanced room booking system is the perfect, money-saving, access control solution which works in tandem with your heating system. The room booking system allows users of halls and buildings to rent out various areas of the building and control booking logistics, quotations and payments using a web-based software, while having the ability to grant access to people who have booked and/or paid to hire a room for a specific time. 

   Alternatively, should your business require an all-new, technologically advanced, access control system to bolster on-site security measures then look no further. Our smart card access control system, biometric access control system or facial recognition access control system will all ensure the ultimate level of security, depending on your business requirements. 

   Access control software for businesses

   Access control software plays an integral part in the overall access control system. This is because it is a web-based software that gives you complete access control, from simple door and registration point control, through to a fully computerised global networked access control system. Known as WinAC.NET, you can control most standard types of internal and external electronic, magnetic door releases and devices.

   
   If you would like more information on any of our access control systems, building energy management systems, or if you would like to book a live demo for your business specifically, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our sales team who will be happy to help.

10. Memorial Hall Uses Room Booking System for Access Control

    7 January 2022 9:00 am Leave a Comment

    Sawbridgeworth Memorial Hall uses an advanced room booking system to fulfill all of their access control needs, ensuring they can run day-to-day operations safely and securely. 

    In 2016, the charity-run memorial hall chose HeatingSave’s building energy management system to, one, save money on their heating and energy bills and, two, utilise the room booking system for access control purposes. 

    Peter Lee, Manager at Sawbridgeworth Memorial Hall, expressed the importance the room booking system has for the hall as well as the security measures it brings, when saying, “The booking hall management system is really important to us, it’s how we run our business.” 

    Room booking system for access control purposes

    HeatingSave’s building energy management system (BEMS) has the ability to save users 20-to-30%+ on their heating and energy bills, while simultaneously incorporating an advanced room booking system which allows you to be in control of who has access to your building at all times of the day. 

    Acting as an access control system, the room booking system allows users of halls and buildings to rent out various areas of the building and control booking logistics, quotations and payments using a web-based software. It allows users of the hall to be granted access to the building at specified times of the day using smart card access control, biometric access control or even facial recognition access control. The room booking system links to the building energy management system, allowing the building or room to be set at the correct temperature for when the booking takes place, depending on customer requirements. 

    
    For more information on any of our access control systems, the room booking system or for more information on the building energy management system, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our sales team today who will be happy to assist you.