Access control systems make managing access and securing your facility efficient. Just like any other technology systems, they require maintenance, repair, and upgrades over time. Here are some signs it’s time to upgrade your access control system:

1. You’re still using traditional locks and keys.
2. Your access control equipment is outdated.
3. Your access control system can’t keep up with your growth.
4. Integrations or configurations are unavailable.
5. Security incidents have been increasing.

1. You’re Still Using Traditional Locks and Keys

One of the biggest signs it’s time to upgrade your access control system is if you are still using traditional locks and keys for your entire facility. Not only can traditional locks and keys increase security risk, but they are also more difficult when it comes to quickly and efficiently managing access and scaling across a facility, multiple facilities, or multiple campuses.

Flexibility, scalability, integrations, and efficiency are all qualities of good security systems. If you need to be able to manage access quickly and efficiently across multiple doors, buildings, or locations, traditional locks and keys won’t cut it. An access control system allows you to use a variety of readers and access methods to manage access for your facility and secure it.

In addition to creating, managing, or revoking access credentials efficiently, you can also manage access levels within your facility, authorize entry on a temporary basis, and more. Good access control systems also maintain logs for records, integrate with other security systems, and more. These are all benefits of access control systems that traditional locks and keys do not provide.

2. Your Access Control Equipment is Outdated

Comprehensive security is proactive and keeps up with evolving risks and threats. If your security technology is outdated, it could be creating security gaps and leaving your facility vulnerable to emerging threats. This is one of the biggest risks of legacy security systems. Some of the biggest signs that your equipment is outdated can include:

• Frequent Errors and Malfunctions
• Worn-out or Unreliable Components
• Difficulty Finding Replacement Parts
• Decreased or No Manufacturer Support
• Outdated Data Encryption
• Integration and Compatibility Issues
• No Tracking or Missing Access Logs
• Lack of Remote Management Capabilities
• No Real-time Monitoring or Alerts
• Unable to Meet New Compliance Requirements

Technology can evolve fast. Although you want to be proactive and stay updated, this doesn’t necessarily mean getting a completely new system every time there is an update. Provided your equipment is still modern, security updates are often on the software level. This is one of the ways to maintain access control systems.

You may need to update components or work with your integrator on new configurations to take advantage of new features, but you may not need to overhaul the entire system unless the hardware and/or software are too outdated. Compatibility and integration with other systems, ease of use, and scalability are factors to consider in an access control system. If your current system is running into issues, that can be a clear sign that it is time to explore an upgrade.

3. Your Access Control System Can’t Keep Up With Your Growth

Growing businesses and facilities need access control systems that can scale along with their growth. Although more traditional electronic access control systems using key cards can scale, they can run into limits depending on the system. If you need enterprise access control across multiple locations, but your access control system is only meant to work with one building, you will need to upgrade your access control to get what you need.

Similarly, if your current system has a limit on the number of credentials you can manage and you are running out of key cards, it’s a sign it’s time to upgrade your access control system. This could also be a good reason to upgrade to keyless entry.

4. Integrations or Configurations Are Unavailable

Access control systems should be able to integrate seamlessly with your other security systems. You should also be able to work with your security systems integrator to customize configurations to meet your operation’s unique needs.

Flexible installations and configurations are essential for any facility and are foundational components of effective hospital access control systems. Access control systems should allow you to customize components, installations, configurations, and integrations across doors, different areas of the facility, and more.

In a hospital, for example, there may be doors requiring multi-modal readers, spaces within an area with varying levels of access, different access needs for different wards, and more. An effective access control system has to be able to accommodate these needs.

Your systems should also be able to keep up with technology and allow you to take advantage of new features and capabilities. Better authentication methods, improved contextual awareness, and more are ways AI is improving access control. Your access control system should allow you to incorporate smart integrations and capabilities when and where you want to use them.

5. Security Incidents Have Been Increasing

If your facility has been experiencing more security incidents, it could be a sign that your security technology needs an upgrade. Your incident management software should be able to generate reports that help you analyze when and where you are experiencing issues. You can use those insights along with historical data to determine whether incidents are occurring more frequently due to a general increase in threats and activity or due to vulnerabilities in your current systems.

Preventing unauthorized access is key, and it’s also one of the ways access control systems save businesses time and money. If you have seen increases in incidents related to unauthorized individuals gaining access to secure areas of your facility, an audit of your access control system is in order.

Sometimes, preventing future incidents can be a matter of revoking specific access credentials and improving processes for managing credentials moving forward. In other cases, the solution is to upgrade the system and components to close existing security gaps and prevent future incidents. Being able to be proactive about identifying these potential issues before they become security breaches is one of the reasons why you shouldn’t skip vulnerability assessments.

Upgrade Your Access Control System With NEPPS

These are just a few signs it’s time to upgrade your access control system. Upgrades can mean everything from new components or a new system to updated integrations or new configurations and enhancements. Every facility’s needs are unique, and the right mix of security products, solutions, integrations, and configurations will vary.

Working with an experienced security systems integrator ensures your facility gets the security it needs and you get the peace of mind that comes with quality installations and integrations. If you need to upgrade the security of your facility, contact NEPPS at 1-800-736-1456.