Access control is at the heart of your security platform. Deciding who has access to your building, equipment and systems is complicated. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for all industries, companies, or individuals. It’s up to you to determine where your greatest vulnerabilities lie and how to protect them. Here are five access control best practices you can put into action.

1) Develop an access control strategy

Consider what areas within the company need to be protected most and from which threats. Is it important to control egress to the entire building, specific people or locations within the building, intellectual property or technology such as your computer network? Each of these require different levels of security, types of protection and personnel or equipment to mitigate any risk. 

2) Combine people and technology

Depending on what needs protecting, a combination of both of these factors provides the best control. At the front desk, you can have badge access for employees augmented with an armed or unarmed guard to prevent unauthorized personnel from entering. Once inside the building, high-value or restricted areas can be protected with badges keyed to only admit those who have been cleared. In the case of cyber-security requirements, firewalls and other network security or intrusion prevention can be put in place, with cybersecurity experts on-site or available via remote access to control who has access to data or the network.   

3) Create role-based access

Every employee does not need access to every room, department or system within the organization. This access can be controlled based on entrances used, custom-keying of badges or network access based on what each individual needs to perform their job. A set of protocols should be established to determine who needs access, depending on their position and it should be reviewed regularly. 

4) Implement layered security

More structured than role-based, this security protocol can use the same example as above. While someone working an entry-level office job may have level one access that permits entrance to general areas between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm, the Director of Network Security could have access to general areas, to the IT department and into the server room 24/7. 

5) Review access regularly

Don’t just let individuals keep access because they had it once. Employees’ positions and responsibilities change as does their need for access to different parts of the building on network. This is particularly important if you regularly use contractors or temporaries who may need access for only a limited time. Leaving access to unchecked is an unnecessary vulnerability that can be addressed rather easily. 

Access is the front line of your company’s security

A well-thought-out and executed access control plan is essential to your success. You need the advice of the experts at BOS Security. Contact us or call 404-793-6965 for help in developing a security plan for your organization. We can assess your security objectives, and design and implement a comprehensive plan uniquely suited to your organization.