Author Archives: tensor_accesscontrol

1. Access Control UK joins Made in Britain directory

   30 January 2019 10:42 am Leave a Comment

   Tensor, the parent company behind Access Control UK, is delighted to announce that it has joined the Made in Britain directory. Access Control UK is a leading UK-based manufacturer, system integrator and installer of smartcard & biometric Access Control security systems, along with physical security solutions such as turnstiles and car park barriers.

   The Made in Britain organisation was founded in 2011, with the intention of raising the profile of British companies who manufacture their products in Britain so that they can easily be found by journalists and potential customers.

   Members receive a marque to put on their products so that their manufacturing origin is immediately obvious, along with the PR expertise of the organisation via workshops, and opportunities for networking. The directory currently has more than 1000 members across a wide variety of industries and product types. ranging from micro-businesses and start-ups to SMEs and large companies.

   Access Control UK has been researching, developing and manufacturing security management products at its Hail Weston headquarters in Cambridgeshire for over 20 years, and its focus on and pride in its solely British manufacturing makes it a perfect addition to the Made in Britain database.

   Using the Made in Britain marque on Access Control UK products will help potential customers to identify proud British production and quality when making their purchasing choice.

   Ashley Smith, Chief Executive, comments: “We pride ourselves on our British engineering heritage as we have designed, developed and manufactured security, time and energy management products in the UK for over 30 years.

   “By joining ‘Made in Britain’ we are able to adopt a mark of distinction to our current and future customer base. It is an assurance of quality, support and performance, all of which are an integral part of our DNA.

   “The Made in Britain membership and marque are all about growth and development. We are a manufacturer who has R&D and innovation at our heart, and staying true to the values of quality British manufacturing is what provides us with a platform to compete on a domestic and global scale.”

   With over 3,000 customers, Tensor plc, the parent company of Access Control UK, supplies many blue chip organisations, law enforcement & government agencies world-wide. Access Control UK integrates its cutting edge security products into the Tensor.NET framework to provide a complete turn-key solution for business requirements. Research & development is at the core of the business, and new products are regularly released.

   Under the registered name of Tensor plc, Access Control UK is audited to UKAS ISO 9001:2015 standards, is a British Security Industry Association member, an ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) ‘Secure by Design’ licensed company, an NSI NACOSS Gold certified company and holds a host of other industry specific & quality accreditations.

   With offices throughout the UK, distributors & business units in several countries around the world and installation & support directly from the manufacturer, Access Control UK offers an unrivalled level of service thanks to their many years of industry expertise.

   For further information on the Made in Britain initiative visit www.madeinbritain.org. To find out more about Access Control UK’s extensive range of security products, please visit https://www.accesscontrol-uk.co.uk/ or call us on 020 8242 9695.

2. Biometrics such as fingerprints add extra security reassurance in smart homes

   17 December 2018 3:43 pm Leave a Comment

   A company which specialises in smart homes has made arrangements with a biometrics finger company in Austria in order to integrate the wall-mounted finger scanner into the house system and maximise security. Biometrics – measurements of unique parts the human body such as fingerprints, irises and faces – are much more difficult to hack or guess than a 4-digit PIN, and much more difficult to steal than a smart-card/keycard.

   “eKey and Crestron took up the challenge of making door entry more secure and convenient,” said Michael Short, global residential marketing manager for Crestron.

   “To deliver on that, we focused on one of the aspects that makes us unique as human beings – fingerprints. Now, in essence, your finger is the key to your Crestron smart home.”

   Georg Schaffer, head of export, eKey Biometric Systems GmbH, concluded, “As a specialist in fingerprint technology and a proven vendor of outdoor rated fingerprint readers, we are very excited about our partnership with Crestron and the possibilities of this advanced integration. It’s like turning Crestron into a biometric access control system by itself, featuring simplified administration centrally via – for instance – a Crestron touch screen. By saving multiple fingerprints of individual users, different functions can be triggered. Whereas your right index finger will become your new key for unlocking your front door, your left index finger will trigger a silent alarm when used under duress.”

   Access Control UK – experts in designing and deploying advanced biometric access control systems

   Access Control UK provides enhanced security for all businesses with more than 10 employees. For maximum peace of mind, we offer a biometrics access control reader, which can be programmed to also demand a smart-card too. Multi-factor authentication is always more secure, and this biometrics and smart-card combination is no exception, since now no-one can enter your premises with just a stolen smart-card.

   Our software can fine-tune and regulate individuals’ access control options, from the very broad, e.g. all employees can go here and all guests cannot, right down to, for example, one particular person can enter this room between the hours of 11am to 3pm.

   If you’d like to find out more about the range of solutions supplied by Access Control UK, both in terms of hardware (smart card readers, biometric readers, turnstiles, etc.) and software (access rights management software solutions, etc.), just contact us. We’ll be more than happy to answer any queries you might have.

3. Physical security can reduce chance of technology breach

   10 October 2018 2:44 pm Leave a Comment

   With Heathrow recently in the news for serious data protection failures, now is the ideal time for you to have a second look at your own access control systems.

   The Heathrow failure was caused by a staff member losing an unprotected USB stick. This was then found by a member of the public who took it to the local library to look at the information and then gave it to a national newspaper.

   The USB may have contained information relevant to national security, though this was unconfirmed. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) did confirm that the USB, which had 6 folders and more than 1,000 files, did expose the names, dates of birth and passport numbers of 10 people as well as personal data belonging to up to 50 Heathrow aviation security personnel.

   The ICO also found that only 2% of Heathrow’s 6,500 workforce had undergone data protection training.

   At this point you might be protesting that if this was all caused by losing a memory stick then how could stricter access controls change anything?

   We believe that the second step in protecting any data (after passwords or encryption) is ensuring that you know who is accessing the data. Your IT department can track which files users are accessing, and can even block people from using USB sticks at all.

   However, what’s stopping someone from walking into an area they’re not supposed to be in, like the HR office or the CEO’s office, and swiping a USB stick off the desk?

   Too many companies don’t put enough thought into their physical security in an office environment. Theft isn’t just about the value of objects these days, it’s about the value of data on the dark web, or in using it for extortion.

   Our access control system can show you the name and photograph of who has gone through a certain door at a certain time, using a nearly real-time graphical display in the Access Viewer Designer module. You can also create reports on suspicious access activity using our reports wizard.

   Magnetic locks hold the door closed until a form of ID is shown. Our system uses fingerprints or contactless smart-cards to identify known employees.

   Each person is assigned to a profile based on their access group, which contains a number of rules based on the time of day, day of the week, public holidays and shutdown days.

   You can also limit entry and exist using the “time limit by status” facility, which, for example, only lets a user through the building entrance if they have already checked in at the gate. It can be linked to staff PC access, so that they can only log on once they have checked in with their ID.

   All of this ability to specify means that you can choose exactly who should get through the door to the IT server, for example, or the room where payroll details are processed. You can even make that access change at different times of day.

   We do have an Anti-Pass-Back feature to stop employees swapping smartcards, but for ultimate security we would recommend fingerprint biometrics.

   There is also a special feature built into the system to take into account a valid member of staff being coerced or forced to open a door for someone unauthorised. They need to enter a particular code, which will open the door as if everything was normal, then trigger silent alarms and notify the system administrators of the forced entry.

   Hopefully you can now see how boring, “old-fashioned” physical security could stop a breach if it is correctly put into place. Contact us if you’d like any more information on any of the features mentioned here.

4. Data control is vital in a good access control system

   1 October 2018 4:02 pm Leave a Comment

   Paying careful attention to identity and access management is vital to avoid data exposure or loss, which can irreparably damage a company’s reputation, according to this SearchSecurity article.

   The more users which can access a management system, the more complicated it becomes to safely manage the data involved. It is important to not only keep customer and user data secure, but to make sure that access to that data is strictly controlled.

   “The fewer people who can access data, the more secure it is. And for those who can access the data, make sure they access only what they absolutely need.”

   When this isn’t taken seriously by companies, the chance of a data breach grows steadily larger. It can happen to any company no matter how big or small – most recently the big Reddit breach has grabbed the headlines.

   ______________

   The information available to you in our access control system is strictly controlled with system security permissions, in order to maximise the data security. Users are assigned a role in the system (e.g. admin, supervisor, users) which dictates the menu options they can see, whether they get active access, “view only” access or no access to other employees’ information.

   This careful role management means that no employee can see data which is beyond their permissions, and that they can also be limited in the menu actions they can take with the data available to them.

   You can also report on anything within the access control system. Reports are based upon an easy wizard design tool, helping you explore a variety of different reporting options. Reports may be printed, saved to a variety of file formats or emailed to recipients. Each report can be fully customised using the ‘Report Designer Module’, which allows you to add your own company logos, fonts and colours, giving your reports a real personalised look.

   It is also very difficult to hide any unethical action on the Access Control system, because all user activity is recorded for audit purposes; records are saved to show the information both before and after changes.

   Contact us today for a quote or with queries!

5. Granular Access Control Maximises Physical Security Of Your Site

   3 September 2018 3:53 pm Leave a Comment

   Elementary and middle schools in Georgia, USA, are undergoing security upgrades over the summer as part of a 1.9m project to physically secure the campuses with enhanced access control.

   For example, many areas in the schools now serve as “visitor traps” which restrict people’s access to only the lobby until they are signed in and can be accompanied by an authorised staff member to their designated location.

   “We’ve been gradually adding security modifications for the past few years,” said Dean Jackson, public information officer for Coweta County Schools. “This particular project involved securing vestibules and adding security measures at entrances.

   “We were doing entrance improvements and additional security measures at all elementary and middle schools,” Jackson said. “That includes enhanced electronic access control.”

   “With the work completed this summer, all elementary and middle schools will have a secured lobby area with restricted access,” he said.

   In addition to approving the modification of entrances and the addition of high-tech lockdown and monitoring systems, the Coweta County Board of Education green-lighted additional security cameras throughout the school system.

   The board also approved funding for 14 additional school resource officers and supervisors to ensure law enforcement presence at every school.

   Jackson said, “This summer represented an enormous step – a very big push for the school system – in making our schools secure.”

   Access Control UK – specialising in deploying advanced systems tailored to your specific requirements

   Controlling who can walk into areas of your premises is a vital element of building security. At Access Control UK, we can offer you physical barriers and turnstiles as well as door access which is controlled to a very high degree by our WinAC.NET system.

   The amount of control that our system can exert over who gets through your doors is market-leading. Described as “truly granular” by customers, it can set up numerous detailed rules for individual profiles such as:

   • What day are they trying to enter on? Are they allowed on this day? (For example, you might be closed on the weekend, or on Bank Holidays)
   • What time of day is it? (For example, a cleaner might only have access during the time of her agreed shift, or workers might only be allowed into the canteen on their assigned lunch break)

   These kinds of rules combine to make a user access pattern. These can be individual to the worker, or per department – whatever works best for you. Template access patterns on our access control system can be altered to meet your requirements.

   All patterns can be changed throughout the day – on a minute by minute basis if that is what you need.

   Other ways that you can restrict access:

   • Have they followed access procedures fully? (For example, they can’t clock in at their work-space if they didn’t identify themselves at the entrance barrier. This can even be extended to computer usage, so that they cannot log in if they missed a step somewhere further back)
   • This door only requires a smartcard, but to get through this door requires biometrics (This is a good way to ensure security in the rooms where it matters most)

   A particularly important element of our access control, which would be very useful to schools in the USA, is the “Under Duress” feature. If an employee has been forced to open a door due to being threatened or coerced in some way, they can enter a special code. Outwardly the system reacts as normal so the employee is safe from the immediate retribution which might come if alarms started blaring. In reality, the duress code has set off silent alarms and email notifications so that your management and security can know exactly what has happened and where.

6. A Brief History of Access Control

   9 August 2018 3:21 pm Leave a Comment

   Access Control, at the most basic, is what is says on the tin. Controlling who has access into somewhere. Here at Access Control we sell modern technology which can do that and much more, but the theory has been around for a very long time.

   Ever since humans started to live in permanent dwellings, they have worried about who could get into them.

   Ancient civilisations

   Ancient civilisations such as Ancient Egypt and possibly Ancient Mesopotamia made use of an entirely wooden pin-tumblr type lock and key as their door access control system. This was made up of a bolt across a door with several holes in its upper surface.

   “Pins” which fitted into those holes would drop from above, meaning that the door could not be opened. The key for this lock looked a bit like a toothbrush, with “pins” of its own.

   When the key was put into the keyhole and lifted up, its pins would dislodge the locking pins and the bolt could then be slid back. These could be quite ornate, with a bronze or copper bolt shaped like a dragon or a hand.

   The Romans improved upon this design by making it entirely out of metal and miniaturising it. They also created the idea of the “ward” lock, which had a numbers of obstructions inside the lock that only the correctly notched key could get through.

   Medieval society

   These warded locks proliferated for over a thousand years, despite the flaw that keys could open locks that they were similar enough to without needing to be identical. Medieval society battled this by creating very complicated warded locks and keys.

   Here is an example of a fairly complex warded key from the Saxon Church of St Michael in Oxford:

   

   Other medieval ways to foil thieves were to have multiple locks for one door, or more commonly, a storage box, and to give the keys to multiple people.

   There was also a lot of symbolism and folk beliefs around keys. Anglo-Saxon and Viking societies both viewed keys as symbols of a woman’s power over the house, and Anglo-Saxon women were often buried with a girdle with symbolised the keys they had worn in life.

   (As late as the 19^th and 20^th century, people still had superstitions like “Don’t put a key on the table, it means you’ll have an argument”.)

   Modern life

   Locks and keys started their true journey to modernity in the late 18^th century. In 1778, Robert Barron perfected the lever tumbler lock. This stopped incorrect keys opening it as easily because if a lever inside wasn’t raised to exactly the correct height, the lock would not open. This was made even more secure by Jeremiah Chubb in 1818, with his Chubb detector lock which he improved constantly over the next 20 years.

   In today’s modern society, our search for ever-increased security has led us away from physical access control systems made with chunks of metal. Keycards (also called smartcards) are commonly used today for everything from hotels to workplaces.

   If you ever lost your key – disaster! Time to change all the locks! With the physical connection broken, a lost card is far less worrying. It can simply be deleted from the system and/or reassigned.

   One of the most effective and useful types of access cards is the Passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card.

   

   These contain a small chip and induction loop which the transmitter on the keycard reader can access. The main advantage of these cards is that unlike other types of smartcard, they do not need to be removed from their cover, or touched directly to a reader. This reduces the wear and tear and makes them last much longer.

   There is no such thing as an accurate future-telling crystal ball, but judging by today’s trends, biometric technology seems to be the main vehicle for access control in the future.

   Methods of biometric access control commonly include fingerprint scanning or handprint scanning, facial recognition and iris recognition. More futuristic methods include DNA, body odour and the shape of your ear!

   There’s no telling what technology we’ll be using in fifty years’ time, but today’s society is so concerned about security that access control will certainly stay at the forefront of innovation.

7. Global Fingerprint Access Control Systems Market to Grow by 7% Yearly Until 2022

   5 September 2016 1:20 pm Leave a Comment

   The Global Fingerprint Access Control Systems Market is set to grow at a CAGR of over 7% from 2015 to 2022, a recent market research report from Hexa Research has been able to suggest.

   The segment’s market size is expected to reach USD 4.4 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of over 7% from 2015 to 2022. Escalating safety and security threats is anticipated to drive industry growth. Fingerprint authentication offers a reliable solution to enhance access control thus, assists to mitigate security breaches as well as transaction frauds.

   Highly competitive business environment is likely to boost confidentiality needs for organizational data and information. Biometric systems market is anticipated to witness significant growth owing to incapability of password and security PINs to safeguard the data. This safety equipment is increasingly implemented for home fortification. Government around the globe is now taking stringent initiatives for biometric enrolment of their citizens.

   Advent of projects such as national identification programs, e-passports and border control are expected to drive industry growth. This measure can be attributed to secure borders, prosecute criminals, verify immigration or employment and combat identity fraud or terrorism

   Implementation of this system requires huge capital investment. Apart from installation cost, it also involves allied expenses such as enrolling users, administering the system and training expenditures. However, theft or misuse of data is likely to pose a serious risk to the individual’s security. Fingerprint access control system market is expanding its roots into commercial, government as well as healthcare sectors. Its high penetration rate is projected to pose potential opportunities to the industry demand.

   Commercial application was the leading segment, valued over USD 850 million in 2014. It is expected to exceed USD 1.4 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% over the forecast period. The surge can be addressed to rising safety as well as security demands in various organizations. Consumer electronics accounted for over 4.5% of the overall market share. The growth can be accredited to rapid growing need for access control features in tablets & smartphones.

   Access Control UK – ready to meet all your access control needs and requirements

   Access Control UK employs a variety of access control technologies in order to create advanced solutions, enable users to exert solid, reliable and accurate control over the access to specific premises or zones.

   The access control systems supplied by Access Control UK also support an effective Fire Roll Call feature, which will enable employers to evacuate the personnel off the premises in a very orderly and clear manner, should a fire, explosion or some other type of catastrophe occur.

   If you’d like to find out more about the range of solutions supplied by Access Control UK, both in terms of hardware (smart card readers, biometric readers, turnstiles, etc.) and software (access rights management software solutions, etc.), just hit the contact button at the top of the screen, we’ll be more than happy to answer any queries you might have.

8. Water supplier deploys biometric access control system for enhanced security

   23 August 2016 11:30 am Leave a Comment

   A South African water supplier has recently deployed a biometric access control system in order to bolster its overall security, a recent news report has been able to suggest.

   The state-owned Johannesburg Water company required technology that was SAP-certified and could be integrated to address indoor and outdoor security requirements while providing maximum infrastructure security.

   The chosen biometric access control systems are designed to integrate with – and enhance – payroll systems and address issues that eat away at productivity levels, such as payroll errors and inefficient time logging, accurate reading, monitoring and managing staff while ensuring utmost security.

   The fingerprint authentication technology replaces the employees’ user ID and password system, which was previously used on many platforms such as the ERP systems, to granting employees the access to sensitive data, and for ensuring access control at buildings’ entry and exit points.

   As criminal enterprises become more sophisticated, South African companies are increasingly turning to biometrics technology for various security and business purposes.

   Access Control UK – suppliers of secure and reliable biometric access control systems for a variety of applications

   Access Control UK employs a variety of access control technologies in order to create advanced solutions, enable users to exert solid, reliable and accurate control over the access to specific premises or zones.

   The access control systems supplied by Access Control UK also support an effective Fire Roll Call feature, which will enable employers to evacuate the personnel off the premises in a very orderly and clear manner, should a fire, explosion or some other type of catastrophe occur.

   If you’d like to find out more about the range of solutions supplied by Access Control UK, both in terms of hardware (smart card readers, biometric readers, turnstiles, etc.) and software (access rights management software solutions, etc.), just hit the contact button at the top of the screen, we’ll be more than happy to answer any queries you might have.

9. Secure access control systems – a must for every student accommodation facility

   15 August 2016 3:01 pm Leave a Comment

   Secure, user-friendly access control systems are a must for every student accommodation facility that’s serious about the welfare of its students and residents, and adequate planning for the deployment of these systems should start as early as the planning stage.

   That applies for the new £4 million student accommodation project in Sheffield, a seven-storey, 63-bed project set to be built on Trippet Lane near the University of Sheffield’s North Campus.

   Features of the future development include a mixture of studios and one- to three-bedroom apartments, as well as a gym, meeting rooms, a secure courtyard, a common room and a private cinema room. The project is to be completed in time for the 2017/18 academic year.

   Access Control UK – the go-to company for secure, reliable and affordable access control systems

   Access Control UK employs a variety of access control technologies in order to create advanced solutions, enable users to exert solid, reliable and accurate control over the access to specific premises or zones.

   An UK-based manufacturer, we have over 30 years’ experience in designing, installing and commissioning outstanding security solutions. We take great pride in our commitment to provide the best possible customer care and adhere to the highest British and International security standards, which is why we’ve been formally accredited by several accreditation bodies (visit our Accreditations page for more information).

   The Access Control Systems supplied by Access Control UK are modular and fully scalable in design, thus allowing you to build your access control system to match your specific requirements, whether you’re a small company with under 250 personnel or a large multinational corporation.

   If you’d like to find out more about the range of solutions supplied by Access Control UK, both in terms of hardware (smart card readers, biometric readers, turnstiles, etc.) and software (access rights management software solutions, etc.), just contact us, we’ll be more than happy to answer any queries you might have.

10. Access Control Systems should be on the agenda for Every Laboratory Facility

    1 August 2016 3:43 pm Leave a Comment

    A solid and reliable access control system is a very important solution to be included in any laboratory facility, such as the new £20 million facility set to be built in Newcastle.

    The Newcastle Laboratory is scheduled to begin construction in late 2017 and will help create hundreds of new jobs on Newcastle Science Central.

    The project has been developed by Aura alongside architects Ryder and features over 70,000 sq ft of specialist facilities including high quality, incubation and grow-on space. It is set to be completed in 2018.

    Council Leader Nick Forbes said: “Newcastle Laboratory will provide much needed specialist facilities to support pioneering research and significant expertise happening here already, building on Newcastle’s global reputation for research excellence in life sciences.

    “Science Central is already home to three national research centres – testament to Newcastle’s world-class strengths in the science and health sector, and this new facility will help accelerate the pace of growth in this sector, and create the next generation of highly skilled jobs in the region.”

    Access Control UK – the access control supplier of choice for the research segment

    Whatever your requirements, Access Control UK specialists are available to help you get the best from your system.

    Access Control UK are leading providers of proximity smart card and biometric access control systems and software for both large and small companies.

    An UK-based manufacturer, we have over 30 years’ experience in designing, installing and commissioning outstanding security solutions. We take great pride in our commitment to provide the best possible customer care and adhere to the highest British and International security standards, which is why we’ve been formally accredited by several accreditation bodies (visit our Accreditations page for more information).

    The Access Control Systems supplied by Access Control UK are modular and fully scalable in design, thus allowing you to build your access control system to match your specific requirements, whether you’re a small company with under 250 personnel or a large multinational corporation.

    If you’d like to find out more about the range of solutions supplied by Access Control UK, both in terms of hardware (smart card readers, biometric readers, turnstiles, etc.) and software (access rights management software solutions, etc.), just contact us, we’ll be more than happy to answer any queries you might have.