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School managements face the challenging issue of providing quality education to their students along with ensuring their safety and security from various external and internal threats.
They are given this huge responsibility and entrusted by the parents to ensure that their children remain safe and protected from all kinds of harm when in school.
Schools need to create a healthy environment that is welcoming and supportive for the students, teachers, parents, and legitimate visitors who have a purpose of being inside the school premises while keeping out individuals who do not belong inside and may cause potential harm.
Access control is an essential part of school security and one that must be implemented in all educational institutions across the country.
In keeping our students safe from the ills of society and providing a safe space for them, we must give top priority to school security and keep evolving to keep up with the rising threats.
Read on to find out why access control is so important, the different types of door entry systems for schools, and how to choose the best one for your requirements:
ACCESS CONTROL FOR SCHOOLS
For years, schools around the world have been using simple keys to locks their gates, classrooms, and offices inside the campus, and while they do get the job done of keeping unauthorised access at bay to some extent, there are certain issues with their use.
Keys are one of the most commonly lost, misplaced, and stolen items in the world. With that being said, there is no way to guarantee that the individuals with the keys will be responsible for keeping them safe and out of the wrong hands.
Traditional keys can also be easily copied and there is no way of knowing how many copies are out there and in whose possession.
The inability to control and manage access to the school, particularly during school hours when the students, teachers, and staff members are present on campus, becomes even more challenging with simple locks and keys.
School authorities need a way to know who is on campus, when they entered, when they exited, and most importantly, whether they are even supposed to be on the school premises or not.
Also, in the event of a security or safety threat, the school management needs to be able to lock down the campus from any external threats, in addition to being able to keep the students confined to a particular area inside the school, if necessary.
For all these reasons and more, schools need to upgrade from the traditional lock and key systems to more advanced door entry systems that provide much more in terms of access control.
DOOR ENTRY SYSTEMS FOR SCHOOLS
Door entry systems are also called access control systems and, as the name suggests, they are used to regulate access inside a property or a certain area within it.
For schools, they are a great alternative to using traditional locks and keys and support all electronic gates, doors, turnstiles, and barriers around the campus.
They help the management keep a better check on who enters the campus and when, along with ensuring that no unauthorised individuals are allowed to enter.
Access control systems for schools not just eliminate the need for multiple keys and locks, but also the manual control of access within the campus.
They combine the best of modern technology with great ease of use, making them an ideal choice for managing access in schools.
There are various types of door entry systems used in schools that can be used both independently or in conjunction with a master key system.
The three main elements of door access control systems include identification, authentication, and authorisation.
The identification credentials are presented to a reader present on the system that is forwarded to the access control panel to be verified.
The request is processed by the control panel by comparing the credentials against predefined access permissions in the database.
If the credentials do not have access permission for the area, access is denied and the door remains locked.
If the credentials have access permission for the area, access is granted and the control panel sends a relay to the system to unlock the door. Both the access rejections and acceptances are logged into the system.
TYPES OF DOOR ENTRY SYSTEMS FOR SCHOOLS
A door entry system is used essentially to allow authorised people in while denying access to the wrong people. In schools, these can be installed in various areas such as the main entrance to the school, the classrooms, private offices, storerooms, etc.
Following are the most common types of door entry systems that can be used in schools:
Keypad door entry systems
Keypad door entry systems work using access codes or passwords entered manually into the system. They are similar to ATMs where the correct pin grants you access to your account and its resources whereas the wrong one denies access.
These systems are linked to a control panel that verifies the authenticity of the credentials entered, and grants or denies access based on the access permissions for the user.
Although keypad door entry systems are very safe and easy to use, there is always the possibility of the codes and passwords being shared. To overcome this issue, the systems are usually paired with another authentication method, such as biometric systems, to enhance security and be certain that the right person is allowed to enter.
Proximity readers
Proximity readers are one of the most common types of door entry systems and are fairly popular as an access control method in schools.
The systems are very easy to use and require a simple swipe of a card or sensor-based tags to allow access into the premises.
The cards may be issued to all students and staff members who must be required to swipe them while entering the school or a certain area inside it. For visitors, the school management may issue cards to allow them to access selected areas of the school.
The great thing about proximity readers is that they work from a distance and do not require close contact at all; something that is extremely important in this post-pandemic world.
Biometric door entry systems
Biometric door entry systems use an individual’s unique biological identifiers such as fingerprints, retinal scans, and handprints to verify their identity and provide access based on their access privileges.
These systems are a bit on the pricier side and ideal for areas with low traffic. Also, to ensure maximum security, it is best to pair them with other authentication methods.
ADVANTAGES OF DOOR ENTRY SYSTEMS FOR SCHOOLS
A great number of security risks can be minimised if access into a property can be properly managed, allowing only authorised individuals to enter. This goes for all kinds of residential and commercial properties, including schools.
Here are all the reasons why schools must invest in a good access control system and install state-of-the-art door entry systems:
Better access management
The entire point of door entry systems is to make access control easier and more manageable, especially for large properties such as schools with multiple access points and a heavy amount of foot traffic throughout the day.
Schools are often faced with a shortage of security personnel to effectively manage all the access points throughout the property, and let’s be honest, it’s not very feasible and affordable to hire a security guard for every door on the campus.
Electronic door entry access control systems can streamline the process and send detailed reports allowing you to collect all kinds of data related to the system such as who accessed the system and when along with any unsuccessful attempts made.
In addition to increasing accountability among the students, teachers, and other staff members in the school, access control systems can also be set to automatically lock and unlock the doors at certain times, which can be particularly useful during lockdowns.
Go key-less
As mentioned above, physical keys work just fine in keeping unauthorised access at bay but they have their share of drawbacks.
Ask someone who has to manage keys to multiple doors and they’ll tell you what a hassle it is and how they wish they could make it easier. Luckily, door entry systems eliminate the need for unnecessary keys, relying instead on one form of authentication method working on multiple doors throughout the school.
For instance, you can use the same access card to gain access to multiple areas within the school since your access privileges to various access points throughout the campus are saved on the one card that you are issued.
Easy to grant and revoke access
When a student, teacher, or staff member leaves the school for whatever reason, they are required to return all the school property in their possession, including keys.
Even though this is a very strict policy and is thoroughly implemented, some individuals still manage to retain possession of certain items and, in the case of keys, may even make copies before returning the original ones.
Quite obviously, the school management cannot keep on replacing and rekeying the locks every time a student or teacher leaves, and this poses a huge security risk allowing unauthorised individuals and disgruntled ex-staff to gain access into the school despite not being allowed to.
With access control systems, the school doesn’t need to worry about this issue since they can simply remove the access codes, cards, or biometrics of an individual who is no longer allowed to enter.
This way, even if they have the codes and cards in their possession, they cannot use them to gain access since they have been deleted from the system.
Remote management
One of the most difficult aspects of managing security on a school campus is to control access, especially if it comprises multiple buildings.
With an automated access control system such as the ones listed above, it becomes extremely easy to manage every door, all from a single remote location.
You have the power to control a door in a separate building from the security office across the campus, or even across the country for that matter.
This exponentially increases the incident response time and reduces the number of staff members and security guards needed to control and manage access on the school site.
You can monitor the flow through every single door at the school from a remote location and have full control over granting and revoking access permissions, along with locking and unlocking doors with a single click.
Integration with CCTV
Although using CCTV cameras in schools is a great way of keeping an eye on things around the school campus, one of the biggest pitfalls of the surveillance system is that it actively does nothing to stop intruders and criminals from committing a crime.
They act as extremely effective deterrents in keeping potential criminals and offenders at bay for the fear of getting recorded, identified, and caught. But if someone tries to commit a crime despite the presence of CCTV cameras, the systems don’t do anything to stop the crime from happening.
For instance, if someone broke into the school overnight, the school’s security officers may have to go back on-site and watch hours of CCTV footage to figure out when and how the intruders got inside.
Combining CCTV cameras with other security systems such as modern door entry systems offer several benefits such as recording the footage every time someone comes near the door or tries to access it, giving you a visual record of every person gaining access into the campus.
Another great advantage is that whenever something suspicious is picked up by the cameras, such as a criminal looking to commit a violent crime, the security personnel can lock all the doors and windows of the school with a single click, barring them from entering the premises and the students and teachers from leaving.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST DOOR ENTRY SYSTEM FOR YOUR SCHOOL?
With so many great options out there, you must carefully select the best door entry system for your school and choose one that is right for your requirements.
There are a lot of factors to consider when making the decision such as:
The number of areas that need access control
The first step when choosing the right system for your school security needs is to assess the number of areas that need access control since that would determine the size and complexity of the system.
Some areas are more high-risk than others and may require added security in the form of two-factor authentication while others are relatively low-risk and can make do with a basic system.
The type of authentication method
As mentioned above, there are various forms of authentication methods for varying levels of security.
Deciding which one is suitable for your school and a particular door depends on the level of security you require, as well as the size of the school and the number of users.
The functions and integrations
Access control systems come with a range of functions such as access reporting, real-time notifications, and remote monitoring via computer or mobile.
They can also be integrated with other security systems such as burglar alarms, CCTV systems, and fire alarms.
You must choose the best functions, features, and integrations that your school requires and may even have a custom-built solution for your requirements.
CONTACT CALDER SECURITY
Calder Security provides a complete solution for access control systems for schools of all sizes that includes professional installation, maintenance, and repair services.
We are SSAIB approved installers and offer all types of access control systems including intercom, proximity fob, card swipe, keypad, and biometric systems that work with fingerprints or retina scans.
We conduct annual servicing to keep your system working well and give it a full check including checking the battery strength, power supply, and connections. That way you won’t get any nasty surprises further down the line.
We also operate a 24-hour emergency service run by qualified, security specialist engineers who understand access systems and can resolve issues efficiently and effectively.
Contact us here or call us on 0800 612 9799 to talk to our security experts right away and make your school a safe and happy place that fosters learning and growth!