Proven Access Control Options
There are many factors to consider when considering access control alternatives for your gated community. From cost to reporting abilities, it's essential to consider the pros and cons of all available options. Here are the most standard and proven access control prospects for your community.
24-hour guard gated
The most secure and costly form of access control has a guard who regulates the gate 24/7. The pros of keeping a guard at the entrance are your community is entirely sure of who is there, and you don't have to stress about people tailgating their way past the gate. The cons include the inflated cost, and there can be a bottleneck at the entrance as the guard checks each individual in.
Callbox
The callbox is the most typical form of access control and can be integrated with many other types of access control, like clickers, fobs, RFID, apps, and more. While it hearkens to the olden days of landlines and home phone numbers, the callbox is still the most widely used access control alternative, a standard, if annoying, view in gated communities and apartment buildings across the nation.
Smartphone app
One of the more recent arrivals to the stage, smartphone apps are a technologically savvy way to govern access control. More reasonable than a 24/7 guard and less bother than an old-school call box, it's easy to see why neighborhoods are starting to embrace this new option. This is also one of the only alternatives that allow you to see a log of who unlocked the gate and when.
RFID reader
RFID readers are another prevalent form of access control from offices to gated neighborhoods. RFID stands for radio frequency identification and works by utilizing electromagnetic fields. This is a highly safe choice as access demands having the proper ID, called credentialed access, but it is also more costly than employing a smartphone app.
Clicker
Not only for garage doors, but now many gated communities are employing clickers to access their gates. This convenient option does not require pulling up next to the callbox or scraping your rims on the curb. However, one disadvantage is many neighborhoods require a security deposit and assess high fees if you are unfortunate enough to require a replacement. Also, getting extra clickers to share with guests and service providers can be hard.
License plate reader
You might be acquainted with this prospect from your paid parking garages, but now some gated neighborhoods are also employing license plate readers for access control. However, this feature tends to be more pricey than clickers, RFID readers, and smartphone solutions, so it is more reserved for communities pursuing higher levels of security.
NFC
NFC or near-field communications is another high-tech choice for access control. While more famous as an alternative for mobile charges, NFC technology is starting to be integrated into other applications. For example, as individuals become more and more satisfied with wearable technologies, NFC access control will be more familiar.
Barcode Scanner
Another crossover from paid parking garages, barcode scanners are a prospect for access control. They have the added comfort of not requiring the subject to do anything other than pull up to the gate, but they also need specialized hardware installed.
When deciding which form of access control is best for your gated community, many diverse options exist. However, these proven possibilities should be an acceptable starting point to get your community thinking and let us know if we can help with our premier community management software solution.