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Biometrics and integration defines commercial security

In South Africa, service providers within the corporate security market are maintaining steady pace with the development of solutions designed to empower businesses to effectively protect their environments.

Management at ATEC Systems and technologies (ATEC), a national specialist ICT and Software Company focused on Telecommunications, security and property management systems, say there is a consistent requirement for access control security solutions to be integrated with and protect a number of properties and commercial buildings as well as residences.

Riaan Janse van Rensburg

Biometric infrastructure is a big driver behind this growth and there are many interesting developments emerging from this technology area, says Riaan Janse van Rensburg, chief technology officer (CTO) of ATEC.

“Some biometric systems use vein readers in addition to fingerprint – it measures the veins in your finger. South Africa is ahead in developing biometrics and access control technology. Tags used to be the most commonly used technology. Biometrics is still expensive and that is why you only see these systems installed at large companies,” says van Rensburg.

Visitor management systems continue to attract a great deal of attention according to ATEC. The company says that hardware costs have decreased over the last few years and is fuelling demand for feature-rich, pre-clearance and integration-wise infrastructure. Access control is a facet of business management in South Africa that often makes it onto the list to top priorities for decision makers.

According to van Rensburg, the industry is now focused on aligning systems with HR and ensuring that all staff are empowered to do their jobs effectively and use the technology to reinforce overall protection.

“There are more security service providers and companies being established in the local market. They require solutions that not only help to ensure that employees are doing their jobs, but also that they can be alerted to any issue or problem ahead of time. The value proposition we offer is the technology, but also the required training. Technical support, maintenance and ongoing training is as important as the technology itself,” he adds.

As far as ATEC is concerned, the minute biometrics is involved, there is accountability – this is the foundation of advanced, technology-centric visitor access control.

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