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A critical part of estate security

Sharing knowledge and experience makes for more informed choices when it comes to access control and visitor management systems. This viewpoint forms one of the cornerstones of Powell Tronics’ business philosophy and in this vein, Frazer Matchett from Powell Tronics’ Durban branch, recently presented a paper entitled ‘Getting results from access control and visitor management’ at Hi-Tech Security Solutions’ Estate Security event at the Durban Country Club.

Powell Tronics has a number of solutions which are designed to cater for the requirements of each individual estate. These include Impro’s ImproNet and Portal access control systems, Nedap long-range RFID readers, PT-Guest and PT-SCAN visitor management solutions and Morpho fixed and mobile tablet biometric fingerprint readers.

PT-GUEST, with its pre-authorisation capabilities, scans and decrypts South African driver’s licences and is fully integrated with Impro’s ImproNet (IXP400) and the new Portal range of access control systems. PT-SCAN also scans South African driver’s licences and vehicle licence discs, but is a standalone system that makes use of its own database and reporting system. In both instances, the systems will replace the manual visitor book and so much more.

PT-Guest caters for various access control formats for visitor entry, including one time pin (PAC), proximity card issue and biometric enrolment, all conducted at the main gate entry points. Features that include visitor pre-authorisation by residents are also supported.

Matchett says that for access control to be effective it is important to identify an individual accurately. The weakest form of identification will simply identify an individual according to a vague category, for example contractor company, or physical resemblance or to rely on the individual to provide correct information. In order to eliminate the obvious loophole here, it is critical that identification needs to be authenticated. He cites common forms of authentication as being a fingerprint, an ID or smartcard, or a driver’s licence.

“The set of actions linked to an identity typically make up the meat of the authorisation. To allow an individual onto your premises, you should know who they are and where they want to go,” he adds.

There are many access control or visitor management solutions available to allow people and vehicles through an entrance. Which one you use, is the question.

Best practice is for estates to partner with professionals that have a proven track record in residential estate access solutions.

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