• A company should keep up with technology changes in security and consider tech options for its facility.

Technology is always changing, and that can mean more security and information-gathering ability for a (sometimes) cheaper price. Lock and security-device manufacturers are adding more and more computer circuitry into products, allowing unprecedented control over who can enter a locked area, when, and how often. These high-tech access control systems are becoming increasingly common in both home and business applications.

It’s a good idea to stay abreast of changes in security technology. Consider the following:

• Electronic locks can serve an auditing function, letting a company print a record of who entered which areas and when. Similarly, key cards that contain encoded data can track employee movement by letting the company know which areas the employee entered and when.
• Electronic components are being added to products that look like regular keys. Employees can keep the electronic keys with the rest of their keys, and the electronic ones take much longer to wear out than key cards.
• Keyless locks are becoming more popular. These devices are opened using a numeric code rather than a key or card, so keys can’t be lost or stolen, and the codes can be changed at any time. Combination locks can combine a keyless lock with a card key lock, requiring entry of a numeric code along with insertion of a key card, for added security.
• Motion detectors can now reach hundreds of feet. These high-powered devices may be an effective choice for monitoring a large area.
• Monitoring devices are available to distinguish a human intruder from other stimuli that might trigger an alarm, such as animals, weather, or changes in lighting conditions.
• Access control systems are available that can prevent tailgating, where an unauthorized person is allowed to follow an authorized employee through a secured door.

In the future, more and more locks will employ cutting-edge technology including fingerprint, eye, and voice recognition.