Now more than ever, keeping employees safe and property secure is the top priority for your security team. While you have several tools at your disposal, managing access control is the first line of defense.

Your business security requirements are constantly changing as your company grows to multiple locations and expands into a global presence. To incorporate video, IoT, building automation, keycard verification, and intrusion detection, you need a scalable, enterprise-class platform. The Keep access control system from Feenics offers best-in-class management that integrates seamlessly with partner hardware and third-party applications.

Are you looking to modernize and expand your security options for your Houston, TX commercial properties? Read below to learn more.

When it comes to technology, both hardware and software, there tend to be two models: proprietary and open systems.  The proprietary model is not necessarily a bad one; it depends on the technology's interoperability with other solutions. For example, if you are reading this blog on an iPhone, iPad, or Macintosh computer, you are on a proprietary platform.

Is a proprietary platform like Apple a negative? It depends on your objectives. Apple platforms have a vast range of applications and support standards that make them interoperable with many other devices, making them hugely popular for both personal and business use. However, if you want to upgrade Apple hardware over time – such as adding memory – you see that with all but a couple of exceptions, that is nearly impossible with their current products.

When it comes to vital security systems like access control for your Corpus Christi, TX facilities, it pays to look for systems that don't lock you into proprietary hardware and software. Unlike general-purpose computing platforms (like Apple and Microsoft) that may be proprietary but have incorporated extensive interoperability and standards, specific-purpose solutions don't always take an open approach. Let's look at three ways open architectures for access control can keep your access control options more…open.

Access control has always been a key component of premises security in organizations and businesses large and small. The most common methods include magnetic key cards and fobs that are easily programmed and managed by a central system software solution. Many systems also still rely on numeric keypads for entering codes, to allow for temporary codes and backup access.

While these systems may not have changed drastically in the past decade, new technology from other sectors is beginning to show up in access control solutions. What are some that you may want to consider to secure your building or campus in the Texas Rio Grande Valley? Keep reading to learn about three of the latest trends.

The challenges around fighting the spread of COVID-19 have been immense. Yet, in some areas, it has accelerated the adoption of technology solutions that have helped mitigate the problems. One example is the widespread use of video meetings and collaboration to enable people to work remotely. While not ideal in all situations, the success of that in many workplaces has caused some employers to rethink their workforce strategies, which could result in more future opportunities for work from home for many for whom it would be highly beneficial.

Other businesses and organizations have thought of contactless solutions to keep business going. Stores like Best Buy have heavily promoted online ordering with efficient store pickups, where just about all physical contact with personnel or the store is eliminated.

In a similar vein, many areas can be rethought for minimizing physical contact that doesn’t add value. Automatic doors eliminate pulls and touching handles, automatic flushing toilets, faucets, and soap and towel dispensing reduce physical contact in bathrooms, and other examples abound. And these things already exist; they do not require unproven new technology, but do require a willingness to replace existing infrastructure for long-term benefits.

Another technology that is proven and can provide rapid benefits is access control. Touchless access control for secure entry has existed for years. And with the advances in today’s software and integration with other intelligent security systems, it can also help in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in the Rio Grande Valley and throughout Texas.

Keep reading to learn more.