access card and reader

How to choose the right access control reader for different locations?

Hospitals

Hospitals are extensive access control environments with a diverse population of patients, visitors, service providers and staff. Access to staff-only areas is monitored according to each employee’s role. Access control is used to supervise and restrict entry to sensitive spaces, such as medicine storage rooms, as well as to track medication usage.

Usability is crucial in hospitals, especially in situations where hands are not free. In such cases, the reader should be able to detect access rights from a distance, for example from a phone in a pocket.. This is particularly important when transporting patients or when contact with the reader or the credential is not desirable.

It is essential that readers in hospital environments withstand frequent disinfection, moisture and cleaning agents, and are designed not to collect dirt.

 

Key considerations:

  • Contactless readers are recommended for hygiene reasons when necessary.
  • Rapid access between departments is needed.
  • Easy cleaning, resistance to moisture and cleaning agents.
  • Access control for medicine storage areas and patient rooms.

 

Prisons

Prisons are unique environments for access control. Movement of inmates and staff is centrally monitored to ensure a continuous overview of the facility. It must be possible to determine the location of individuals at any given time or retrospectively.

Readers in prisons are subject to demanding conditions and may experience frequent impacts. Choosing readers with the highest available impact resistance rating, or considering recessed installation, is advisable. Durability and minimal maintenance are especially important to reduce external service visits. Remotely updated OSDPv2 readers are a good choice for prisons, enabling remote status monitoring and enhancing security.

 

Key considerations:

  • Clear and rapid operation and management in a controlled environment
  • IK10 impact resistance rating
  • Recessed installation where required
  • Robust card technologies (DESFire EV3)
  • Clear event data

 

Bakeries and other food industry sites

Bakeries are typical examples of dusty industrial environments, where flour dust is constantly present in the air. Flour or grease particles easily infiltrate small structures and can accumulate inside devices or on their surfaces, which may lead to electronic failures, button sticking, corrosion and moisture retention within the dust.

 

Key considerations:

  • No deep gaps, buttons or seams where dust can accumulate
  • Smooth front panel for easy cleaning and routine washing
  • High IP rating (IP67) for dust and washing
  • Resistance to varying temperatures and moisture
  • Usable while wearing gloves

 

Banks

Banks are often considered high-end office spaces, so access control readers must be stylish. Above all, security is paramount in banks. The highest-level technologies, MIFARE DESFire and OSDPv2, are the only options, as they prevent card cloning and system data breaches. Two-factor authentication using both a card and PIN code is the most secure method.

 

Key considerations:

  • Smooth passage for staff
  • High-quality and stylish indoor readers with long lifecycle
  • High encryption (MIFARE DESFire and OSDPv2 as the only options)
  • Two-factor authentication

 

Critical infrastructure and defence sites

Facilities essential to society’s operation, along with their resources and personnel, must be protected at the highest possible security level. Systems need to withstand tampering and prevent both physical and cyber attacks. Devices must endure extreme temperatures, dirt and power disruptions.

Readers must be durable and remain operational even in harsh weather conditions. They should also be usable in low-light environments and while wearing gloves, especially in outdoor settings.

 

Key considerations

  • Functionality in freezing temperatures, rain and when using gloves
  • Fast recognition even in challenging conditions
  • High IP and IK ratings
  • Reliable tamper detection and disturbance notifications
  • OSDPv2 communication for system protection and management
  • Strongest possible card-based identification (DESFire EV3)
  • Card + PIN code reader for high-security areas