Access control shields physical spaces and data from threats. It is especially important for workplaces that contain sensitive customer information and employees who require access to resources remotely. A well-designed access control system restricts the kinds of privileges users are granted, minimizing the consequences of security breaches and ensuring that no one is able to access sensitive information or gain access to areas where they shouldn’t be.
The basic concept behind access control is that a person’s identity has to be verified before they can be granted access to any resource. This can be accomplished by several methods that include multi-factor authentication, biometric identification, and passwords. After that, they need to be authorized for access by an authorization system, which typically is based on the sensitivity of the resource being requested and the credentials being used to request them.
This authorization system can consider a number of factors. From what the user’s information (passwords and PINs they use to log in) to the items they have (access cards keys, tokens or tokens that generate OTP passcodes) and even their biometrics. The system then compares these to the privileges they’re asking for and, if all checks out, grants them the access they need.
A well-thought-out access control strategy is a vital element of any security plan, and is especially important for healthcare institutions that need to balance the requirements of their staff as well as patients. It is important to have the appropriate procedures in place for on-site as well as remote employees as well as to keep them updated and monitored frequently.