1. Purpose of Card Access Systems
- Access Control: It monitors who enters where and when, and prevents unauthorized access to critical areas (server rooms, storage areas, etc.).
- Reporting and Monitoring: It digitally records employees’ working hours (time and attendance), the number of people inside, and their movement history.
- Security Management: A lost card can be immediately deleted from the system and rendered useless (unlike traditional keys, which require changing locks).
- Emergency Management: In situations such as fire or earthquake, it allows all doors to automatically unlock (fail-safe), facilitating evacuation.
2. Importance of Design and Critical Points
System design is critical both for preventing security vulnerabilities and for operational efficiency:
- Proper Hardware Selection: Choosing the correct locking mechanism (magnetic lock, electric strike, etc.) according to the door type (glass, steel, fire door) ensures long system lifespan.
- Integration Capability: The design must integrate with fire detection and CCTV systems. For example, when an unauthorized card is used, the nearest camera should automatically turn toward that point and start recording.
- Fail-Safe and Fail-Secure Balance: During the design phase, it must be decided for each door whether it should unlock during a power outage (for life safety) or remain locked (for high-security rooms).
- System Scalability: The design should have a flexible and expandable infrastructure (such as IP-based control panels) to accommodate future door additions or staff increases.
- Data Security: Using high-encryption technologies (such as Mifare Desfire) to prevent card cloning determines the reliability of the system.
