Managing a multi-family building requires significant effort, but nothing surpasses the importance of ensuring secure access for residents, employees, and guests to your property. If you are looking to upgrade your outdated access control system with a keyless entry method, the fingerprint access system is a biometric solution that uses residents’ fingerprints as credentials.
Continue reading to learn about what this system is and how it operates, then explore the advantages and disadvantages of implementing it in your building, and learn how to find the ideal access control system tailored to your needs.
The fingerprint access control system uses your fingerprint as a credential to unlock doors. The fingerprint reader identifies the person by matching their fingerprint with the authorized prints stored in the building’s security system. If the fingerprint matches, the door is unlocked, and you are granted entry.
Consequently, biometric access control systems like fingerprint scanners minimize the reliance on physical keys within the building. But how do these systems work?
Fingerprint Reader: Captures a user’s fingerprint and verifies it against the system’s stored biometric records.
Door Control Units: Manage the biometric control devices and provide power to them at the doors.
Electronic or Magnetic Lock: Unlocks when an authorized resident or employee scans their fingerprint, and the system grants access permission.
Biometric Control Software: Stores fingerprint data, allows managers to add or remove residents, and keeps a record of all individuals entering the building.
The fingerprint access control system improves security by relying on unique, non-transferable biometric data—eliminating risks tied to lost or duplicated keys.
Plus, there's no risk of residents passing along keys, access cards, or codes to unapproved visitors.
Fingerprint access is a top choice in high-security facilities, thanks to the unmatched reliability of biometric verification compared to traditional access methods.
Research Labs: Employ fingerprint door locks to safeguard sensitive materials, providing secure access for researchers and scientists.
Data Centers: Provide secure authentication to protect records and documents.
Industrial Facilities: Such as warehouses and manufacturing plants, use this system to control access and protect assets.
This system offers a modern and convenient way to access the building, but it comes with some limitations.
Cannot Be Lost: Everyone has a fingerprint, making it a convenient credential for residents and employees. There’s no need to deal with physical keys, making door unlocking quick and secure.
Cost-Effective System: Fingerprint locks are typically less expensive than other biometric systems, such as iris scanners or voice recognition systems.
No Need to Replace Keys: The costs of replacing lost cards or keys can add up, especially in large buildings, and this system eliminates that issue.
Requires Contact: Accessing the system requires touching the reader, which may not be ideal in high-traffic multi-family buildings, especially during flu season.
May Not Work: If a resident or employee has scars or rough skin on their fingers, the reader may fail to read the fingerprint.
Requires Registering Everyone’s Fingerprints: Registering the fingerprints of all residents and employees takes time, which may be impractical in large buildings.
Visitor Access Limitation: Guests and service providers can’t rely on fingerprints for temporary entry, so alternative methods like access cards or codes are necessary.
Limited Gate Compatibility: Biometric access systems are optimized for doors, making them less suitable for gates, which often require alternative control methods.
To maximize the benefits of the fingerprint access control system, careful planning and organized steps are essential to ensure smooth and effective implementation. Here are the key steps:
Assess Building Needs: Analyze the property’s requirements, such as the number of residents, tenant turnover rate, and sensitive areas like parking lots or storage rooms that need additional control. Choose technologically advanced fingerprint readers to minimize reading errors caused by dry or damaged skin.
Plan Fingerprint Registration: Organize the fingerprint registration process for residents and employees efficiently by scheduling sessions in batches, especially in large buildings. Use user-friendly biometric control software to manage data and quickly update the user database when changes occur.
Train Staff and Maintain the System: Train managers and employees on using and maintaining the fingerprint access system, including regularly cleaning fingerprint readers and updating software to protect against security vulnerabilities.
Conduct Regular Testing: Test the system regularly to ensure all components function correctly, including simulating scenarios like power outages or unauthorized access attempts. Ensure backup plans, such as alternative power sources or manual entry systems, are in place to maintain access continuity.
Integrate Visitor Solutions: Integrate the system with alternative entry solutions, such as temporary PIN codes or RFID cards, to facilitate access for visitors and temporary guests. This hybrid approach maintains security while providing flexibility.
To improve the performance of the fingerprint access system, it can be integrated with smart building technologies, such as Building Management Systems (BMS) or Internet of Things (IoT) applications. For example, fingerprint readers can be linked to lighting or air conditioning systems to activate them automatically when residents enter, saving energy and improving the user experience. This integration requires selecting compatible hardware and software that support seamless connectivity between systems.
To maintain the reliability of the fingerprint access control system, regular audits should be conducted to evaluate system performance and ensure compliance with international security standards, such as ISO 27001. These audits include checking the accuracy of fingerprint readers, verifying the integrity of stored data, and assessing the system’s response to hacking attempts. This approach helps identify potential weaknesses early and improve performance.
To ensure the system can adapt to the building’s future growth, it should be designed with flexibility and scalability in mind. Key strategies include:
Choosing Upgradable Hardware and Software: Use fingerprint readers and software that support adding new users or doors without requiring a complete system replacement.
Planning Infrastructure: Install additional cables and power units in advance to facilitate future expansion.
Efficient Database Management: Use cloud-based storage systems to streamline the management of user data as their numbers increase.
Assessing your building’s needs is crucial for selecting the best access control system. If you want to upgrade access to your property with a keyless entry method, consider the access control systems offered by Modn, such as the advanced fingerprint access system or mobile-based solutions.
These systems allow residents to unlock doors easily using their smartphones or fingerprints, while providing options like temporary PIN codes for visitors. Additionally, if you manage a gated community, Modn offers integrated visual communication systems that enable guests to make two-way video calls for identity verification before entry. Choosing a system that combines high security, resident convenience, and operational efficiency will ensure reliable protection for your property and an optimal user experience, while supporting the future growth of the building’s needs.