​How does Access Control work? Access Control might sound confusing, but it is relatively simple. Identify a location where access needs to be limited or restricted. Determine who should have access to said location. Decide when they should have access—and then you’re done. Below, we’ve outlined a simple example of what access control looks like in a practical sense.

 You are the facility manager for a high school and have five main types of people entering and leaving your building: students, teachers, administrative staff, janitorial staff, and visitors. You decide to install a card reader Access Control System in your building, meaning that to enter certain areas of the building an individual will need to scan an individually programmed key card.

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Levels of Access 

Students do not need special access to the building, or any of its rooms, so you don’t give them key cards. Instead, you leave the outer doors of the building unlocked from 7:00-8:00 AM and 3:00-5:00 PM (when they arrive and leave school).

Because some teachers work late and lead after-school activities, they need access to the building and their classrooms around the clock. You grant them this access from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Just like the teachers, some administrative staff members work late or have other commitments on campus after school hours. As such, they need access to the building and their offices from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Responsible for cleaning the entire building, the janitorial staff needs access to all areas of the building every hour of the day.

Daily visitors such as parents, guardians, education officials, and community members don’t need permanent access, but will need to get around your facility. Guest key cards can be created for these persons with limited access and are deactivated after a set time.