Building Access Control Systems

What constitutes a Building Access Control System? Softworks provides flexible access and entrance control solutions and a contemporary door access control system which is designed to authorise, monitor, and audit movement at the entry/exit points in your premises, combining facility management with identity management and offering strong physical security.

The system protects and transforms workplaces through five core pillars:

• For the protection of assets, access to the main area and to various internally restricted zones is controlled, with valuable equipment, user credentials, and sensitive data being safeguarded using a smart lock, an electric strike, or a magnetic lock (maglock).
• The system offers versatile hardware and authentication options, including biometric verification, biometric authentication, RFID access card credentials, key fob units, PIN pad entry, and mobile access control, as well as various physical hardware such as turnstiles, elevator control, and parking barrier control.
• Improved health and safety is achieved by speeding up emergency evacuations and Emergency Lockdown scenarios through immediate consideration of all the personnel who are currently on the premises.
• Real-time reporting produces verifiable audit trails, activity logs, time-banded time-based access door access schedules, and exception reports, automatically identifying any unauthorized entry attempts.
• Smooth integration is achieved whether used as an on-premises system, as a cloud-based solution, or as a cloud access control setup, with the function acting as a module within the comprehensive Softworks Workforce Management suite and Building management system to aid with scheduling and attendance tracking.

In the end, Softworks Access Control enables organisations to achieve full, auditable central management of their facilities and at the same time improve workplace safety and operational efficiency.

Protect your Assets, Workforce, and Business Interests with Building Access Control Systems

Trust Softworks with your Building’s Security

Softworks has been working on and improving workforce solutions for more than 35 years; we realise that effective security and access control involve more than just restricting entry.

Fundamentally, our BACS solution is about improving:

• Workforce safety and Physical Security
• Regulatory Compliance Management
• Core operational efficiency
• Strategic insight and Real-time Monitoring

In effect, these aspects enable managers to make informed decisions which help organisations to achieve their objectives.

Measurable Improvements

We have carefully designed our solutions so as to produce a positive and measurable impact on the working lives of your employees, your managers, and the organisation as a whole. Having already had more than thirty years of experience, Softworks has built for itself a reputation as a reliable partner, enabling organisations all over the world to:

• Streamline processes
• Increase productivity
• Effectively reduce costs through info-driven expert management
• Hone scheduling/rostering
• Optimise workforce resources

We attain this by providing flexible and intuitive solutions which include Time & Attendance, Scheduling/eRostering, Flexible and Remote Working, HR, Absence Management Software, Project Tracking, and most importantly Building Access Control.

Integrated Systems for Optimal Operational Oversight

The fully integrated workforce management systems that we provide enable organisations to achieve important efficiencies, guarantee strong compliance, cut down on expensive errors, and greatly enhance their internal reporting abilities. These main benefits are all obtained alongside a clear commitment to maintaining a safe and positive working environment for all employees. Our aim is to help your organisation secure a tangible competitive advantage both at the present time and in the future.

Scaleable Building Access Control Systems for All Businesses

The access control systems offered by Softworks Building are a key part of our integrated workforce management range, providing a centralised and automated way of handling physical security that is fully connected to your main HR and timekeeping data. Our System Integration removes data silos so that access permissions and authorisation rights are always current and are based on the employee’s present user profile, user credentials, and work schedule. The BACS solution automates the processes involved in authorising, monitoring, reporting on, and managing access to your premises, thus getting rid of outdated, fragmented and inefficient security practices. Furthermore, by replacing old entry methods such as traditional keys or manual logbooks with an advanced digital solution that uses encrypted RFID access card technology, you lower the risks to your valuable assets and get rid of the time-consuming administrative work.

Enhance Security with Softworks Building Access Control Systems

Security that is adequate is something that every modern organisation needs. Softworks’ Building Access Control Systems are designed specifically to authorise access, keep an eye on it, produce reports on it, and carefully manage access at all Entry/Exit Points. Protect your assets by making sure that only authorised people are allowed to enter your premises while at the same time controlling movement in sensitive or restricted areas.

We provide a strong, adjustable and completely integrated method of facilities management and security, going well beyond basic entry control to offer full, end-to-end protection for both your employees and your business assets.

Flexible Security Solutions for Every Business

Your solutions are very customizable and have been designed so as to manage those individuals who enter and leave your premises, as well as to give accurate control over access to restricted areas in your building. Access can be granted according to predefined user profiles, authentication rules, and the relevant approvals—this being an essential step for protecting client confidentiality and sensitive information. Entry can be limited to particular zones, for example R&D labs, depending on the employee’s required clearance. The flexibility of our solutions makes them the foundation of an effective Role-Based Access Control (RBAC). We provide a wide variety of access management technologies which have been designed to meet any security requirement.

Biometric Systems

In cases where the highest standards of security and absolute accuracy are required, biometric systems and biometric authentication basically remove the possibility of unauthorized access, thus eliminating the serious security risks linked to “buddy punching”. The systems we offer include:

• Fingerprint Scanners, incorporating a high-accuracy Fingerprint Scanner for secure identity verification.
• Our terminals are capable of carrying out real-time facial detection and facial recognition, even in cases where people are wearing face masks. Thanks to their powerful CPU and the most recent computer vision technology, they can handle up to 30,000 facial templates and achieve a face recognition speed of less than 0.3 seconds per face.
• For the detection of fever as part of important health monitoring.
• There is advanced anti-spoofing technology designed to guard against attacks using fake photos and videos.
• Hand Punch Clocks which use biometric identity verification based on hand shape and size to provide reliable and highly secure access.

Proximity and PIN Terminals

These methods are efficient and easy to use, which is why they are suitable for situations in which employees need quick and frequent access. The terminals make use of a variety of technologies such as:

• Access Card/Key Fob Card Readers can provide access by using a Card Reader or a Proximity Sensor in conjunction with Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), simply by tapping an Access Card or Key Fob.
• Magnetic Strip provides a traditional yet effective means of access control.
• MIFARE and bar codes offer versatile possibilities for secure access.
• The PIN Pad Entry method improves security by asking employees to input a unique code on the PIN Pad, and this is often used together with Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)/Multi-factor authentication and an Access Card.

Access readers can be positioned either inside or outside as a way of improving overall control, and Access Cards can include photo identification as an extra security measure.

Access Control Panels & Hardware

Our access control solutions are handled using an Access Control Panel and a Door Controller, which connect to a variety of physical barriers, Door Position Indicator (DPI) sensors, Request-to-Exit (REX) Device hardware, Magnetic Lock (Maglock) units, and Electric Strike mechanisms in order to provide full physical security. The network infrastructure supports communication through standard protocols including Wiegand Protocol and OSDP (Open Supervised Device Protocol) with encrypted communication.

Softworks solutions seamlessly integrate with a range of entrance control hardware, including:

• Swing Barriers provide barrier-free access by having adjustable swing widths and are made from SUS304 stainless steel for exceptional durability; their smooth and quiet operation is compatible with RFID and fingerprint scanners.
• Flap Barriers are equipped with anti-pinch features in order to protect your workforce from getting injured, they operate on direct current for improved reliability, and they have alarm systems in the case of unauthorised entry attempts.
• Full-height turnstiles and tripod turnstiles offer bi-directional access control with anti-passback and tailgating prevention features, making them suitable for use in high-security areas. They are essential for managing crowd capacity and provide options for RFID, fingerprint scanner, and multi-biometric integration.
• Parking barriers can be used to control traffic and manage vehicle access through the use of a parking barrier control system, with high security being achieved at checkpoints and at the entrances to restricted areas by means of reliable electromechanical systems.

• The hardware available is very versatile and includes a wide variety of pedestrian hardware such as tripod turnstiles, full-height turnstiles, and biometric swing or flap barriers, together with vehicle parking barrier control.
• For advanced authentication, the system integrates smoothly with biometric readers—such as those that use facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and vein recognition—as well as with RFID access card systems, proximity cards, and secure PIN Pad hardware.
• For the protection of assets and data, access to the main premises and to the high-security areas is restricted so that the valuable equipment and sensitive data may remain protected.
• In terms of health and safety, the system tracks real-time occupancy in order to facilitate quicker emergency evacuations and to immediately keep account of all the personnel on site.
• Real-time reporting produces verifiable audit trails, activity logs, time-banded access schedules, and exception reports which immediately identify attempts at unauthorized entry.
• Perfect integration: The system can function on its own or link directly to Softworks’ broader Workforce Management suite, fully complementing the Time & Attendance and Employee Scheduling modules.

In the end, Softworks gives you complete control of your facilities, thus safeguarding the organization’s assets while at the same time ensuring workplace safety and improving operational efficiency.

A biometric access control system is one that Softworks provides, consisting of advanced systems which use unique physical characteristics—such as fingerprints, facial features, and palm veins—in order to strictly authorize, monitor, and manage access to buildings and restricted areas. Since physical credentials are replaced by these systems, the security risks associated with lost access cards or ‘buddy punching’ are eliminated, and the following four main capabilities are offered:

• The system uses deep-learning algorithms for facial recognition to verify users in less than 0.3 seconds and includes contactless thermal temperature screening as well as mask detection in order to improve workplace safety.
• Fingerprint Recognition does so by turning the fine details of a fingerprint, as captured by a Fingerprint Scanner, into secure digital templates in order that authentication may be both quick and perfect.
• Integrated Physical Barriers: This includes linking readers with physical hardware such as biometric swing barriers, flap barriers, and turnstiles.
• Real-time audit and reporting provides verifiable audit trails, records of door or area access, and exception reports which instantly identify attempts at unauthorized entry.

Softworks Biometric Access Control is available as an On-Premise System, as a Cloud-Based Solution, or in the form of a Cloud access control setup, and it integrates smoothly with the wider Softworks Workforce Management suite in order to support both Time & Attendance and Employee Scheduling systems, thus ensuring maximum facility security and operational efficiency.

Key Benefits of Building Access Control Systems

The installation of Softworks’ Building Access Control Systems provides a wide range of benefits which go well beyond that of ordinary, conventional security. Our strong and flexible systems are able to make a significant difference to efficiency, giving you better organisational control and a favourable employee experience. We have developed a range of interconnected systems aimed at delivering real advantages that give power to your business.

Flexibility to Suit Your Organisation’s Needs

The flexibility that our solutions provide enables employees to gain access to secured areas using a variety of methods. Using either the same Access Card or the Mobile access control app, employees are able to clock in and enter areas that are appropriate for their work, thus helping to simplify your internal procedures. In the case of organisations in which employees do not clock in, we suggest using biometric readers such as Access Cards or Fingerprint Scanners. This kind of essential flexibility makes sure that the system is fully suited to your specific operational needs.

Comprehensive Integration with Workforce Management Systems

One of the key advantages of Softworks’ Building Access Control Systems is its built-in integration with our full range of Workforce Management Solutions and Building Management System. This ensures a seamless connection with:

• For time and attendance, the same user credentials (either an access card or biometrics) must be used both when clocking in and when accessing the building.
• In terms of scheduling, it is necessary to make sure that Time-Based Access permits only those staff members who are scheduled to work to enter the premises or particular areas at the specified times.
• In human resources management, employee profiles are used to grant access rights, to manage personnel information, and to connect access data with the general HR records.
• Managing absences: ensuring that everyone’s on-site status is known for reasons related to security and safety, and allowing access to be revoked immediately when necessary.

The System Integration that is native to our system eliminates data duplication, reduces errors, and offers a single, real-time ecosystem for the management of your workforce and facilities.

Verifiable and Auditable Control (Audit Trails)

Softworks offers full, verifiable, and auditable control over access to your organisation’s facilities. It produces a verifiable Audit Trail and Activity Logs which carefully document who accessed which areas and when. This feature is very useful for internal monitoring, for meeting the requirements of external compliance audits, and for investigating security incidents, thus ensuring transparency and accountability. The detailed records available from the Access Control Panel make it simple to produce and examine audit trails.

Multi-Company, Multi-Site Availability

Our Building Access Control Systems are designed to offer multi-company and multi-site availability for large organisations which have a number of locations or separate entities, enabling Centralised Management and Remote Access throughout your whole operational area.

Detailed Personnel Information & Visitor Management

Key contact details are stored by the system for every person who has access to your premises, with a Visitor Management System (VMS) being used to manage employees, contractors, and visitors. The centralised data is important for having quick access to it, for emergency contacts, for visitor management, and for thorough record-keeping.

Exception Reports & Intrusion Detection

Our system actively identifies exceptions and violations by incorporating Intrusion Detection, Alarm Integration, and Video Surveillance Integration/Video surveillance monitoring; it can detect the use of non-standard badges or attempts to bypass the access rules. Alerts generated in this way allow for an immediate investigation and response to possible security breaches.

Improved Efficiency and Reduced Administrative Burden

Automating your building access management system will greatly cut down the administrative burden associated with handling keys, keeping records of manual entries, and dealing with the constant flow of access requests. This in turn saves valuable staff time so that your teams can concentrate on more important tasks. The integrated and flexible access solution that Softworks offers enables organisations to improve their security, smooth out their operations, and use the important data they have to make informed decisions, thus boosting overall business performance.

Ensure Safety & Compliance with Our Building Access Control Systems

For responsible businesses, particularly those operating in regulated sectors, it is a must to ensure the safety of their employees and to maintain strict compliance with changing legislation. The Softworks Building Access Control Systems are designed with the aim of improving security and at the same time helping to create a safer working environment by firmly adhering to complex regulations.

Our systems are meticulously engineered to:

Enhance Safety Assurance

Safety assurance and compliance management are essential aspects of facilities management, and our access control solutions greatly enhance safety by:

Emergency Evacuation Support

If there is an emergency such as a fire alarm, Softworks Access Control can be directly connected to your fire alarm system and to the various building systems. This System Integration allows for an immediate and accurate roll call to show precisely who is registered on the premises and where their last known position was. The system is also capable of initiating an Emergency Lockdown when a threat is detected. The Softworks client Aran Biomedical found this to be very useful for working out who was inside or outside and where they had last swiped during an evacuation.

Control and Monitor Sensitive Areas for Health & Safety

The system can be employed in order to control access to and keep an eye on what is going on in sensitive or dangerous areas for health and safety reasons, thus making it possible to ensure that only properly trained and authorized personnel are there. For example, Bon Secours Hospital uses our Access Management system on a day-to-day basis to track its staff, verifying both their presence and location whether they are inside or outside the hospital (within the organisation’s boundaries). This contributes to high levels of compliance with health and safety regulations and has now become a key element of the organisation’s Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).

Robust Regulatory Compliance

There is a legal obligation on employers to maintain accurate records and to take all reasonable steps to make sure that working hours are in line with the relevant legislation, for example the European Working Time Directive; and if they cannot demonstrate compliance they may face heavy fines and legal problems. Softworks incorporates these rules directly into the system, thus providing protection for:

• Compliance with working time rules means that employees can only have their shifts assigned to them and be given access if their working times are in line with the legislation; managers are given proactive alerts whenever working hours violate the legal requirements, which allows for immediate investigation and corrective action to be taken.
• The records in question—covering all working time and attendance, such as the Access Control Panel Activity Logs—are all kept in one central system, which makes it easy to produce reports and show compliance when audits take place. In the case of salaried employees, honour-based timesheets can be used to show that compliance has been achieved in a non-intrusive way.

Upholding Data Security and Privacy (GDPR Compliance)

Because access control and HR data are such a sensitive matter, Softworks places a strong emphasis on security and privacy. The organisation’s systems are certified to ISO 27001 and ISO 9001, which means that they provide encrypted communication and that our information security practices satisfy the highest international standards, including full compliance with the GDPR. This comprises:

• Data encryption should be used to ensure that all data when it is being transmitted and when it is stored is protected against possible breaches.
• The system includes strong access control features which allow control to be exercised over who can access particular data, together with detailed audit trails (audit logs) which record all activities relating to the data.
• We are in favour of having open communication regarding data collection, data storage, and data use, especially in relation to GPS tracking in the mobile clocking feature, in order to gain the trust of employees.

Proactive Alerts and 3D/2D Building Visualisation

The Building Access Control System includes an Alerter module which remains continuously active and can issue notifications when there may be a breach of security. By means of advanced features like 3D or 2D building visualisation, you are able to set up alarms for particular doors or zones, thus gaining a more detailed view of your premises and receiving immediate warnings upon any unauthorised access. Moreover, Door Access Schedules are available so that access permissions to individual areas can be pre-arranged for specific time periods, enabling a granular level of Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).

Building Access Control Systems for Every Business

The access control systems offered by Softworks Building provide a complete solution which secures your premises and assets and at the same time actively protects your employees while making sure that your organisation stays fully in compliance with all applicable safety and workforce regulations. This all-round method gives you real peace of mind so that you can concentrate on your main objectives whilst Softworks looks after the complexities involved in safety and compliance.

Invest in your Organisation’s Security

The decision to invest in Softworks Building Access Control Systems is a strategic one and provides a clear return on investment; it enables you to operate more efficiently, guarantee strong regulatory compliance, and considerably reduce workforce risks. By using Softworks’ Building Access Control Systems, which are specifically designed for your business, you can create a positive working environment for your most important resource—your people. We encourage you to find out how Softworks can change your method of managing building access and security, bringing about lasting and beneficial effects for your organisation and your employees.

To experience firsthand the transformative potential of our solutions, we encourage you to Book a Demo with our expert team today!