Like many new technologies, intercom systems have gone through numerous changes since first appearing on the market. While intercom systems were once utilized primarily by businesses and apartment buildings, they’re commonly used for individual homes these days. As these systems have become more affordable over the years and have also added more and more options that have been useful for residential homes.

The addition of video is one of the most critical changes in intercom technology. You can now see the person at the door without them seeing you, and not only when the audio is activated. You can monitor your entry doors without anyone knowing you’re looking. This is perfect for homes where you have kids. Kids can now easily recognize the person standing at the door before attempting to unlock them.

Home intercom systems now offer features that let you monitor rooms inside your home as well, with the ability to check audio and video. You can play music through your intercom system, letting you enjoy the benefits of a home-wide audio system. There are various systems for these, so make sure you check out with your local vendor on the many functions of the video intercom systems.

Video intercom system can be installed at entry doors as well as property gates. Those installed at gates can come with the option of remote or automated entry. Remote entry can be initiated with a gate remote, and with some of the more expensive intercom systems, you can use your cell phone to remotely open the gate. Gates can be installed with automatic relocking mechanisms, removing the need to exit your vehicle when entering or leaving your property.

All additional lines of security that can be added to your home will help you ensure the safety of your home and belongings, but more importantly, of yourself and your loved ones. Criminals these days hardly distinguish their prey, they do not care if you’re a single mother with toddlers in the house, nor do they care if you are eight or nine months pregnant. Criminals are criminals who will enter and rob you regardless of your social standing. That is why, all homes must have a good set of security system in place.

Controlling who enters a business is a major concern for everyone these days. With all the traffic that can occur on a daily basis at even a medium sized or small business, it can be very difficult for businesses to keep track of who comes and goes. If you operate a business with multiple doors to the building, access control is an even more critical concern for the overall security of your business as well as you’re the safety of your employees while on the job.

Access Control Systems can range in complexity from a simple card reading system to a multi-level access control system with comprehensive software and multiple components controlling access to external as well as internal doorways.

Simple card reading systems are commonly used by businesses that have fewer worries over security precautions, while businesses that are larger in size or deal frequently with confidential or risky information may do much better with a more complex, multi-level access control system.

Smart Chip Technology is another option available with access control systems, and allows entry to anyone who carries the proper card, fob or device. While card reading systems require the user to run a card through a card reader, similar to swiping a credit card, smart chip technology takes advantage of RF (radio frequency) scanning technology. The person carrying the smart chip device can simply approach the RF scanning device and the entry door will unlock after the RF scanner registers the presence of the chip.

Multi-level access control systems can include both smart chip technology as well as card reading components. The access system would be managed through a comprehensive software program that allows you to assign access profiles to all of your employees. These systems allow you to determine who can enter your building, but it also allows you to designate access within your facility. You can provide certain employees access to particular areas of your building, while restricting the access of other employees. These systems are critical to the operation of any facility that requires any degree of security clearance measures are in place on a daily basis, including medical facilities, hospitals, laboratories, certain manufacturing facilities or any business that must follow particular governmentally regulated safety protocols.

If you operate a business, you are certainly concerned over who has access to your business. One of the most simple security measures you can put in place is a card reader access control system. Card reading systems allow you to assign access to a card and then assign that card to your employee. The employee then swipes the card through a reader box at the entry door, similar to the manner in which you might swipe a credit card through the credit card reader at the store.

Card swipe access control systems are more secure and easier to administer than the more traditional method of providing employees keys to your business. If you have a number of employees, giving them keys to your building would be a serious security risk and would come with a very hefty price tag to maintain. Just one employee losing a key or leaving the job without returning a key means you would have a security issue on your hands. The expense of having the locks changed can become costly, considering you have to not only change out the locks, but you would have to distribute new keys to all employees as well.

Card swipe systems allow you to easily deactivate a single card if lost, stolen or not returned by a former employee. You don’t have to spend the money to change any locks, have new keys made or assign those new keys to your employees.

Card readers can be installed at any door in your building, which means you can use them to control the entry doors to the building, but you can also use them for doors inside your business as well, to limit access to particular parts of your business.

Card readers can record information to a computer software that can pump out reports for you regarding who has been where in your business, and when they have been there. This is helpful information to have at your fingertips if any type of theft does occur and an employee may be at fault.

Card swipe systems can make your employees feel a little more at ease also. You and your employees can rest assured that access to the facility is limited to those with the proper entry card.