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Integrated, mobile access control

Access control is a vital aspect of estate security. It facilitates entry for registered residents, part-time workers, and contractors, and offers a sense of comfort to residents who wish to regulate the people entering their premises in the most convenient manner possible.

SMART Security Solutions spoke to SA Technologies and Entry-Pro, two of the leading access providers in South Africa, to learn more about what is happening in the estate access world and what the companies offer the residential estate market. Bronwen Momberg from SA Technologies and Brett Wray from Entry-Pro answered our questions.

SMART Security Solutions: What security features are important to estates regarding access control at the main entrance(s)?

Momberg: Estates prioritise a variety of security features to ensure comprehensive access control at their main entrances:

• Authentication methods: Estates benefit from using multiple authentication methods, such as biometrics, cards, PINs, NFC technology, and rolling QR codes. These options enhance security by providing various ways to verify identities.

• Licence plate recognition (LPR): LPR is essential for monitoring and managing vehicular access, ensuring that only authorised vehicles enter the premises.

• Integration with surveillance: Seamless integration with surveillance systems is crucial, enabling real-time monitoring and recording of entry points.

• Auditable logs: Maintaining both onsite and offsite auditable logs is vital for transparency and accountability, helping to track all access events.

• Cloud technology and encryption: Utilising cloud technology ensures real-time updates and accessibility, while encryption protects sensitive data from unauthorised access.

Wray: Some important features are listed below:

• Authentication methods: Our clients use multiple authentication methods to accommodate resident diversity and preferences. Biometrics, cards and PINs are the most commonly used methods.

• Licence plate recognition (LPR): LPR is becoming more essential in managing vehicles within the estate and ensuring that no stolen vehicles enter or exit the estate.

• Integration with surveillance: Surveillance cameras are placed throughout the estate to monitor vehicle movement, including tracking and recording. This system also serves as a speed control mechanism, as many estates have implemented speed limits, with associated fines for speeding.

• Auditable logs: All Entry Pro’s multiple logs/reports are auditable and available by accessing the online system. This is a critical feature for estate management, not only for data analysis, but also for security intelligence and advancements.

• Cloud technology and encryption: Cloud technology has been the go-to storage platform for a while. It offers many benefits, including stability, security, cost efficiency, automation, support for multiple users, convenience, and various other uses with built-in encryption.

SMART Security Solutions: Are estates still happy with audio intercoms, or has video become more important when contacting residents?

Momberg: Video intercom systems have become increasingly important compared to traditional audio-only systems. Video allows residents to visually verify visitors, enhancing security. Modern systems often include features like smartphone apps for streamlined visitor management, which integrate with estate access control technologies. These apps enable residents to manage access remotely, and provide temporary access codes to visitors.

Wray: The bigger estates no longer use intercom communications between residents and guards. Quite a few smaller complexes still use intercom (both with or without video) communication with an SMS feature for codes to assist with the elimination of the need for a guard. Apps are the most widely used form of access control for bigger estates due to their versatility and the incorporation of additional features to assist estate management.

SMART Security Solutions: Is contractor management still a contentious issue, or do visitor management systems have the functionality to handle contractors differently from ‘normal’ visitors?

Momberg: Contractor management remains a critical issue for many estates. Advanced visitor management systems now offer functionalities to handle contractors separately from regular visitors. These systems allow for creating specific access codes and schedules, ensuring contractors have entry only during approved times, thus enhancing security and operational efficiency.

Wray: Contractor management is possibly the most significant security risk, as multiple vehicles/people enter and leave throughout the day. Contractor management is definitely a little different from visitor management due to the additional security risk they pose, with various additional criteria that need to be adhered to, but it still falls under the access control management banner and runs parallel to visitor management.

SMART Security Solutions: For access systems of any nature, do estates require customisable systems to meet their particular requirements, or do they use off-the-shelf systems and adapt to the system?

Momberg: Flexibility and customisation are vital considerations for estates when choosing access systems. Estates often require systems that can be tailored to their specific needs, rather than adapting to off-the-shelf solutions. Customisable systems that offer flexibility, scalability, and interoperability are preferred, as they can be adjusted to meet unique security requirements and accommodate future growth.

Wray: The days of using off-the-shelf products for estate management are gone. Estate managers need the flexibility to add custom fields to their system. With visitor management becoming more security-focused, new concerns may arise that the system needs to adapt to. Scalability is crucial, allowing estates to start with basic features and gradually use more advanced ones as they expand.

SMART Security Solutions: We mentioned encryption above. How important is it to an estate to adhere to regulations like PoPIA and to ensure all data transfers and storage are encrypted?

Momberg: Adherence to regulations such as PoPIA is extremely important for estates. Ensuring that all data transfers and storage are encrypted is critical for maintaining privacy and security. Estates focus on complying with these regulations to protect sensitive information and avoid potential legal repercussions. Secure data management practices are essential for maintaining trust and integrity.

Wray: Good service providers for visitor management will always ensure their data is encrypted. However, some establishments may not have adequate secure data encryption. With the PoPIA Act, these establishments are responsible for ensuring compliance, instead of relying solely on the service provider to be compliant.

SMART Security Solutions: Has smart integration (in other words, easy integration that doesn’t require a lot of software development and technical expertise) become a standard request in estates?

Momberg: Smart integration has indeed become a standard request. Estates seek systems that can easily integrate with their existing security and IoT infrastructure, without requiring extensive technical expertise. The ability to unify various security and IoT systems into a single interface enhances operational efficiency and security management, making smart integration a highly valued feature.

Wray: It makes sense to have a single interface to access data or information, without relying on different platforms. This also reduces delays in accessing information, especially during urgent incidents.

SMART Security Solutions: What solutions/services does your company offer estates?

Momberg: SA Technologies (SATEC) offers a comprehensive range of solutions specifically designed to meet the security needs of estates:

• IntelliGuard System: Our flagship product, IntelliGuard, is an advanced intercom and access control system tailored for smaller townhouse complexes and estates. It offers a modern approach to traditional intercom systems, with key features such as:

• Smartphone integration: Residents can use the IntelliGuard app for NFC access, rolling QR codes, and remote gate control, providing a seamless and convenient user experience.

• Visitor management: The system allows residents to generate and schedule booking codes, which can be sent to visitors via WhatsApp or SMS. Additionally, visitors can initiate a video call from the IntelliGuard reader for real- time authentication.

• Identification scanning: IntelliGuard supports scanning South African driver’s licences and SmartID cards, enhancing security by ensuring accurate visitor verification.

• Guardless functionality: IntelliGuard’s advanced features enable estates to operate efficiently without needing onsite security guards. The system’s robust visitor management and authentication processes provide high security and control, reducing reliance on physical security personnel and associated costs.

• Cloud-based management: Our solutions leverage cloud technology for real-time updates and secure data storage. This ensures compliance with regulations such as PoPIA, protecting sensitive information through robust encryption.

• Customisable solutions: We understand that each estate has unique security needs. IntelliGuard is highly customisable, allowing for tailored configurations that meet specific requirements. The system is also scalable, making it suitable for estates of various sizes and capable of growing with the estate’s needs.

• Smart integration: IntelliGuard is designed to easily integrate existing security and IoT systems, enabling estates to unify their security infrastructure into a single interface, without requiring extensive technical expertise.

• Support and maintenance: SA Technologies provides comprehensive support services, including training for estate staff and ongoing maintenance, to ensure the IntelliGuard system operates at peak performance and meets all security needs effectively.

By offering these advanced solutions and services, SA Technologies aims to enhance estates’ security, convenience, and operational efficiency, positioning IntelliGuard as the premier choice for modern access control and visitor management.

Wray: Entry Pro provides resident, visitor, contractor, domestic and delivery management, and more.

For more information contact

• Entry Pro, +27 11 267 0720, [email protected], www.entrypro.co.za

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