ShareUnderstanding multi-factor authentication and how it can work for your campus
Today, schools’ doors are primarily secured by traditional metal lock ‘n keys and low frequency (aka 125 kHz) card-based access control systems. With the recent media hype about low frequency card readers being easily hacked, schools are now being encouraged to upgrade their low-frequency card readers to higher frequency 13.56 MHz (also known as smart card technology) which are far more difficult to hack. But will smart card technology really improve a school’s security? Are there “smarter” alternatives?
This article discusses the security flaws of smart card technology and how layering security achieves a far safer school environment and better ROI.
Evolution of Access Control Technology
Where did it all begin and where are we today?
Traditional metal lock ‘n key systems. Still today, most doors in schools are secured with a metal lock ‘n key door handle. The primary reason is because metal keys are very cheap and light weight which makes them easy to carry. However, metal keys are also very easy to copy and share with unauthorized parties. It’s also near impossible to know who exactly is in possession of the keys.
If discovered there was an impropriety in the school, lock ‘n key systems don’t provide a door-entry audit trail. So, its near impossible to determine who is guilty of the impropriety (unless you have a surveillance camera pointed at every door in the school and don’t mind searching through hours of recorded video). So how do you address the problem of unauthorized parties copying keys and not having a door-entry audit trail?
Barcode and Magnetic stripe badge readers. These type credentials are cheap while being more difficult to copy than metal keys. Since barcode and magnetic stripe readers work with electronic access control systems, an audit trail is produced which allows security personnel to identify who accessed a door and when. However, just like metal keys, barcode and mag stripe badges can still be shared with unauthorized parties.
This article originally appeared in the March/April 2019 issue of Campus Security & Life Safety.
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