According to Forbes, Americans invest over $20 billion yearly in home security systems. Even more so, businesses require a comprehensive approach to protect their assets. One such is leveraging standalone or centralized access control systems — essential components of modern security frameworks.
If you’re looking to safeguard your property, learning the difference of standalone and centralized modern access control systems and their benefits is necessary. That’s why WebbyLab has prepared this in-depth guide for you.
Having worked on access control systems like Propuskator, our team has relevant expertise to help you aund.
ACS & remote controller
Let’s start our guide with centralized ACSs. These solutions suggest managing several properties, access points, and permissions through a unified platform. The benefits of centralized access control systems include:
In contrast to centralized ACSs, a standalone one is a self-reliant security solution, meaning it operates independently from the centralized server or network connection. The benefits of standalone access control systems are as follows:
As you can see, centralized and standalone access control systems offer unique benefits of IOT-based MVP that cater to different requirements and scenarios. Let’s explore the use cases where one may be more suitable than the other.
Types of businesses that use access control systems.
Standalone ACSs work well for businesses that have increased autonomy and customization requirements. These solutions are also suitable for companies that need flexibility in their security measures, e.g., implementing different security strategies across multiple locations. Additionally, these access control systems will benefit organizations looking for cost-effective solutions that are easy to scale and compatible with legacy infrastructure.
Conversely, centralized systems are perfect for businesses emphasizing mobility, convenience, and operational efficiency. They will work well for companies with several locations where a unified ACS streamlines management. These solutions will also be the right fit for organizations that require frequent, hassle-free system updates.
Evaluate access control systems benefits and consider which ones align with your business requirements best. Keep reading this post to explore more tips on choosing the right solution for your organization.
You should consider several factors to make the right choice. Here are a few suggestions:
Combining the standalone and centralized access control systems benefits, a hybrid approach offers a powerful solution that can satisfy diverse security needs. Here’s how it works.
Businesses integrate standalone ACSs with a centralized management platform to control all locations in one place. They also establish a unified database handled by the centralized system. Additionally, a hybrid approach involves synchronizing facility/door access permissions between the centralized ACS and standalone access control panels.
The Propuskator access control system’s controllers assembled by WebbyLab.
Let’s explore WebbyLab’s experience in developing and implementing access control systems following our Propuskator project.
In ACSs, knowing where the data is stored and who has access to it is fundamental. Within the Propuskator access control and management system, there are three possible options:
In this option, the client registers on the public cloud service and connects their access points. End users, in turn, can leverage the system as long as they have an Internet connection.
The advantage of this approach is the stable operation of the cloud provided by the vendor or service managing the ACS cloud infrastructure. It’s also the easiest way for the client to set up the access control system. In addition, there is no need to worry about the availability of the ACS.
Among the disadvantages, in such an option, all customer data will be stored in one place, and the provider and vendor have access to them. If intruders can access the system through some users, the security of other users is also jeopardized.
As in the previous case, this option involves the client accessing the cloud. Yet, the system is installed specifically for them. Only they, their devices, and end users can work with the ACS.
What are the benefits of an access control system? This approach offers the same advantages as a public cloud-based solution. However, there are additional expenses for setting up a private instance and the need for its ongoing payment. In this case, the cloud infrastructure cost cannot be shared between all clients. Instead, it’s paid for by the owner of the private infrastructure.
It’s the case when the cloud infrastructure provider is not involved in the installation, and the client independently chooses where to host the system. Available options include a private cloud server, a physical server on-site, or in the ACS vendor’s infrastructure.
In such an approach, infrastructure maintenance is handled by the client or the vendor, and the failure probability is much higher. It’s also necessary to provide separate storage for backups, data rotation, or server scaling when the load increases or when more memory is needed. In addition to the infrastructure, it’s essential to provide network access to the server with the system so that devices and users can use it.
Despite the above disadvantages and advantages, each option is viable and suitable for certain use cases. Here are some of those that our Propuskator ACS offers:
Anyone can register on our cloud.propuskator.com service, connect their devices, configure ACS, and add users.
The login page of WebbyLab’s Propuskator public cloud ACS.
If the client leverages the system stably and in sufficient volume, they will receive a monthly payment for using the service. For this option, we, as the owners of the access control solution, provide 100% lifetime and constant availability for all customers.
Clients typically opt for this format when connecting a limited number of users and devices, such as small apartment buildings or individual sections of residential complexes. It is also an excellent choice for exploring the product’s capabilities before deciding on another model.
In this case, we deploy, configure, and maintain a private instance of the access control system. The pricing model is identical to the previous option, but we add the launch and setup costs to the total price.
This digital solution is ideal for larger facilities or ACS distributors operating within their infrastructure. Such customers are usually housing estates or associations with a relatively large number of residents and access points.
Following our instructions, the client can independently launch and configure the system on their server. It ensures that the client has control over data access and device management. We implemented this scenario for a private residential complex with numerous residential and household buildings.
As for devices, clients can use the following controller versions for all three Propuskator options:
For maximum centralization, an RS-485 connection is suitable. It’s necessary to preserve backups and rotation for centralized ACS. Storing the backups on another server or disk is better.
In this scenario, users leverage the Propuskator controller as an independent mini ACS. They can add access points to the controller’s memory and manage access using the 2Smart Standalone platform. The 2Smart Cloud mobile app enables remote access control, and multiple users can share the device for collaborative management.
The drawback of this solution is the lack of device synchronization. Adding a new access point or removing access for a specific user needs to be done separately on each device. However, this option is subscription-free and well-suited for B2C applications, such as individual homes with 2-3 access points or small offices.
Selecting the right access control technology is crucial to ensure the security of your company’s assets. And standalone or centralized access control systems can help with that significantly.Â
One such ACS is our Propuskator solution, offering public or private cloud-based and standalone deployment options. If you want to fully leverage the access control systems benefits, you can always contact WebbyLab for consultation. Our team will be eager to assist you in setup, customization, and system maintenance.
Written by:
Head of IoT at Webbylab
With a robust academic background in Telecommunication Systems Engineering, I apply my knowledge to lead innovations in the IoT domain. Starting as the first team member in the newly formed IoT department at WebbyLab, I've spearheaded its growth, fostering the expansion into embedded and hardware development alongside our core software projects. My dedication lies in pushing the boundaries of IoT technology, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence that profoundly impacts our clients' operational success.
As the name suggests, centralized ACSs involve centralized management of all locations. In contrast, standalone solutions work independently, allowing businesses to control access to each facility separately.
Both centralized and decentralized access control systems can be secure if implemented correctly. The level of security mostly depends on the measures that businesses apply: fingerprint or other biometric authentication methods, a door access card or other identifiers, the availability of alarm monitoring and video surveillance, etc.
It’s impossible to state that any of these systems (centralized or standalone) is better. It depends on your business requirements, and both options are viable.
WebbyLab can tackle any access control system challenges: guidance on the right ACS selection, deployment in different locations, integration with existing infrastructure, and more. We have a profound background owing to our Propuskator project and can leverage best practices to ensure the protection of your assets.
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