Benefits of Centralized and Standalone Access Control Systems

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 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.

4 Benefits of Centralized Access Control Systems

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:

1. Enhanced convenience and flexibility — individuals can enter all your properties using a single smart card or another identifier.
2. Greater efficiency — a centralized system streamlines the property management process by consolidating all access control operations into a single platform.
3. Saved costs — you only need one system to manage all locations, which is easier to implement and maintain.
4. Future-proofed implementation — a centralized ACS is simpler to update and expand with extra functionality.

5 Benefits of Standalone Access Control Systems

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:

1. Increased autonomy — a standalone ACS offers individual control over each access point or facility.
2. Enhanced security — protect your locations better since each access point uses different control panels and security devices.
3. Greater scalability — add new access points like door locks or gates whenever needed.
4. Simplified implementation — since a standalone access control system uses a local database and doesn’t necessarily rely on complex infrastructure, it’s relatively simple to set up.
5. Legacy infrastructure compatibility — standalone ACSs offer compatibility advantages for businesses with their security systems deployed.

Standalone vs. Centralized: Which Is Better?

As you can see, centralized and standalone access control systems offer unique benefits 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.

How to Choose the Right System?

You should consider several factors to make the right choice. Here are a few suggestions:

• Size of your company. Smaller businesses or organizations with limited access points may choose a standalone system as an easily manageable solution. Larger businesses with multiple facilities may benefit from centralized access control.
• Security requirements. Businesses have different security needs following their operational scope, the sensitive assets protected, or industry regulations. For example, consider if your ACS should support biometric authentication and integrations like alarm systems and surveillance cameras.
• Scalability. Standalone ACSs are often more easily scalable, allowing businesses to add access points with minimal disruption. Centralized systems, while typically scalable as well, may require a more comprehensive approach to ensure smooth expansion.
• Budget. Evaluate your budget for purchasing and setting up the ACS. Your other considerations include ongoing costs for maintenance, system updates, and scaling.
• Ease of use. The electronic access control system’s user-friendliness is also a critical factor. Choose ACSs with intuitive control panels and easy-to-understand functionalities.

Hybrid Approach: How to Combine These Systems?

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.

WebbyLab Experience with Access Control Systems

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:

• Cloud-Based Solution

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.

• Private Cloud SaaS Solution

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.

• Standalone Solution

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:

• Public Cloud Service

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.

• Private ACS Installations in the Cloud

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.

• Private Standalone Installations

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:

• Wi-Fi
• Ethernet
• GSM

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.

• Controller as an Independent Mini ACS

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.

Choose Propuskator as Your Access Control System

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. 

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.