An access control card is simply a card that acts parallel with an access control system, allowing and restricting access as needed. Typically, most access control cards are about the size of a credit card or driving license. However, the term access control card can also be regarded as a generic catch-all for various access control cards. For instance, if one wishes to allow access to specific areas such as a secured parking garage, one would have a ‘parking’ card. Thus, the card would allow access to the garage but not to the rest of the building.
In recent years, there has been an increase in access control cards as facilities increasingly use such devices. It is in this context that one must understand how access control cards work. Generally, these cards work on a straightforward principle: they are swiped onto the reader at the access control terminal. Once swiped, the card reader digitally encrypts the data transmitted to it and encrypts the information again before sending it to the central database. At this point, the data is checked against all pre-existing software and policies.
One of the functions of access control cards is to restrict access to specific areas of a facility. It may be used to gain access to restricted areas or perhaps to monitor and control the activities of employees. This is often necessary for security systems where certain areas are off-limits to non-staff members. For example, access control cards might be placed at bus stops to prevent people from carrying harmful articles into the facility and security systems where cameras are used to track shoplifters.
There are also other uses for access control cards, though. For example, some facilities use proximity cards as means of identification, which lets staff know who is entering and exiting certain areas. Thus, if someone has already gained access into a restricted area, rather than asking for identification through a smart card, they are asked to use proximity cards.
The most common way of storing data on magnetic stripe access control cards, called magnetic stripe readers, is to combine the data with an encryption algorithm. This is usually done on the backside of the magnetic stripe so that only the card’s owner can read it. However, with today’s advanced security measures, the threat of unauthorized access is minimal. Most modern readers are equipped with smart chips, which, when triggered by an intruder, will cause the data stored on the reader to be encrypted, making it impossible for an unauthorized party to read.