You installed a badge reader. The door locks. It beeps when people walk in. So your office access control is secure… right?
Not always.
Access control is one of those systems that most businesses set and forget. But what we’ve seen, again and again, is that many setups are either outdated, misconfigured, or barely doing what they’re supposed to.
The scary part? You often don’t realize there’s a problem until something goes wrong.
So, how do you know if your system is actually secure, or just giving you a false sense of control? Let’s break it down.
Most Access Control Systems Are Set and Forgotten
Many businesses treat their access control like a microwave: install it once and never think about it again. And that’s precisely how vulnerabilities creep in.
Maybe it was installed 8 years ago and hasn’t been touched since. Maybe your IT guy knows how to use it, but no one else does. Or maybe the system works… but it’s not keeping up with how your business has changed.
It Beeps, But Is It Actually Doing Its Job?
An access system isn’t just about locking the front door. It’s about knowing:
- Who entered your space
- When they did it
- What areas did they have access to
- How quickly can you revoke or adjust access
And most importantly, it’s about being able to prove it when something goes wrong.
5 Signs Your Access Control System Might Not Be Secure
Let’s take a closer look at the most common red flags we see when assessing business access control setups.
1. You're Still Using Keys or Fobs Without Tracking
Physical keys are a security nightmare. Lose one, and you have to rekey the whole building—or risk unknown access.
Even with fobs or cards, if there’s no system for revoking them or tracking usage, you’re flying blind. You need a platform that logs who used what, when.
2. Former Employees Still Have Access
We can’t count how many times we’ve reviewed systems where dozens of ex-employees still had active badges.
That’s a significant liability.
If your offboarding process isn’t integrated with your access control system—or you have no central system at all—you’re at risk.
3. There’s No Activity Monitoring or Reporting
If you aren’t checking logs or reviewing alerts, you don’t know what you’re missing. A secure system should:
- Show access history per user
- Let you search by time, door, or location
- Send notifications for unusual behavior
No visibility = no accountability.
4. Entry Logs Aren’t Linked to Video Footage
Sure, you can see someone unlocked the back door at 6:17 p.m., but who was it?
If your system can’t link that access event to matching video footage, you lose half the picture.
Smart platforms like Verkada link access logs to video in a single click, so you get the whole story.
5. No Remote Management or Alerting
What happens if someone tries to enter after hours? Or a door is left open?
If you have to be physically on-site to manage the system or respond to events, that’s not secure—that’s stressful.
You should be able to:
- Lock or unlock doors from your phone
- Get real-time alerts for unauthorized access
- Respond instantly from anywhere
What a Secure Access System Should Actually Do
The good news? A modern access control system can solve all of these issues—and make your day-to-day operations smoother while it’s at it.
Here are the must-have features that define a secure, modern solution:
Mobile Access + Central Credential Management
Stop printing badges. Stop collecting keys. Your phone becomes your key, and you can instantly grant or revoke access, without calling IT or swapping hardware.
Video-Integrated Access Logs
Every badge swipe or mobile unlock should be paired with footage. If something goes wrong, you can see exactly what happened and who was there.
Role-Based Permissions & Scheduling
Different teams, vendors, or cleaning crews need various access levels. Your system should let you control who gets in, when, and where.
Real-Time Alerts and Logs
Whether it’s someone entering after hours or a propped-open door, your system should let you know what’s happening as it happens.
What a Properly Secured Access System Looks Like
So what does “secure” really look like in everyday use? It’s not about complexity—it’s about clarity.
- Employees don’t even think about it. It just works.
- Admins have complete control from one dashboard. Nothing gets missed.
- Owners get peace of mind—on-site or off-site.
You should be able to:
- View access activity for every location
- Adjust permissions in seconds
- Pull audit trails for HR or compliance
- Lock down doors remotely if needed
Where Most Systems Break Down
Even good systems can go bad if no one is managing them. And that’s where a lot of access control setups fall apart.
No Oversight
No one knows who’s in charge of revoking access, checking logs, or updating user lists. People come and go, but the system stays the same.
Old, Pieced-Together Hardware
We’ve seen systems where the badge readers are from 2009, the cameras are DVR-based, and none of them communicate with each other.
If your system isn’t integrated, it’s not secure—it’s fragile.
How AIS Helps You Stay Secure Without the Stress
AIS designs, installs, and supports cloud-based, modern access control systems that do what you need them to.
- Mobile credentials
- Remote management
- Instant video verification
- Multi-site control
- Simple, secure user management
And we’re not just selling boxes. We walk your site, identify blind spots, and tailor the system to how your business truly operates.
Then we stick around, so your system stays secure, not forgotten.
Want to Know If Your Office Is Actually Secure?
So, what’s the easiest way to know if your current system is working? Let us take a look.
AIS offers no-pressure assessments to help you identify gaps and address them before they become problems. This includes on-site or virtual visual reports of risks, as well as a clear plan to upgrade or optimize.
