A proximity card is a contactless card which can be read without insertion into a card reading device. Because they don’t require a swipe, they can be left in a wallet or purse and still serve their purpose. Prox cards use a low 125 kHz radio frequency to transmit to a door access reader. When the card is placed on the reader, the card’s unique strand of numbers is passed to the access control panel, which verifies if the number matches an approved number in the internal database. If the card number is approved, the door will be unlocked.
If the card information is programmed into the access control list within the computer, it allows the system to unlock the access point so that the person may enter. The information is kept in the system so that if the company wants to create reports or audits, they can easily perform this in an automated fashion. Such reports also allow purview for who entered the access point and what time specifically they did so.
Proximity cards are a cost-effective way to control who has access to your building. While locks and keys also allow you to secure your building, the inconvenience and expense of changing locks and re-issuing keys in the event that they are misplaced, forgotten, or lost not only becomes expensive but also time-consuming.
In addition, standard keys can easily be copied or duplicated which creates an even greater security risk to the facility and to the employees within it.