Ultimate Guide to Access Control Systems
Learn about the fundamentals of access control systems and how to plan a future-proof building security strategy.

Occupancy tracking
Stay compliant and protect your people with real-time occupancy limits.
Wave to unlock
Open doors without touching surfaces — safer, faster, smarter.
Real-time reporting
See every access event quickly, from anywhere in the world.
Remote access
Control every facility from your phone or laptop, no IT required.
Leverage open API standards, our system integrates smoothly with leading technologies.
Scale capacity and leverage both on-premises and cloud systems with Avigilon’s hybrid solution.
Stay ahead of sophisticated threats with 99.9% unlock reliability and advanced encryption with Avigilon.
"It's easy to use, and it gives people the workplace flexibility they need, and paves the way for more unique, integrated solutions in the future across our entire portfolio."
- Emil Eriksrød, CEO & Founder at Recreate
- Ed Fuchs, Property Manager at Sierra Pacific Properties
"We already use our phones to open the door or check the temperature at home, so it made total sense that we would use our phones to access the doors at our office."
- Dan Parks, COO of Invia Robotics
- Marshall Kurland, CEO of The Stamford Jewish CommunityCenter
- Wilson County Schools
An access control system works by identifying, authenticating, and authorizing individuals to grant or deny access to specific areas. It uses methods like key cards, mobile phones or PINs to verify credentials. If the credentials are valid, access is granted; if not, an alert is triggered for the security team. Get our step-by-step guide on how the process works..
Access control is important because it ensures that only authorized people can enter a building or a secured space. It prevents intruders from gaining access to restricted areas, helping to safeguard your people, property and assets.
Many industries benefit from access control systems. These include: healthcare, education, offices, government, manufacturing, and more.
Best practices include considering the size of your premises and the number of users, deciding on an on-premise or a cloud-based system, understanding if your existing security systems can integrate with an access control system and more. Our Avigilon Access Control Guide can help you follow best practices and answer questions such as, ‘How do I choose the best access control?’ and ‘What is the most secure type of access control system?
Our security solutions are compliant with global government regulations and built on a trusted, cybersecure platform ‒ all designed to help you focus on what matters most.