Best Commercial Access Control Systems in 2025

Security is paramount for managing who enters your commercial space. Traditional keys are easily misplaced, and outdated security systems can leave your business vulnerable. With U.S. property crime rates remaining a significant concern, as evidenced by Statista’s report, enforcing a robust commercial access control system is no longer a luxury but a necessity.

A reliable access control system strengthens security and improves efficiency, giving you full control over who comes and goes. 

This guide will explore the vital features and considerations for determining the best commercial access control systems and how these solutions can protect your business premises.

What is a Commercial Access Control System?

A commercial access control system is a security framework that enables businesses to manage who can or cannot enter their premises. This system uses biometrics, key cards, mobile credentials, or pin codes to regulate access rather than the conventional locks and keys.

Modern access control for commercial buildings also provides video audits for companies to monitor who entered their premises and the time they entered. This way, they can notice suspicious movements faster and tackle them head-on. Overall, these security systems allow only authorized individuals to enter protected areas.

Why is Coram's Access Control System the Best for Commercial Spaces? (Coming Soon)

Coram’s commercial door access control system provides all the essential capabilities you require to effectively manage access to your business premises. This access control system is an incredible solution for managing visitors in addition to helping with staff management.

Coram’s access control system includes a centralized access control board and can communicate with the doors in your business premises. Since the doors have a card reader, when you badge in on the card reader, that information from the card reader goes to the access control board.

Then Coram’s software performs thorough credential checks to ascertain whether or not the user can enter that door at that time. Afterward, it decides whether or not to open the door.

What’s Unique About Coram’s Commercial Access Control System?

Here's why you should immediately implement Coram's system without second-guessing it!

It’s Cloud-based

Unlike traditional access control systems which store information on a local server, Coram’s system is cloud-connected and all information lives on the cloud. This helps you save cost on maintenance for local servers and hardware.

Highly Customizable

IT administrators can configure the software in a customizable way to determine each door each employee and visitor can access and when they can access it. With this information, they can issue workers a card or their workers can enter these doors using the designated mobile app, or Bluetooth on their smartphone.

When approaching the door with their smartphone, Coram’s commercial building access control system decides (through the access control board) whether the user can access it or not. Regardless of whether the door opens or not, that data is sent to the cloud. On the cloud, this information is revealed to the user on their dashboard. 

• Another way to customize it is by adding as many users as needed.

• You can easily give users access and revoke access to any particular door(s).

Note: Coram’s access control system captures the data of whoever attempted accessing a door, the time they attempted it, and whether they were granted access or not.

Custom Schedules

Coram’s commercial access control system doubles down on security by enabling you to create several customs schedules. For example, suppose you want to keep a particular door locked for a specific timeframe—say 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

You can set up the system to keep it locked during that timeframe, alerting you if anyone attempts entry. Then add that it should unlock once it’s past noon. Another example is: you can say between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., only staff members can enter certain places but cleaners should be unable to access them.

The third application of this feature is that administrators can configure the server room to only be accessed by those authorized to use it, and nobody else.

Integration with Video Management System and Video Security

Interestingly, Coram has surveillance cameras and can integrate with your existing security cameras. So, you can connect this access control security solution to Coram’s video surveillance cameras to receive quick notifications if there’s theft or unauthorized access. 

The best part is that you can always watch the recorded footage for audit trails and culprit tracking. Plus, it integrates with your camera to detect tailgating. For instance, assuming one person opens the door and three people enter behind them this system will capture it through your camera and notify you.

Scalability 

Coram’s commercial door access control systems scale with your business as it expands. With it, you can manage multiple buildings and multiple user profiles across many locations with ease.

Flexibility and Offline Access

When you experience a network outage, Coram’s access control board retains a local copy of the access permissions at any time. At the same time, the access control board includes a backup battery, which you can use to access every piece of data if you are having a power failure.

How Access Control Security Supports Health & Safety?

Access control ensures that only permitted individuals can enter a facility, space, or building, and this is critical for safety in healthcare facilities. Their applications simplify daily activities, guarantee security, boost efficiency, and ensure that healthcare organizations comply with regulations.

1. Protecting Medicine Dispensaries at Hospitals

Drug theft is increasingly common among employees, given the availability of controlled substances in hospitals. The reports in Drug Diversion Digest reveal that more than 70% of medication fraud, tampering, and theft happened in medical centers, hospitals, pharmacies, ambulance services, and long-term care facilities. 

Because of this many healthcare facilities and hospitals are adopting commercial door access control systems to regulate entry into medicine dispensaries and minimize theft or misuse.

2. Audit Trail and Operational Reports

Commercial gate access control systems also provide audit trails by recording who entered certain areas. This record can be used to track strange activities, and administrators can then run reports to identify the areas that were accessed and who accessed them. 

If integrated with a video surveillance system, the management can retrieve the corresponding video footage. So, they'll be able to see who badged in and how they entered.

3. Defense Against Cyber Threats 

A comprehensive commercial building access control system is equipped with security mechanisms like secure access cards and modern authentication and encryption technologies. All these combine to protect interactions from the reader to software and ensure data does not enter into the wrong hands.

4. Proof of Regulatory Compliance

Health regulations are designed to protect individual safety and privacy. As such, the importance of complying with these regulations cannot be understated. The best commercial access control security system also helps to protect patient privacy by hiding their identity. 

By deploying these solutions, only those who need to see sensitive information will have access to it. Additionally, they can safeguard your system from potential cyber threats.

5. Efficient Employee Access

Systems with modern biometric information or quick-scan badges can make the entry process faster. This efficiency minimizes how much time is spent on manual check-ins, enabling employees to focus more on achieving better productivity.

How Do Commercial Access Control Systems Work?

Commercial door access control systems work through a network of electrically powered readers and locks that are installed at different entry points. Users must present valid credentials whenever they want to enter any of these access points. 

These credentials could either be biometric data, a physical key card, or a digital key on a smartphone. Then the system interacts with a centralized security system dashboard or on-prem server, to authenticate the user’s permission. If the credentials are accurate and correspond, they will be granted access and the entry will be captured for audit trails. 

With this solution, you can effectively regulate entry and significantly improve safety. For more solid security, business owners can approve or revoke credentials, schedule custom access times, and integrate them with video surveillance systems with ease.

Furthermore, modern systems are equipped with two-factor authentication, granular access permissions, real-time security notifications, and visitor management systems. Thus, they are very essential for tackling commercial security challenges.

What Are the Benefits of Implementing a Commercial Access Control System?

Irrespective of your business or industry size, commercial gate and door access control systems can protect your staff and building. It informs facility managers and business owners about who enters and leaves their business environment. 

So why should you care? Here are the reasons you should consider adopting these security solutions.

Simplifies Access for Employees to Perform Their Duties

As a business owner, you’re already too busy running the affairs of your business and that's a lot. So, manually approving and revoking access will pose a separate burden to you. 

But commercial building access control systems enable you to “set and forget” which staff has access to each area of your business. Once you authorize an employee, they'll be able to enter wherever they are required to perform their duties—by entering a PIN or scanning a card.

Monitor Who Enters And Leaves

Think about the relief you get from knowing that your business environment is well-monitored and secured because security solutions like commercial door access control systems are in place. This security solution updates you on who enters and exits your building or facility, along with the exact time. 

In 2023, the clearance rate for property crimes was 13.9%, demonstrating that a significant majority of these crimes remain unsolved. So, access control systems serve as proactive measures. Additionally, you can ensure employees are working when and where they should. 

Larceny-theft accounted for 70.3% of all property crimes in 2023, with 4.5 million reported cases. So, if a theft or an accident occurs, you know exactly the location of the incident and who entered the specific place. 

Protect Your Premises From Unwanted Visitors

A large organization gives room for unwanted visitors to go undetected. However, implementing the best door and gate commercial access control systems ensures unauthorized people do not get into your business environment. 

Since doors require credentials, they will only unlock for authorized users. This way, you're sure that everyone in your building is supposed to be there.

Protect Sensitive Data

Companies usually store financial information, employee health data, and client data on their own servers. With access control solutions, you can restrict permission to individual networks or computers and it runs rooms room. This ensures that only authorized personnel can access these areas and devices.

Compliance With Industry Standards and Regulations

Many data security laws require restrictions on physical access to data. If you’re in the healthcare industry, you must be HIPPA-compliant, but most companies are subject to these laws too. 

If an employee requests medical leave, their records must be securely stored. Again, you must protect your customers’ financial information and IT teams must limit access to online data and servers. Whether paper or digital files, all this information can be safeguarded using commercial building access control systems.

Tips for Finding the right Commercial Access System

If you’re now considering investing in commercial door access control systems, here are the best things to look out for:

1. Front Desk Capabilities

If you have a front desk staff, you would understand how important they are in managing the daily affairs of a business. Generally, they manage visitors and employees and ensure they all reach their respective destinations within the company.

So, when picking a commercial access control system, opt for one with front desk software or capabilities to help simplify their work. This capability guarantees efficient visitor management and enables receptionists to view live camera feeds, issue authentication badges, and regulate access throughout the facility.

2. Cloud-based Functionality

A cloud-based access control system offers remote management, saves you money on on-site data storage, and ensures robust security with automatic updates. Also, cloud-based systems support instant updates and integration with other cloud-based software. 

Therefore, they remain the best option for organizations seeking scalable and flexible security solutions.

3. Scalability

The best commercial building access control systems should grow with your business as it expands. When your system is scalable, it can accommodate more users/employees, more doors, multiple locations, and increased security needs without completely overhauling your system.

Choose a system that supports multiple-site management, where the management can oversee movements for different buildings from a central platform. This feature simplifies the security management across multiple locations.

4. Advanced Features

Advanced features are critical for ensuring compliance with industry regulations and protecting sensitive data. Look for commercial access control systems with two-factor authentication, audit trails, real-time alerts, and integration with video surveillance.

These features provide additional layers of security for proactive management. Plus, they support compliance for some industries essential for small businesses and enterprise companies.

5. Ease of Use

An access control system should be easy to use for staff members who use it every day and security teams overseeing the system. Seek systems with a user-friendly interface for users to unlock doors, and manage their credentials and entry rights, as they improve user satisfaction and comply with security protocols.

6. Delivery Passes

Commercial buildings frequently receive high volumes of deliveries, which may include company deliveries or individual food orders. But you can still secure your building while simplifying the process for couriers by deploying commercial door access control systems that provide delivery passes.

These delivery passes are electronic credentials that staff members can use to text couriers. And these couriers are allowed a limited-time or one-time access to your facility with a QR or PIN code. To guarantee security and avoid unauthorized access, a delivery pass expires right after the delivery.

7. Reliability

Reliability is an important aspect of access control systems to make sure it regularly functions properly, particularly during emergencies. So, go for systems with high uptime scores and those that can function in different environmental conditions, especially if external access points, such as utility gates or parking lots are involved.

FAQs

What is commercial access control?

Commercial building access control systems regulate who is allowed to enter and access different locations within a building. Its authentication methods include PIN codes, cards, turnstiles, and biometrics like facial recognition or fingerprints.

What are the three types of access control? 

The three types of access control are Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC), Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) systems, and Discretionary Access Control (DAC). Each of them can be leveraged to secure your data.

What is the most common form of access control?

Role-based access control (RBAC) is the most common form of access control. It restricts access according to a user’s position within the company. This prevents low-level staff from obtaining access to sensitive data.

How much do access control systems cost for businesses?

The complexity of the system, the number of access points, and the type of technologies employed all affect how much access control systems cost for businesses. While comprehensive solutions for larger buildings with numerous access points and complex functions might cost several thousand dollars, basic systems for small enterprises can start at a few hundred dollars.

How do mobile access control systems enhance security?

Mobile access control systems improve security by using smartphones as credentials, which are very unlikely to be misplaced or copied than regular physical credentials. Also, they support updates to access permissions in real-time. They can incorporate location-based services and biometric authentication features to guarantee that access is only allowed in safe conditions.

Conclusion

A strong commercial access control system is crucial for securing your business, protecting sensitive data, and guaranteeing operational efficiency. Traditional security methods are outdated and prone to breaches, which makes modern, cloud-based access control solutions like Coram’s very effective.

If you're thinking of installing a new access control system or upgrading your existing one, speak with our experts to determine the ideal solution for your company's needs. Get in touch with us now for a thorough consultation and to learn more about our selection of security solutions.