The Best Access Control Systems of 2020

SimpliSafe was thoughtfully engineered to be incredibly easy to use. Securing your property takes seconds with a key fob or keypad. Employees can also use a unique PIN code to enter the building when a manager isn't there.

There's no installation or maintenance costs – and professional monitoring is only $14.99 a month.

• Kisi Reader Pro for $599
• Kisi Reader Pro Outdoor for $699
• Kisi Controller Pro for $899

You can buy larger control panels through LifeSafety Power, a third-party equipment provider.

The software comes in three plan options, all of which include the Kisi management dashboard and mobile credentials. Licenses are set per user and per door on a monthly, yearly, or multiyear basis. You'll need to contact Kisi for a personalized software quote. Here is a breakdown of each plan:

Basic

• One administrator
• 30 days of event storage
• Standard support

Standard

• Five administrators
• 120 days of event storage
• User syncing
• Web dashboard
• Standard support

Pro

• Unlimited administrators
• User authentication
• Unlimited event storage and export
• Priority support

Kisi offers a 30-day trial for all of its plans, as well as international shipping.

Kisi also provides several options for building access. Employees can use phones, key cards or fobs that work with a reader to access your facility. You can even set the system to grant access using a temporary link sent to an employee's phone. Smartphones that have biometric authentication features can be used for authentication to open doors in lieu of a password. The authentication process is proprietary and encrypted.

The system has a reporting and administration interface, which is also accessible through a mobile device. It can also pull up full audit reports, track door unlocks in real time, and export data. You can set notifications to alert you when a door unlocks at an unusual time.

Kisi can integrate with more than 20 services, including scheduling, surveillance, data and other software. You can integrate your Kisi system with common business apps such as Okta, Verkada, Google Apps and Mindbody. The company offers intrusion alarms as well.

The system is scalable and easily covers multiple locations with a centralized remote management system and a directory that syncs directly to your doors, only allowing access to approved parties.

Kisi offers exemplary support and resource options on its website, including a rundown of access control systems and a community section where you'll find various answers and topics relating to Kisi's access control system. If you need to contact Kisi, the best way is by phone or email, as there is no live chat.

ISONAS offers two software options:

Pure Access Cloud

• Fully hosted version in the cloud
• Reader controllers preconfigured to the cloud
• Easy to get up and running

Pure Access Manager

• On-premise version of Pure Access
• Allows you to manage your access control system from any device in your network

For hardware, you will at least need a reader, controller, and credentials, whether physical (like key cards and fobs) or mobile (like an app). To learn the most accurate pricing for your business and its needs, you'll need to contact ISONAS directly for a quote.

ISONAS' biggest draw is that it offers minimal hardware and easy-to-use software with a cloud-based management system. This makes it easy for very small businesses to set it up and provide (and manage) access for their employees.

ISONAS offers door readers in two varieties: proximity card-only or keypad and card. There is no biometric reader or mobile phone option. The readers themselves are intelligent and store most of the data for the system, allowing them to make authentication decisions and open doors even if the network is down. ISONAS allows you to use third-party credentials with its system, but it offers its own proprietary credentials, including mobile, badge cards, cap tags, key fobs and thin cards.

However, ISONAS doesn't offer certain safety integrations that can be essential parts of a comprehensive access control system. For instance, a fire and holdup alarm are missing. The system does give you the ability to immediately void credentials if an employee leaves the company or if any misuse is detected.

You access the system's report interface through a web browser on any device with an internet connection, including laptops, tablets and smartphones. The interface gives detailed reports on unlock times, credential usage and suspicious events. You can also set up an anti-passback system to require employees to use an exit reader, showing you when they enter and leave.

We received quick and informative customer service when we contacted this company. There is a support portal for customers with a login, but no live chat support. You can also submit a support ticket.

March 2020: ISONAS unveiled Pure Access Open Application Interface (API), new software that provides customers with a truly integrated security system. The open API now makes it easier for software providers to add access control capabilities (video surveillance, credential management, access control) to their existing security systems. Pure Access provides a complete platform for the installation, administration and management of its Pure IP access control hardware.

The company also offers a managed access service that leaves the management of your security and access to Johnson Controls. This is especially useful if you don't have the time or manpower to manage access in a small business or across several locations.

Johnson Controls provides top-quality physical credentials, and the smart cards use advanced encryption technology to prevent card cloning. In addition to physical access control, Johnson offers hosted access control, which stores data in the cloud and is easy to scale and manage.

The company integrates with systems such as video surveillance, fire alarms, intrusion alarms, perimeter detection and asset trackers. These features can be tied to your interface, allowing you to customize emergency procedures, suspend credentials and be alerted to suspicious activity.

The largest control panel can support up to 32 doors. If you need more doors covered, you'll need to install more panels. However, you can register an unlimited number of employees to the system.

The available video integration means you can pull up video clips of specific events, such as suspicious entries or break-in attempts. The system has unlimited event history, so you can pull up activity from months or even years ago, which is important for auditing purposes. 

The system also lets you keep track of guests, granting visitors temporary access and letting you set their level of access. The access system can double as a time and attendance tracker, letting you know when employees clock in and clock out.

Johnson Controls offers support and advice at every stage of the process, from design to ongoing maintenance, and provides professional installation for electronic, physical and biometric systems. There's a 24/7 telephone support line and a submission form on the company website, which also offers product manuals, technical instructions and videos. You can request training sessions to help you better understand your system.

Business Basic

• Minimal system
• Burglary and holdup alarm monitoring
• Temperature monitoring
• Flood detection

Pulse Premise Control

• Mobile notifications
• Remote arm and disarm
• Remote access
• Custom scheduling

Enterprise View

• Interactive video
• Remote control of lights, temperature and appliances

While ADT is first and foremost a security company, we assessed its access control products, which include door readers and keypad readers that require both physical credentials and a PIN code. Unfortunately, ADT does not offer biometric readers, nor does the system allow mobile phone access for employees, so your employees are limited to using cards and PIN codes to enter your facility.

ADT also offers a two-way intercom. There is a single-door, audio-only solution that lets an employee or visitor speak with the attendant. One version does not include a release mechanism to buzz in visitors or employees, but a second version does have this feature.

With ADT, your business is under 24/7 monitoring. Emergency services are alerted whenever a break-in or fire alarm goes off, which is convenient and cost-effective because you don't have to pay additional employees or hire an outside service to monitor your security.

One of the system's most attractive features is its mobile app. With it, you can control nearly every aspect of your business's security from your smartphone. The app allows you to lock and unlock doors remotely, so you can let employees in if they forget their credentials.

Support is available 24/7, and our experience with ADT over the phone and through its live chat function on the website was positive overall. The company also offers onsite training and support videos on its website.

Lite Blue

• Monitors up to eight doors
• Supports up to 5,000 cardholders
• Easily integrates with video surveillance and recording equipment

Bright Blue

• Designed for midsize businesses
• Supports up to 5,000 card users
• Monitors up to 32 doors
• Interface accessible on any internet-connected computer, with a full log of your employees' entry history
• Unlimited memory

ACT365

• For businesses with multiple sites, such as retail shops, gyms and restaurants
• Provides access control as well as video recording and playback
• Uses PIN codes, key cards and fobs
• Easily integrates with video management
• Supports up to four cameras per unit

With the reporting and administration interface, you can monitor your employees' activities and set up notifications for any activity you deem suspicious. All of Vanderbilt's systems give you complete control over the security of your building. You can easily activate and deactivate access for employees and others. Vanderbilt's fire and intrusion alarms can be tied into the system for more comprehensive coverage.

Vanderbilt also offers a security management system that integrates your facility's access control technologies with your digital video and alarm monitoring systems, allowing you to manage all of your security from a single platform.

Vanderbilt Industries is a manufacturer that works with distributors and dealers. If you have a question or concern about your system, the best resource is your local dealer, but the company does offer some support resources for customers. It has live chat, and you can call the company's toll-free number or submit a request to be contacted on Vanderbilt's website.