Andy Hudson, Inigma Project Manager, Squire Locks discusses the benefits of smart wireless access control and the enhancement of security in remote locations.

Smart wireless access control

There are over 2000 electricity plants and nearly 22,000 National Grid telecommunications pylons in the UK and they all need to be protected to stop unwanted access.

But with so many sites, it can be difficult and time-consuming to ensure they are always physically policed.

Traditional access control methods, such as padlocks or on-site security personnel, are often reliant on physical keys or manual oversight and pose logistical challenges and security vulnerabilities, especially when applied to geographically isolated areas.

Ungranted access to these sites can cause major, in some case catastrophic problems, not just to the companies who own them, but to the wider national infrastructure.

This is one of the many advantages of implementing smart wireless access control into these remote locations ensuring the safety and security of individuals and sites across the UK.

What is smart wireless access control?

Smart wireless access control is exactly as the name sounds, providing access to compatible systems using digital credentials, such as through a smartphone app.

There is no reliance on complicated wiring or internet connection, instead utilising wireless communication between components such as electronic locks or software for a seamless connection.

The challenge of remote location security

When there are so many remote locations, it can be difficult for those in charge of them to ensure they are safely protected at all times.

Keys can go missing, bad actors can gain access to sites and cause often irreversible damage and nobody would know until the next day or even days later in very remote areas.

A traditional lock and key system are inadequate for these environments, many of which are critical to keeping our national infrastructure running.

Keys can easily be lost or duplicated and changing locks is costly and time-consuming, plus there is no way to track who has accessed a site and when.

Enhancing security in remote locations

That is why adopting smart wireless access control in these areas is a great way of ensuring these sites remain secure.

Offering real-time site access management, the administrators of the system are able to view detailed information of who tried to access the site and when, as well as give and revoke permissions when required.

With smart wireless access control, the owner of the system can provide time-restricted access, meaning nobody can get into the site during specific hours.

This is particularly useful for temporary contractors, who might require access to carry out repair works.

If the owner of the system knows the times the contractor will be attending, they can input this information into the system and the contractor will no longer be able to access the site once this time period has ended.

In remote areas, where there may be minimal or sometimes no staff on site, these types of systems can be incredibly beneficial, providing real-time activity updates to those in head office, keeping you permanently connected to your remote sites.

They can also help to reduce operational costs by minimising the need for on-site personnel.

Keeping data safe

Of course, with any electronics, there can be a concern about data protection.

While your biggest concern may be keeping your remote locations safe, it’s important to ensure the access system you choose keeps your data safe too.

Many of these systems, such as Squire’s inigma smart wireless access control system, offer secure AES-256-bit end-to-end encryption to keep personal data safe.

What’s more, Squire’s inigma system has been awarded a BSI Kitemark level 3 for Secure Digital Applications (SDA), the highest possible grade which no other system has achieved.

This shows that the system has undergone rigorous testing for digital security, adhering to best practices in safeguarding private information.

The future of remote security

In this increasingly connected world, smart wireless access controls are set to become more commonplace.

While securing remote sites can be challenging, adopting a wireless access control system can provide peace of mind and ensure they are protected at all times.