Most Door Access systems operate in much the same way. However, as office infrastructure support moves onto the office network, RedHand AccessIP offers a new approach. It connects door control systems to your network, making installation cheaper, management easier, and lowering lifetime costs. This together with the inclusion of a camera, which uses RedHand’s successful VisionIP surveillance technology, permits the recording of all card access or denial.

So, what is RedHand AccessIP?

RedHand AccessIP is an Event Driven Access Control system. It takes full advantage of emerging technology to change the way in which Security and Access Control is delivered, consisting of Card Readers and Door Magnets/Catches plugged directly into your IP Network. This, together with centrally managed software, delivers a dramatic reduction in installation costs and ongoing maintenance charges. The system can be hosted on any office PC and the communication to the Card Readers is carried out entirely on the existing business network infrastructure. As a result, installation costs, cost of ownership and risks associated with obsolescence are greatly reduced.

Access Control – yesterday’s technology:

Conventionally, Door Access Control consists of a reader or card swipe near the door. Above the reader is a box containing a power supply and electronics to authenticate the card and to release the door catch mechanism or magnetic lock. Installation costs per door tend to be high and are carried out by a specialist firm. The centralisation of card management is not easy, although some products aim to achieve this by wiring together readers to a central box with a PC interface. These systems then tend to be complex and the installation and maintenance are rather specialised.

Access Control the RedHand Way:

RedHand AccessIP uses the latest type of card-readers (compatible with commonly available card data standards such as Philips Mifare®, I-Code®, Inside PicoTag® plus existing and forthcoming ISO15693 tags like Tag-it®, ST and Infineon) and is designed to interface directly onto an existing IP Network. They screw to the wall and connect into a convenient network wall port, usually situated in the ceiling.

RedHand can also supply RFID readers where hands free access, or personnel counting is required. RFID Tags can be fixed to assets (PC’s Printers etc) and a “buddy” relationship can be created between the asset and a person.This relationship can be used to allow or deny access.

Both types of reader are assigned an IP Address and when a card is swiped, or a tag is read, authentication is carried out centrally. The reader is then instructed by the software to release the door.

The resilience of the system can be enhanced by enabling authentication across a number of PC’s or servers. The database software is extremely flexible in the way it controls or denies access, based on the actual door, the cardholder, the time of day etc.

RedHand is also well known for its successful IP-based Camera Surveillance system and if required, an associated camera can be triggered to take JPEG images of the person swiping the card. The event of interest, together with a sequence of pictures and the master photo of the cardholder can be displayed.

Security staff can verify that the person who used the card is the assigned cardholder, and also that no one has walked in behind (“tailgating”), thereby gaining illegal access. The reader, camera and magnetic lock are all powered from the network cable itself, further reducing installation costs. This also improves the system’s resilience as it allows centrally located, uninterruptible power supplies to be utilised in the event of a power outage.

Key Features and Benefits:

• RedHand AccessIP uses the existing and well proven IT and network structure, reducing the cost of ownership and the threat of obsolescence
• It can be installed by the customer to keep costs down or by an existing cabling contractor.
• There are no expensive maintenance contracts or callout charges and the system can easily be
  maintained ‘in-house’ by IT and maintenance staff.
• RedHand AccessIP uses comprehensive, central database management software with an easy-to-use interface and a database query facility, which is backed up by pictorial evidence of events
• Power over Ethernet allows simple and tidy installation. Central management of power sustaining
  devices via UPS further enhances the system’s reliability
• Continued software development. We will continue to develop additional features to the software which will be available free of charge under our warranty provisions and thereafter through an annual software renewal contract