what is access control system

An access control system is a security technique that regulates who or what can view or use resources in a computing environment or physical location. It is a fundamental concept in security that minimizes the risk of unauthorized access to physical and virtual spaces. Access control systems can be electronic or mechanical and use identifiers such as access cards, PIN numbers, usernames, and passwords to authorize people to enter certain areas. They can also incorporate access control panels, alarms, and lockdown capabilities to prevent unauthorized access or operations. Access control decisions are made by comparing the credentials to an access control list, which can be done by a host or server, by an access control panel, or by a reader. Access control systems can provide valuable data to help track how buildings and sites are being used. They can be challenging to manage in dynamic IT environments that involve on-premises systems and cloud services, and technology vendors have shifted away from single sign-on systems to unified access management, which offers access controls for on-premises and cloud environments.