Educational establishments are scrutinising the security of their facilities more than ever before, both to protect people and property assets from unwarranted attention. Fortunately, TDSi offers a wide range of secure access control options which give schools, colleges and universities greater control over those that enter their facilities and what they are able to do once on site, whilst offering superb value-for-money for all budgets.

There are numerous reasons for implementing effective access control and common concerns which include:

•    Prevention of intrusion on the premises by unauthorised people
•    Maintaining the security and safety of pupils
•    Combatting the increase in assaults on staff and pupils by parents
•    Reduction of the theft of equipment
•    Protecting assets (such as school library books, IT equipment, vending machines etc.)

Due to budgetary pressures, many educational establishments have limited resources for manned security. TDSi’s access control solutions take into consideration this limited human resource and whilst freeing up staff they also provide the flexibility and reliability that allows schools to be able to depend on their effectiveness.

Seamless Integration
TDSi’s EXgarde access management PC software can be used to seamlessly integrate the many aspects of the security and building management system within an educational facility (including CCTV, fire, intruder etc.) By using a single database, EXgarde’s application modules can be set up, administered and managed from either single or multiple workstations. Access to any defined area can be strictly controlled, with authorisation for staff, students and visitors closely monitored and amended if appropriate.

To make administrating access control protocols even easier, TDSi’s EXgarde integration pack provides the ability to integrate seamlessly with the existing School Information Management System (SIMS). It can provide and receive event and personnel information from third party security and information systems – including Capita’s SIMS and Gladstone’s On-Record education systems. There are some major benefits in integrating with the School Information Management System (SIMS):

•    It removes the need and inconvenience of having to enter information twice
•    It reduces the risk of data inaccuracies
•    It ensures that both systems are always up-to-date and ‘in sync’
•    It saves time and money
•    It frees resources to perform more important tasks
•    It significantly reduces the risk of errors

MIFARE Smartcards
To make access control simple but effective, TDSi uses the popular MIFARE smartcard technology. This technology is well established and has been proven worldwide, benefitting from a significant reduction in the price of cards and a higher level of security over a proximity card reader. There is also a great degree of flexibility, which is ideal for an education environment. As a multi-use card there is no need to carry more than one token and it can offer a variety of uses including access control, cashless vending, a library and biometric user templates. TDSi MIFARE readers are available in reader and reader plus keypad formats, where dual verification may be required.

The benefits of using TDSi’s MIFARE technology are clear:
•    The system will work in harmony with others
•    There will be one cost-effective card that has many uses
•    There is only the need to enter staff and student records into one system
•    There is no need to hire a dedicated security operator
•    A full range of card readers, combined readers and keypads is available – all of which are suitable for mounting both indoors and outside
•    Readers can be configured to use custom keys for ultimate security (using the TDSi MIFARE Programmer)

Saving Energy
TDSi’s Intuitive Access Control solutions have been designed to help education establishments more closely monitor their facilities’ usage and therefore save on unnecessary use of energy. TDSi’s intelligent energy saving switch which gives schools the ability to make significant energy and cost savings by ensuring energy is only used when users are present in the facility.

Drawing on proven technology, the TDSi Energy Saving Switch, incorporates either a Proximity or a MIFARE® reader. Only when a specific card has been recognised, does the unit allow the electrical circuit to be completed, thereby allowing lights and other equipment to operate when the user’s card is inserted. The product also features a 30 second time delay, so that once the card is removed, lights remain on for a comfortable period  allowing occupants to vacate the room.

With the facilities being used at different times of the day or week (sometimes outside normal hours for evening classes or other functions), Schools, colleges and universities, can all benefit from reduced costs, reduced energy consumption and an improved carbon footprint when access control systems play a key role in controlling the usage of energy resources.

For more information, visit www.tdsi.co.uk/education