Understanding the Difference Between Physical Access Control and Logical Access Control
Access control is used to regulate who is and is not able to view or use resources in a computing environment. The two main types of access control are physical and logical. While physical access control limits access to buildings, rooms, areas and IT assets, logical access control limits connections to computer networks, system files and data.
In today’s increasingly digital world, it is more important than ever before for organizations to limit access to sensitive data and physical locations. Combining both physical and logical access control provides a much higher level of security.
Logical Access Control
Logical access control generally features identification, authentication and authorization protocols. This is different than physical access control which utilizes keys, badges, or other tokens to allow access to certain areas.
Businesses, organizations and other entities typically use a broad range of logical access controls to protect hardware. These controls might include the use of sophisticated password programs, advanced biometric security features or other methods that effectively identify and screen users.
The exact type of logical access control used depends on the entity that owns and administrates the hardware setup. For example, Government logical access security is different from business logical access security. This is because federal agencies generally have very specific guidelines for controlling access.
Physical Access Control
Physical access control refers to the selective restriction of access to a space. Examples of physical access control include fob controlled gates, RFID doors and password protected IT systems.
It’s important for access control measures to be able to adapt with changing access requirements. Adaptable access control measures provide a smooth transition between restriction and access. However, ease of transition must be carefully balanced with security. The best physical access measures are both secure and adaptable.
Comprehensive Security Solutions
Mint Control provides comprehensive security solutions for a number of industries. We offer state-of-the-art physical access control and logical access control. We utilize proven methods to provide the highest level of security. Our innovative security solutions ensure increased security and increased operational efficiency.
Please contact us for more information about our logical access control and physical access control solutions.