What access control is, and why it matters
Access control is the set of technologies and processes governing who may enter a building, a restricted area or a particular room, and at what times. It goes beyond a lock: every transaction is recorded and traced, and — when connected to management software — becomes data that is useful for security, for compliance and for personnel administration.
The three main technologies
Organisations use three main categories of hardware: turnstiles (physical barriers that regulate the flow), RFID badges or smart cards (contactless cards that release locks or electronic gates) and biometric systems (fingerprint or hand-geometry readers). A PIN is often added on top as a second authentication factor.
Hardware and software as one system
Infordata Sistemi has designed and installed access control systems since 1997, combining dedicated hardware with the cloud software GoPlanner Access to manage gates, badges and attendance on a single platform. Where physical barriers are needed there is also a dedicated line of turnstiles for access control, which work with the same software.
How to compare them: the criteria that matter
Assess each technology on the five dimensions that actually affect day-to-day operation.
Physical security and antipassback
Turnstiles are the only option that physically stops an unauthorised passage. Badges and biometrics control whether the door opens, but do not stop someone following another person through (tailgating). Antipassback, available on every digital system, reduces that risk without a physical barrier.
Certainty about identity
A badge authenticates an object: it can be lent, forgotten or cloned. Biometrics authenticate the person, which removes the possibility of delegation. In settings with strict regulatory requirements — laboratories, data centres, construction sites — biometrics give greater certainty, but bring specific GDPR obligations with them.
Cost and infrastructure
Turnstiles need physical space and significant structural work. Badge readers are the cheapest option and the easiest to fit to existing doors. Biometrics sit in between: the device costs more than a plain RFID reader, but there are no physical cards to produce and manage.
User experience and throughput
High-capacity turnstiles handle large flows — plants, stations — but slow down irregular entries. A badge is quick and familiar. Biometrics can create queues if the reader is slow or the signal quality is poor (gloves, humidity). Look at your peak flow before choosing.
Integration with HR and attendance
All three can be connected to management software. Integration with time and attendance removes the double clocking: every passage through a gate automatically becomes a validated clocking, with the time, the gate and an identity that has already been verified.
The three technologies side by side
| Turnstiles | RFID badge | Biometrics | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical security | High | Medium | Medium-high |
| Certainty of identity | Medium | Low | High |
| Installation cost | High | Low | Medium |
| Space required | Significant | Minimal | Minimal |
| GDPR obligations | Standard | Standard | Substantial |
| Attendance integration | Yes, via middleware | Yes, native | Yes, native |
| Suited to | Plants, logistics hubs, campuses | Offices, SMEs, multi-site | Labs, data centres, construction sites |
What the organisation gets out of it
No double clocking
Every transaction at a gate is recorded automatically in the attendance module: no separate app, no manual corrections at the end of the month. Access data and HR data live in one consistent database.
Traceability in real time
Who is on site right now? Who entered the server room at 23:15? The access log is available in real time from the control panel, filtered by person, gate, time window and authorisation profile.
Authorisations managed centrally
Creating, changing or revoking an access profile takes seconds in the software, with no physical work on the hardware. Useful when someone changes role, a contract ends, or a visitor or supplier needs temporary access.
A defensible record
An access log that is complete and consultable is what allows an organisation to answer questions from its DPO, its safety manager or the authorities.
Frequently asked questions