The reason we need access control:

One of the biggest advantages of an electronic access control system is the ability to document and report access activity. Most small single door applications have reporting available either through a printer or through web-based access that shows an audit trail of door access activity. Mid-range and large-scale systems can provide in depth, user-defined reporting of access activity. This is a critical component to the access system in the eyes of your client, helping them to quickly understand who had access to critical areas of their business before and after an incident.

For most companies managing keys is a problem. Keys are easily lost or duplicated, and terminated employees often do not return keys. If however, an employee leaves the company without returning their access badge, the employer can easily delete that former employee’s access. On a networked system, that access can even be changed remotely.