A security feature that prevents a credential from being used twice to enter an area without an intervening exit.

A security process that relies on the unique biological characteristics of an individual to verify identity.

An object or data point used to verify the identity of a person seeking access to a protected area.

The hardware 'brain' that makes the decision to grant or deny access based on data from the reader.

A locking device that consists of an electromagnet and an armature plate, held together by magnetic force.

Terms describing how a lock behaves during a power failure: Fail-Safe unlocks; Fail-Secure stays locked.

A security system that requires more than one method of authentication from independent categories of credentials.

A contactless smart card used for access control that is read without being inserted into a reader device.

A device that signals the access control system to unlock a door for someone exiting a secure area.

The industry-standard communication protocol used between a card reader and an access control panel.