Software provider chooses pocket-sized access control

Sep 1, 2000 12:00 PM, AC&SSI STAFF

A global provider of software to the medical industry has installed access control to provide privacy and the highest level of security. ParkStone Medical Information Systems Inc., Weston, Fla., provides information systems and software for the medical industry, including applications for patient records. It's a highly sensitive and competitive market, one with special considerations relating to entrance, egress and access by employees at its headquarters.

"We operate on the premise that everything is off limits unless you specifically have clearance for access," says Robert Castro, director of information systems, ParkStone Medical Information Systems. "Access is on a need-to-know or need-to-have basis. If you don't need to be in a specific area, you won't be."

To fulfill its strict requirements for varying degrees of employee access in its 20,000-square-foot space, ParkStone sought the advice of Security One Systems Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a commercial security dealer/installer with expertise in large enterprise solutions. Security One turned to Alco Advanced Technologies Inc., also in Weston. "Their system was the logical choice," says Bob Newman, president of Security One Systems. "All the access information is directly programmed into the card, enhancing its versatility." Newman says that the system is also less expensive to install because of its size and simple twisted-pair wiring.

"We needed latitude to authenticate employees into different areas, and didn't want a lock and key system," Castro comments. "Confidentiality is important when you're dealing with patient medical records."

The Intelli-M System from Alco fit well into the limited space available at ParkStone to house central control equipment. The miniaturized door controller is only 1.7 inches wide by 2.8 inches high and weighs 3.7 ounces. The enclosure, or mounting box, is a two-gang recessed electrical box. The system is scalable up to 32,000 readers. Unlike other systems, the system uses a proximity smart card that combines processing power and memory. The proximity reader reads/writes to the card at a speed of 13.56 MHz. The smart card can provide multiple applications such as biometrics, debit or medical information.

The software is based on the Microsoft NT platform. Castro says: "From a deployment point of view, it's easy to mix and match different levels of access for each contactless proximity smart card. When you need to disable a card, or change the levels of access, you can do it at the computer workstation."

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