An access control system decides who can enter which room and who can open which data. We install both kinds for offices, clinics, warehouses and server rooms in Dubai and across the UAE: electronic locks and readers on the doors, and access rights in Active Directory and Microsoft 365 for files and applications. One contractor, one set of rules, one place to switch a person off when they leave.
Physical access: doors, readers and time attendance
A controller at each door checks the card, fingerprint, face or PIN and opens the lock only for people allowed in at that time. Every entry is logged. A lost card is blocked in a minute, a visitor gets a pass that works for one day, and the server room or the cash office opens only for the people who need it.
The same readers can record working time. Instead of a paper register you get a report of arrivals and departures per employee, which can be exported to payroll or to your 1C accounting system.
- electronic locks, door controllers and exit buttons;
- card and fob readers, fingerprint and face recognition terminals, PIN keypads;
- turnstiles and barriers for lobbies and car parks;
- video intercoms at the entrance;
- time and attendance reports and integration with payroll.
Which identifier to choose
| Method | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Card or key fob | Offices with visitors and staff turnover; cheap to replace | Cards can be lent or lost, so pair sensitive rooms with a PIN |
| PIN code | Server rooms, stores, a second factor with a card | Codes get shared; change them when staff leave |
| Fingerprint | Time attendance: nobody can clock in for a colleague | Biometric data is personal data, so employees should be informed and give consent |
| Face recognition | Touch-free entry, busy entrances | Same data protection care as fingerprints; check lighting at the door |
If you already have access cards, tell us their type: some readers support both the older 125 kHz cards and the newer 13.56 MHz ones, so the existing cards may keep working.
Access to data: Active Directory and Microsoft 365
Doors are half of the job. The other half is making sure each employee sees only the folders, mailboxes and programs they need. We set this up with groups and roles in Active Directory or Microsoft Entra ID, add multi-factor sign-in, and keep a simple record of who has access to what.
When someone leaves, one action disables their account, their access card and their access to shared folders and email. The log shows who opened important documents and when.
How a project goes
- Site visit. We look at the doors, the cabling, the network and how people move through the office.
- Proposal. Equipment list, door-by-door plan, which method at which door, and the price.
- Installation and setup. Locks, readers, controllers and software; enrolment of staff cards or fingerprints; access groups and schedules.
- Handover. Training for the person who manages the system and a one-page guide for staff.
- Support. Adding and removing people, reports, changes when the office grows, by request or as part of monthly IT support.
For one example, see how we set up a law firm office in Jumeirah Lakes Towers with a biometric access control system that also records working time: case study.
What to prepare before the visit
- the office plan and the number of doors you want to control;
- how many employees and how many visitors a day;
- whether you need time attendance and which payroll or accounting system you use;
- any existing cards, locks or intercom that should stay.
Questions we often hear
Will the doors work if the internet goes down?
The door controllers we install keep the list of allowed cards and fingerprints locally, so the doors keep working without the internet. Remote management and cloud reports wait until the connection returns. For the internet line itself, see our du Business connectivity options, including a backup channel.
Can access be managed for several offices?
Yes. Doors in different branches can be managed from one place, with the same cards working where the person is allowed.
Is fingerprint data safe to collect?
Treat it as personal data: tell employees what is collected and why, get their consent, limit who can see it and delete it when the person leaves. Our article on device security and the UAE data protection law explains the current legal situation.
Tell us about your office and we will come, look at the doors and propose a solution: contact us.