Transforming Multi-Site Management with acre’s Enterprise Access Control - tdsAccess

About the Client

An Irish Leinster-based County Council overcame challenges with access, attendance, and security management by implementing the tdsAccess. This modernization addressed issues with fragmented systems, outdated RFID technology, and aging servers, resulting in improved security and efficiency. 

The Challenge

Managing a variety of public facilities such as administrative offices, libraries, and community centers—the County Council encountered numerous operational and security challenges: 

• Fragmented Systems: Sites employed a range of diverse and incompatible RFID technologies, which led to numerous security vulnerabilities. These inconsistencies in technology made it challenging to establish a unified security protocol, increasing the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. As a result, addressing these vulnerabilities became crucial to ensure the protection of sensitive information across different platforms. 
• Outdated RFID Card Technologies: Many council buildings were equipped with legacy RFID card systems that were easily cloneable, posing a significant security risk. These outdated technologies not only allowed unauthorized individuals to duplicate cards and access sensitive areas but also lacked compatibility with modern systems. This led to security vulnerabilities across various sites and hindered seamless access for staff.  
• Reliance on Legacy Servers: Before migrating to the cloud, the County Council stored access control data on outdated, on-premise servers. These systems were prone to hardware failures and data loss, potentially disrupting security operations. Maintaining these local servers was not only costly and time-consuming but also lacked the resilience and redundancy of modern cloud-based infrastructure.  
• Inconsistent and Inefficient Multi-Site Access Management: The Council faced challenges in enforcing a unified access control policy across multiple sites due to disparate systems. Without centralized oversight, it was unclear who had access to which buildings, while the lack of real-time system updates led to operational inefficiencies and heightened security risks.  
• Cybersecurity Threats: Just like many legacy systems, the Council’s on-premise infrastructure faced vulnerabilities to cyber threats, including ransomware and data breaches. Without advanced security measures such as encryption and multi-factor authentication (MFA), sensitive data—like access logs and personnel records—remained at risk. 
• Manual, Inefficient Attendance Tracking: - Employee attendance was monitored using individual systems at each location, which led to potential payroll inaccuracies and challenges in real-time tracking of workforce attendance, particularly across multiple buildings.  
• Limited Visitor Management and Evacuation Coordination: Visitor access management lacked efficiency and consistency due to the absence of a standardized procedure across different sites. Furthermore, emergency evacuations were not well-coordinated, making it challenging to account for all employees and visitors during a crisis. 

The Solution

Recognizing the need for a future-proof solution, The Council decided to implement tdsAccess from acre security. This modern, centralized platform effectively addresses all of their operational and security challenges. Key features of the solution include: 

• Modern and Secure RFID Technology: The acre's system upgraded the outdated, easily cloneable RFID cards to modern, encrypted RFID technology, eliminating the risk of unauthorized access. The system also supports additional access methods, such as mobile credentials and biometric authentication, providing layered security for all sites. 
• Centralized, Cloud-Based Management: Transitioning to a cloud-based platform gives The Council real-time oversight and control of access points across its buildings. Administrators can manage permissions, track access activity, and respond to security events from anywhere through a centralized dashboard. Enhanced Cybersecurity: The cloud transition offers significant cybersecurity benefits. The acre solution uses encryption, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and secure cloud data storage, protecting sensitive information from cyberattacks. With data stored securely in the
  cloud, The Council no longer worries about ransomware or data breaches affecting local servers. 
  • Cybersecurity Safeguards: The system ensures only authorized personnel access critical data, using encrypted communication between devices and the cloud to prevent interception and tampering. 
• Protection from Data Loss: The cloud-based solution eliminates the risk of data loss from server crashes. Automatic data backups ensure all access control data is securely stored and easily recoverable, removing downtime and security vulnerabilities caused by aging local servers. 
• Automated Time and Attendance Tracking: Employees clock in and out using secure RFID cards, with the system logging data in real-time. This improves attendance accuracy, reduces payroll errors, and provides managers with insights into workforce attendance for efficient operations. 
• Streamlined Visitor Management: The acre's platform includes an integrated visitor management system that standardizes visitor registration and tracking. Visitors are pre-registered and given temporary access credentials, ensuring they access only designated areas. Visitor activity is tracked in
  real-time through the cloud-based dashboard, enhancing security oversight. 
• Improved Emergency Response with Cloud Integration: The platform integrates with the acre's tds Evacuation Mustering System, ensuring all employees and visitors are accounted for during emergencies. It provides real-time data on who is present in each building and their evacuation status, streamlining the emergency response and ensuring compliance with health and safety protocols. 

The Result

A Secure, Centralized, and Resilient Solution. With the adoption of the tdsAccess, the Council has experienced significant improvements in security and operational efficiency. 

1. Stronger, Centralized Security: The Council has moved away from outdated, vulnerable RFID technologies, adopting modern, encrypted RFID cards and mobile access credentials that are impossible to clone. With centralized control via the cloud, The Council can now easily manage access permissions, track employee movements, and respond to security incidents in real-time.  
2. Enhanced Data Security and Cyber Protection: By migrating to the cloud, The Council has greatly improved its resilience to data breaches, ransomware, and server crashes. Data is encrypted, securely stored, and backed up in real-time, ensuring continuous operations without the risk of data loss or system downtime.  
3. Streamlined Operations Across Multiple Sites: With a single, cloud-based dashboard, administrators can now manage access control, visitor management, and emergency protocols across all council buildings from one centralized platform. This has drastically reduced the administrative burden and improved The Council’s ability to respond to security events quickly.  
4. Improved Visitor and Employee Management: The Council now benefits from a unified, integrated visitor management system, making it easier to track visitors in real-time and issue temporary access credentials securely. Automated time and attendance tracking has also streamlined payroll processes and reduced errors.  
5. Efficient Emergency Response: The acre's tds evacuation mustering system, integrated into the cloud platform, ensures that health and safety teams can account for all personnel and visitors during emergencies. Real-time data enables faster decision-making and more effective emergency responses.