In order to provide a meaningful context in which to view the information on this site, SecurityConsumer.com has created Virtual Facilities: simulated access controlled environments. Each of the four Virtual Facilities described below has unique characteristics relating to different system requirements. Together, they allow the users of this site to search for products that will generally meet their requirments while still permitting more detailed searches on specific system capabilties or capacities. You may find that no one of these facilities specifically matches your own environment. If so, consider the features of each that are most appropriate. Remember, the question sets become more comprehesive the larger the facility size. So, if you are simply interested in as much information about a product as possible, find the largest Virtual Facility for which that product was submitted.

If your access control needs are relatively simple – several doors on a small building or office suite – then consider the products submitted for our 8 reader Virtual Facility. We have tailored a limited set of questions for this facility size; providing the capabilities of each product while still sticking to the basics.

Sites:	1
Work Stations:	1 (Host Connected)
Communication Method:	Direct Asynchronous
Emphasis:	Ease of operation and affordability

The products submitted for the 50 reader Virtual Facility must be able to contend with the requirements and challenges posed by a site comprised of several buildings located on the same business campus. The question sets for this facility address more issues relating to alarm monitoring, photo badging, and access permissions.

Sites:	1
Buildings:	Multiple, within same time zone
Work Stations:	1 (Host connected w/ integrated photo badging)
Communication Method:	Direct Asynchronous, Dial-Up, or security LAN
Emphasis:	Alarm monitoring, photo-badging, and expandability

A typical, corporate access control system often manages sites in several cities simultaneously. These requirements bring issues such as time-zone management, database partitioning, and communication to the fore. Our question sets for the 180 Reader Facility reflect these and other challenges.

Sites:	3 (Across several time zones)
Buildings:	Multiple at each site
Work Stations:	Multiple - function specific (Badging, monitoring, etc)
Communication Method:	Corporate WAN/LAN
Elevator Control:	Yes
Antipassback:	Yes
Emphasis:	Communication, database management, expandability

An access control system with installations in several cities across international borders and multiple time zones is often referred to as an "Enterprise" facility. A facility of this size requires very high to unlimited capacities for most system elements, customizable database and interface features, and strong partitioning and reporting capabilities. Our 600 reader Facility question set encompasses all of the issues of the smaller facilities as well as many unique to a system of this scope.

Sites:	18 (Across several time zones, international boarders)
Buildings:	Multiple at each site (High rise, retail, manufacturing)
Work Stations:	Multiple – with potential redundant Host
Communication Method:	Corporate WAN/LAN
Elevator Control:	Yes
Antipassback:	Yes
Database Partitioning:	Yes
Emphasis:	Power, interface flexibility, end-user customization