Category: Blog Commentary
06 December 2022
Technology is always advancing, and the challenges presented by the last few years have spurred this development on, insisting on new solutions to new problems. This article takes a look at access control changes we can expect to see during 2023 based on current trends. Read More >>
15 November 2022
Employees are one of the most invaluable assets you will find within any business. Whether you operate within retail, manufacturing, warehousing, healthcare, or education, they play an essential role in providing the goods or services that are fundamental to a successful business or operation. Read More >>
03 November 2022
Freeing up HR admin time, reducing absenteeism and improving punctuality are just some of the benefits that employers achieve by investing in a time and attendance solution. Read More >>
20 October 2022
By their very nature, managing any kind of remote workforce, whether it is field engineers through to cleaning operatives or maintenance teams, can be especially tricky. Read More >>
29 September 2022
With current costs rising as they are, many businesses are having to look at ways to reduce costs where possible, or at least be prepared to do so if the situation continues to deteriorate. Whether this is working with existing and new suppliers, looking at energy-saving measures or reducing product lines, there are many options for businesses to reduce expenses. Read More >>
28 September 2022
There was a time when remote working meant that employers were at a distinct disadvantage, not only in terms of workforce visibility, but also productivity. Ensuring that an employee is getting to a customer on time, or optimising their time effectively was a significant challenge that put a strain on any employer/employee relationship. Read More >>
21 June 2022
Access, time-keeping management and security are important to every business, and with so many suppliers available on the market, it can be challenging to know who you can trust and build a partnership with. As businesses needs to change and develop, the partnership needs to grow as well. That’s why, here at TouchStar ATC, we can expand with you, making your choice a simple one. Read More >>
26 May 2022
Access Control Technology is employed by public and private organisations up and down the country. It is a proven way to secure premises and keep people safe, as well as to help comply with legislation such as GDPR. Read More >>
11 May 2022
Business data is the lifeblood of any organisation. Not only can it drive business processes, but used effectively, it also provides the intelligence to streamline operations, reduce costs and improve customer service. Paper based systems are still a common method used by operations teams all over the country. However, this approach is inherently slow and often results in human error and delay, particularly for large organisations. Read More >>
04 May 2022
Access Control Systems play a key role in helping safeguard, monitor and optimise operations. Whatever building you many manage, whether it is within Healthcare, Education or Retail, Warehousing and Commercial, these systems help keep staff, visitors, and premises both safe and secure. Read More >>
21 April 2022
A high traffic area for businesses can be defined as any area which receives a high proportion of foot traffic or activity such as stairways, entranceways, reception areas, manufacturing areas, kitchen spaces, or parking areas. These spaces will be part of a building or on private land and can add an extra challenge to security, monitoring and ensuring health and safety standards. Read More >>
19 April 2022
Almost everyone can identify with the feeling of being locked out of a location they need to get into. The frustration hits in two parts, as not only are you unable to gain access to where you need to go, but you also must deal with replacing the locks to make sure the lost key cannot be misused. Read More >>
07 April 2022
There are many reasons why businesses decide to install a CCTV system and as the technology has become much more reasonably priced in recent years, it makes it an option for anyone who needs to “keep an eye on” their premises. Read More >>
16 March 2022
By their very nature, managing any type of premise, whether it is a manufacturing operation, warehouse, commercial, retail, healthcare or educational establishment can be especially tricky. Whilst the premise types may differ, one important factor to consider is the ability to know who is in your building at any given time. Read More >>
24 February 2022
Technology continues to develop and interact with our lives in new ways, and access control is no different. Biometric access control may seem strange, but it’s growing in popularity around the world and is a fast-growing part of the access control industry. Here is our quick guide about how biometric access control works, types of biometric access control and how it can be used within industries. Read More >>
23 February 2022
Nowadays, one of the most common reasons for installing a CCTV system is to protect both your premises and assets, the overall objective being preventing the theft of goods.
In most instances of theft or burglary, there is every chance the perpetrators previously cased the site on an earlier visit. Casing the building allows thieves the opportunity to identify gaps in security enabling the theft to go ahead relatively unnoticed or with an obscured view. Read More >>
18 February 2022
Managing the safety and security of your facilities and the people that use them can be a complex task. For some businesses, the CCTV may be required to act purely as a deterrent, its physical presence simply in place to help prevent unwanted or suspicious activity. However, for many businesses, the requirements can be a lot more sophisticated. Read More >>
15 February 2022
CCTV may be installed for many reasons, from providing basic surveillance through to safeguarding people, assets, and premises. Read More >>
08 February 2022
If the security of your business or organisation’s premises is worth protecting, it’s worth protecting well. Many companies rely on closed circuit television (CCTV) to safeguard their buildings, car parks, staff and visitors, deter crime and provide reliable coverage in the event that it’s needed. Read More >>
01 February 2022
A business CCTV system is a vital component of your organisation’s physical security. Once installed, security cameras become the continuous eyes and ears of your site, there to deter suspicious activity and safeguard important areas, such as entrances, exits and remote locations, day or night. Read More >>
27 January 2022
Whatever industry you operate within, safeguarding your premises, people and assets is crucial. However, if you operate within premises operating with low staff levels and high value goods, the importance of an effective security system becomes paramount. Read More >>
25 January 2022
At its simplest level, CCTV monitors and offers round the clock surveillance in both private and public property.
Whether you are an educational establishment, commercial business enterprise or hospital, safeguarding your premises, people and assets is crucial. The importance of effective CCTV surveillance is unquestionable. Read More >>
19 January 2022
In 2021, a lot had happened to the world, and the security industry is no different. Throughout last year, there have been several developments in both access control and time and attendance, all helping to keep businesses and consumers safe, whilst adapting to new changes and challenges. Read More >>
17 January 2022
The risk of theft, and the financial loss that comes with it, is just one of many reasons to secure your warehouse. Effective security methods can also prevent unauthorised access to sensitive information and stop employees who don’t have the appropriate training or protective equipment from entering potentially dangerous areas of your business. Read More >>
15 December 2021
Managing a building’s security can be tricky, both in terms of monitoring access and ensuring CCTV cameras are operating as required. It can be challenging and complicated with employees, visitors and external contractors all needing access to the building and surrounding premises at different times. Read More >>
10 November 2021
For many businesses, CCTV cameras are an important part of their commercial security system which helps keep their staff and business safe. An essential role of this system is ensuring you’re getting the best security by positioning all cameras in the best way, experiencing the best camera quality, and for some business owners, being able to record sound as well as video. Read More >>
06 September 2021
The retail sector is crucial to the UK economy, with the total value of UK retail sales reaching £403 billion in 2020. The retail industry is also responsible for employing 2.9m staff and operates across a total of over 306,000 retail outlets across the UK. Read More >>
05 August 2021
Whether you are an educational establishment, commercial business enterprise or hospital, safeguarding your staff, business and data is crucial. The importance of effective CCTV surveillance is unquestionable. Read More >>
28 July 2021
Facial scanning technology is a sophisticated method that uses an individual’s unique facial features to gain access to a building. It ensures legislative compliance and best practice across all levels of an organisation and plays a pivotal part in streamlining business operations. Read More >>
28 April 2021
Once looked upon as the epitome of advancing futuristic civilisations in the world of sci-fi, Automatic Facial Recognition (AFR) has now firmly earnt its place in mainstream operations all over the world. Read More >>
22 March 2021
Building and maintaining trust and credibility is of paramount importance for the longevity of any business in any sector.
Whether you are the owner of an SME, organisation or larger enterprise, your customers instill their trust in you to deliver a service or product safely with the utmost of care and professionalism. This is where industry-recognised credentials are fundamental, like those in the access control sector. Read More >>
08 March 2021
Manufacturing is a vast industry encompassing several sectors. From transportation to chemicals, food production to electronics. A manufacturers’ base, often in plants, mills or factories, require efficient and slick processes to ensure manufacturing operations are as seamless as possible. Read More >>
23 February 2021
With manufacturing excellence very much at the forefront of this operation, intelligent technologies play a key part in securing this company’s vision. Read More >>
28 January 2021
Global operations have dramatically changed following the outbreak of COVID-19.
The knock-on impact to industries worldwide as a result of the pandemic cannot be disputed. Like other business sectors, the security industry has needed to react, adapt and adopt existing and emerging technologies to meet the demands that COVID-19 presented. Read More >>
04 January 2021
Our physical attributes are the most impervious form of identity verification there is. Virtually impossible to replicate and completely unique, physical features such as eyes, faces and fingerprints make ideal ID credentials. Read More >>
30 November 2020
By their very nature, large campuses are difficult to secure. Whether it’s a university or college, a hospital or even a corporate organisation, large campus environments tend to feature a variety of buildings and grounds over a large area, or set of areas, each with different functions and security requirements. Read More >>
01 October 2020
There was a time when having workers working remotely or in the field meant being unaware of their movements. The only means for a management team to check in would be to contact the worker directly, which was never the best way to foster trust or encourage productivity. Read More >>
02 September 2020
An effective access control system should integrate with other premises and people management systems for one central supervisory solution, while also creating time and efficiency savings for the business in question. Planning and implementing such a system requires a highly specific approach to design, one that results in a secure and well-managed organisational environment, often across multiple sites. Read More >>
10 August 2020
Recent months have been an unprecedented challenge for us all. And, although it’s great to see staff returning to their workplaces as things tentatively get back to a ‘new normal’, this brings with it fresh hurdles to overcome to ensure employee and visitor safety. Read More >>
09 March 2020
Of all the benefits an organisation can attain through a time and attendance system, cost saving might not be the first to spring to mind. Read More >>
17 January 2020
Change can be a tricky thing to deal with, particularly in the workplace. It’s also inevitable though; no business can develop without refining its processes and practices. Read More >>
25 November 2019
Time & attendance solutions are designed to be simple and intuitive. But don’t be deceived, these systems can be powerful tools to drive operational efficiencies, automate key workforce management processes to reduce costs and provide real time management visibility. Read More >>
15 November 2019
It seems that virtually all aspects of our working days have been revolutionised by technology over the years. Just as laptops or the desktop computer have replaced the typewriter, we are carrying out even the most unassuming of administrative tasks in increasingly digitised ways. Read More >>
25 October 2019
No industry grows by standing still. Access control and the technology it is built on is continuing to evolve, enabling evermore secure, efficient and convenient premises protection and as a result, the market is booming. Research forecasts the global access control market toreach $12.1 billion by 2024, at a compound annual growth rate of 8.24%. Read More >>
14 October 2019
Since its introduction in 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has had time to bed in. Now, legislation relating to personal data and its usage are well-defined, well-published and enforceable, so there’s no excuse for not being informed about what’s expected. Read More >>
07 October 2019
Managing employee and visitor access rights at single or multiple locations can become a complex task with many moving parts. But with safety and security on the line, you can’t afford to have a weak link or any gaps in your system. Read More >>
09 September 2019
With so many digital time and attendance solutions now available, there’s no need to spend precious resources manually managing your workplace and workforce. But, if your business is ready to digitise time and attendance, the range of system terminals can present you with another decision to make - which type of input hardware is right for you? Read More >>
08 July 2019
If access control is a way to maintain the security of both real-world and digital spaces, physical access control can be seen as a locked door. Only admitting entry to a building, room or area to those with the right ‘key’ – such as a code, fingerprint scan or ID card – physical access control serves as a responsive barrier that creates a secure physical environment. Read More >>
10 June 2019
The days of stamping a timecard are well and truly over. With a digital time and attendance system in place, today’s businesses can keep track of employees’ working hours and time on site without a single piece of paperwork. Read More >>
31 May 2019
Fingerprints can be captured through a range of different reader technologies including optical, capacitive, ultrasound and thermal technologies. Read More >>
18 April 2019
Access control readers are the digital gatekeepers of a security system. There are many forms of reader technology, each which either admit or restrict physical access to a space based on a different form of identification. Read More >>
21 December 2018
These days, we’re surrounded by the kind of technology that, at one point, wouldn’t have seemed out of place in a science-fiction film. From the Internet of Things (IoT) to artificial intelligence (AI), modern technology is increasingly put to work to make daily tasks quicker, more automated and more convenient. The same is true of the technology that powers premises security but, where access control is concerned, it’s vital that any boost in efficiency doesn’t equate to compromised system integrity.
Technological advancements for the access control industry must combine innovation with the highest standards of security, as we explore in this blog. Read More >>
16 November 2018
According to research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), unplanned absence costs UK businesses £29 billion a year. For private sector companies, this equates to £522 per employee on average, while it costs public sector organisations £835 per employee. This is undoubtedly significant in itself, but there’s more that businesses should consider than just the financial impact of team members missing work. This feature takes a closer look at what staff absenteeism really means. Read More >>
01 October 2018
Your organisation works hard to stay at the forefront of your field, and there are few things more gratifying than to see that dedication rewarded by growth and advancement. Yet, alongside the passage of time, business progression can often render your building security less effective than it should be, which a developing company can ill-afford. If your access control system no longer seems to meet the needs of your organisation, it may only be a matter of time before a chink in the armour turns into a full-scale security lapse. Here are five signs you should look to upgrade your building security without delay. Read More >>
01 October 2018
These days, there’s much more to building security than simply keeping the wrong people out. While access control is an essential consideration, in offering optimum business value, a system should include every aspect of your physical premises security, plus site visibility, staff and visitor management, and time and attendance functionality. Crucially, each of these systems should interact and communicate with the others, based on data in a central location. Read More >>
03 August 2018
University can be a rite of passage and, for many young people, it’s the first time they find themselves living away from home. Safe and secure learning and living environments go a long way towards helping new students settle in and find their feet, so campus security should be a top priority for university administrators. Read More >>
19 July 2018
Assa Abloy a leading manufacturer of access control hardware, and an important partner of Touchstar ATC, has produced a detailed report on the current status of the wireless access control market. The report was produced in conjunction with IFSEC and we’ve highlighted some of the main findings. Read More >>
29 May 2018
We’re always encouraging small and growing businesses to invest in CCTV, and with good reason: even former criminals vouchfor the effectiveness of video surveillance. But the latest cameras can be used for much more than just catching bad guys.
Within this feature are a few applications for CCTV equipment that you might not have considered before. Read More >>
03 May 2018
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) – the next major shakeup to European Union (EU) data privacy laws – is set to come into full force on May 25, forcing businesses of all kinds to reassess their attitudes towards and processes around personal data. Read More >>
04 April 2018
CCTV has long been a useful tool in the business owner’s battle against crime, but the technology’s users find themselves at a crossroads. In 2018, with purse strings tighter than ever, most are being forced to do more with less – minimising costs without weakening defences. Fortunately, this corporate security mainstay is evolving, and various new features and trends are helping organisations get the most from their CCTV investments Read More >>
30 January 2018
CCTV is everywhere in the UK. Although accurate figures are hard to come by, some reports have estimated there to be almost six million cameras watching the population – roughly one for every 11 people. It’s not difficult to see why, as a security measure, CCTV is so popular: it’s cost-effective and it works. But the rapid spread of surveillance over the past ten years has caused many members of the public to question their rights to privacy. For any business considering CCTV, then, and those using it already, it’s crucial to understand the legal implications. And namely, how it fits within the Human Rights Act 1998. Read More >>
20 December 2017
Although government figures suggest that crimes against businesses are falling in most areas, the tens of thousands of incidents still occurring show that companies still have plenty to fear. The threats go far beyond just theft as well; owners and workers across all industries are at risk of fraud, assaults and cybercrime too. So how do you go about keeping your business and the people within it safe? Read More >>
23 November 2017
There are many ways in which one of our systems can protect your business from theft and unauthorised entry, and while this is the primary function, there is more to access control than just security. With the right solution in place, you stand to improve record-keeping, productivity and safety across your business - and in this article, we’ll explain how. Read More >>
09 November 2017
The methods businesses use to keep their property and people safe have changed significantly over the years. New technologies are constantly making their way into security strategies, promising to deliver stronger and more efficient protection. The industry is in no way standing still either – the future is bright, with various exciting solutions and trends on the horizon. Read More >>
06 November 2017
For decades, access control systems were considered a security tool that let authorised personnel enter a building or area. While many people still think of access control in these terms, advanced access control systems boast a variety of tools and benefits that are often overlooked. Read More >>
29 September 2017
As much as we’d all like to fully trust those around us, there will always be some people who have malicious intentions – so you need to protect your premises. The key is to invest wisely in security, and more specifically, access control. Even when you have security in mind, though, there are pitfalls to consider; pitfalls that many organisations are still falling foul of today. This feature highlights some of the most obvious failings, and a few tips on how to avoid them. Read More >>
04 August 2017
While the internet has undoubtedly revolutionised business communication, most companies still need to welcome visitors to their premises regularly - whether for important meetings or just introductory tours of the office. As such, visitor access – and managing it effectively – is still a major consideration for managers across all industries. Thankfully, the task is made easier by the host of innovative access control technologies available, each one built to address the various security challenges faced by your business. Read More >>
25 July 2017
Implementing a new access control system is no small step. Choose the right setup though, and you’ll be reaping the rewards in no time. TouchStar is committed to ensuring its customers get the most from their investments, and as part of that we offer a range of ongoing support through our online portal. Our job is in no way done once the initial installation is complete; we’ll be there by your side to prevent and fix problems, advise and update for as long as you need us. Read More >>
09 June 2017
To find the best security solution for your business, TouchStar undertakes a detailed site survey to find out what you’re looking to achieve, how well your current system works and your future business plans. Read More >>
19 May 2017
If you’re to get the most from your access control investment, you need to ensure that as well as being secure, your set-up is user-friendly. Consider things such as tuition, freedom of access and scalability for the future. Read More >>
05 May 2017
The safety of students and staff is a primary concern in the education sector and now innovative and easy-to-use technologies are making monitoring and controlling complex premises of all sizes straightforward and cost-effective. Read More >>
20 April 2017
Internet Protocol (IP) technology offers advanced security solutions which provide greater convenience and better protection than ever before. Here we look at the benefits and the ways forward in the future. Read More >>
11 April 2017
Today’s businesses face all manner of security challenges. To achieve the ultimate peace of mind it pays to invest in a state-of-the-art, fully-featured access control system. One of the market’s leading solutions is TouchStar’s Microtrak Evolution software. Read More >>
02 March 2017
Biometric access control systems are becoming increasingly popular reading a person’s voice, retina or fingerprint to determine if they can be permitted entry. But how does the biometrics system works and what businesses are systems of this type most suited to? Read More >>
13 February 2017
The CCTV systems that Touchstar ATC provide offer a wide-variety of modern technological advances. These include instant playback allowing people to instantly rewind and view footage in the event of an incident, round-the-clock monitoring with digital footage storage devices and zoom functions so cameras can focus in on suspicious activity. Read More >>
26 January 2017
Have you considered how you would manage a security incident within your building? Depending on the industry you work in, the type of incident that you might encounter will differ, but we are talking about something sudden, unexpected, dangerous or distressing. There are several technology solutions that can help with managing an emergency situation.
Read More >>