5 Ways to Secure Your Building Access

Building security doesn't have to mean inconvenience. With smart access control, you can have both. Here are five proven ways to keep your building secure while making life easier for everyone.

1. Use Time-Limited Access Links

Never give permanent access to temporary visitors. Whether it's a delivery driver, repair technician, or weekend guest, always set an expiration time.

Pro tip: Set access links to expire 15 minutes after the expected arrival time. This gives a buffer for delays while limiting exposure.

Best practices:

Delivery drivers: 30-minute window
Service technicians: Duration of appointment + 1 hour
Guests: Check-out time for multi-day visits

2. Enable PIN Protection for Sensitive Areas

A link alone might not be enough for high-security areas. Adding a PIN code ensures that even if a link is shared, unauthorized users can't get in.

Access Link + PIN = Two-Factor Authentication

Consider PIN protection for:

Parking garages
Storage areas
Utility rooms
After-hours access

3. Review Access Logs Regularly

Your access logs tell a story. Regular review helps you spot unusual patterns before they become problems.

What to look for

Access attempts outside normal hours
Multiple failed attempts from the same link
Unusually high frequency of access
Links being used after they should have expired

Set a weekly reminder to review your access logs. Most issues are caught within the first few days.

4. Revoke Access Immediately When No Longer Needed

That cleaner who quit last month? The tenant who moved out? Make revoking access part of your offboarding checklist.

Quick revocation checklist:

[ ] Revoke all active passes
[ ] Remove from any recurring schedules
[ ] Update shared access (if they had master access)
[ ] Review who else might have received forwarded links

5. Use Different Access Levels

Not everyone needs the same level of access. Structure your passes to give minimum necessary access.

| Visitor Type | Access Level | Duration | |--------------|--------------|----------| | Delivery | Lobby only | 30 min | | Guest | Lobby + specific floor | Visit duration | | Cleaner | Common areas | Scheduled hours | | Resident | Full building | Permanent |

Bonus: Educate Your Residents

Security is only as strong as its weakest link. Make sure everyone in your building understands:

Don't share access links - Each person should have their own
Report suspicious activity - Better safe than sorry
Keep the app updated - Security patches matter

Remember: You are responsible for the access links you create and share. Use these tools wisely.

Conclusion

Smart access control is about finding the right balance between security and convenience. By following these five practices, you can significantly reduce your building's security risks while making access easier for legitimate visitors.

Ready to upgrade your building's access control? Get started with OneTap Access today.