BOMA Security & Access Control Flashcards

What is 'access control system' (ACS) in commercial buildings primarily designed to accomplish?

Answer: Control and document who enters specific areas of a building, limiting access to authorized individuals at authorized times

Access control systems regulate entry to buildings and specific areas by verifying credentials (cards, fobs, biometrics, or PINs), logging all access events, and denying entry to unauthorized individuals.

What is 'CPTED' (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) in the context of commercial building security?

Answer: A security philosophy that uses physical design elements like lighting, sightlines, and landscaping to deter criminal activity

CPTED uses building design, landscaping, lighting, and spatial organization to naturally deter crime by improving visibility, eliminating hiding spots, clearly defining public versus private spaces, and encouraging legitimate activity.

What is the primary purpose of a 'visitor management system' (VMS) in a commercial building?

Answer: Register, verify, badge, and track visitors to control access and maintain a record of all non-occupant building entries

A VMS streamlines visitor check-in, verifies identity, issues visitor badges, notifies hosts of arrivals, and maintains a comprehensive log of all visitors for security and emergency evacuation purposes.

What does 'security risk assessment' involve for commercial buildings?

Answer: Systematic identification of threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences to prioritize security investments

A security risk assessment identifies potential threats (crime, terrorism, natural disasters), assesses vulnerabilities in current security measures, and evaluates potential consequences to prioritize cost-effective security improvements.

What is 'two-factor authentication' (2FA) in commercial building access control?

Answer: Requiring two different types of credentials (e.g., access card plus PIN) to verify identity before granting access

Two-factor authentication requires users to present two different credential types (something you have like a card, plus something you know like a PIN, or something you are like a fingerprint) to verify identity, significantly reducing unauthorized access risk.

In commercial building security, what is a 'security operations center' (SOC)?

Answer: A centralized location where security personnel monitor CCTV, access control, and alarms and coordinate security responses

A security operations center is a staffed command center where security personnel monitor all building security systems in real time, respond to alarms, coordinate emergency responses, and maintain situational awareness.