For warehouse and distribution centers across, security isn’t just about protecting inventory—it’s about safeguarding assets, ensuring operational continuity, and maintaining a secure environment for your workforce. With high-value goods, constant movement of personnel, and the sheer scale of operations, a robust security strategy is paramount.
While perimeter fencing and security cameras are essential, true warehouse security extends far beyond the fence line. It demands an integrated approach that combines smart access control with effective physical barriers to create layers of defense and control.
Here’s why an integrated system, including barriers like turnstiles, is critical for modern logistics operations.
The Unique Security Challenges of Warehouses & Distribution Centers
Warehouses present a complex security landscape:
High-Value Inventory: Targets for theft, both internal and external.
Large Footprint: Numerous entry points, loading docks, and expansive storage areas.
High Traffic Volume: Constant flow of employees, temporary staff, truck drivers, and visitors.
Operational Technology and IT Integration: Sensitive systems controlling automation, inventory, and logistics.
Employee Safety: Preventing unauthorized access is key to maintaining a safe work environment.
Compliance Requirements: Many facilities must meet specific security standards for insurance, client contracts, or industry regulations.
Addressing these challenges requires a security system that doesn’t just monitor, but actively controls and manages access to every critical zone.
Layering Security: Access Control & Physical Barriers
An effective warehouse security strategy employs a multi-layered approach, with each layer acting as a deterrent and a point of control.
1. Smart Access Control: Who, When, Where
At the heart of any modern security system is intelligent access control. This goes far beyond simple keypads.
Granular Permissions: Assign specific access rights based on role. For example, forklift operators only access the warehouse floor, while office staff only access administrative areas.
Time-Based Access: Limit entry to certain zones only during approved working hours, automatically denying access outside scheduled shifts.
Real-Time Monitoring: Know exactly who entered which door and when, providing invaluable audit trails for investigations and compliance reporting.
Integration with HR Systems: Seamlessly onboard and offboard employees, automatically activating or deactivating credentials as personnel changes occur.
Visitor Management: Efficiently register, track, and grant temporary access to contractors and visitors, ensuring they only go where they are authorized.
Mobile Credentials: Allow employees to use their smartphones as access credentials, eliminating the hassle of lost or forgotten cards while enhancing security.
Systems Integrations deploys cloud-based access control platforms from PDK and Feenics, giving warehouse managers the ability to manage all access points across multiple facilities from a single, centralized dashboard accessible from anywhere.
2. Physical Barriers: Enforcing the Rules
While electronic access control dictates who is allowed, physical barriers actively enforce that decision, preventing tailgating and controlling traffic flow.
Turnstiles for Pedestrian Entry:
- Full-Height Turnstiles: Ideal for main employee entrances and exits, especially in high-security zones. They allow only one person to pass per authorized credential scan, virtually eliminating tailgating. This provides a robust, unmanned checkpoint that operates 24/7.
- Optical Turnstiles: Often used in administrative lobbies or less restrictive areas, these use infrared beams to detect unauthorized entry attempts and trigger alarms, while offering a more aesthetically pleasing option.
Vehicle Gates & Bollards: Controlling vehicle access to loading docks, parking lots, and secure yards is just as critical. Integrated gate systems with card readers or license plate recognition ensure only authorized trucks and personnel gain entry.
Secured Entrances: Reinforced doors, man traps (interlocking doors), and robust locking mechanisms on critical entry points prevent forced entry and create controlled access zones.
Internal Zoning: Using access-controlled doors, cages, or even chain-link partitions within the warehouse to secure high-value goods, server rooms, or hazardous materials creates additional layers of protection.
The Power of Integration: A Unified Security Ecosystem
The true strength comes when these layers work together as a unified system. Imagine:
- An employee scans their badge at a full-height turnstile to enter the facility.
- The access control system, integrated with video surveillance from Rhombus or Hanwha, logs the entry and pulls up the employee’s video feed.
- If an unauthorized individual attempts to jump the turnstile, an alarm is triggered, and nearby cameras automatically focus and record the event, alerting security personnel instantly via mobile notification.
- Later, that same employee can use their mobile credential to access the designated loading dock, but only during their scheduled shift.
- Any attempt to access a restricted area, like a server room or high-value cage, will be denied, recorded, and flagged for review.
- At the end of the day, managers can pull comprehensive reports showing all access events, failed attempts, and video verification for any incident.
This integrated approach provides comprehensive visibility, prevents unauthorized access, and offers rapid response capabilities, significantly reducing risks and mitigating losses.
NDAA Compliance: Critical for Sensitive Facilities
For warehouses handling government contracts, defense materials, or sensitive client goods, using NDAA-compliant video surveillance equipment is essential. Systems Integrations exclusively uses NDAA-compliant cameras from Hanwha and Rhombus, ensuring your facility meets federal security standards and protecting against foreign-manufactured vulnerabilities.
Don’t Let Security Be an Afterthought
In the fast-paced world of logistics, a security lapse can lead to operational paralysis, significant financial loss, and severe reputational damage. Investing in a modern, integrated access control system with appropriate physical barriers like turnstiles is not just a cost—it’s a strategic imperative that protects your bottom line and your reputation.
At Systems Integrations, we specialize in designing and deploying tailored security solutions for warehouses and distribution centers throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. From perimeter control to internal zoning, we leverage cutting-edge technology and our expertise as a certified partner for PDK, Feenics, Rhombus, and Hanwha to build a secure, efficient, and future-proof environment for your operations.
Our team of licensed, certified technicians has over 20 years of experience in security integration. We handle every aspect of your project, from initial site survey to commissioning, typically completing installations within two to four weeks. Every system comes with a one-year workmanship warranty, and we offer comprehensive post-installation support through master service agreements and maintenance contracts.
We also provide emergency support through our after-hours on-call system, ensuring your facility’s security is never compromised.
Is your warehouse truly secure? Contact Systems Integrations today at (866) 417-3787 for a comprehensive security assessment and let’s fortify your operations.