Johnson Controls Access Control Systems

Johnson Controls is a powerful access control system for businesses with any number of locations. Learn about its products here.

• Johnson Controls offers electronic single-facility and hosted multifacility access control.
• You can add managed access control, biometric readers and a diverse array of physical security features.
• We recommend Johnson Controls for companies looking for easy access control setup and administration with extra security add-ons.

Johnson Controls offers numerous access control systems for businesses of all sizes. Its electronic access control plan is great for single-site use, just as its hosted access control plan is ideal for multisite administration. However, the brand's real standout quality is its suite of physical, managed and biometric access control add-ons. Learn more below.

What Is Johnson Controls?

Johnson Controls has existed for far longer than most other access control companies. The company launched in 1885, with roots in energy use and conservation. Today, it maintains these roots while offering access control solutions as well as business HVAC, fire protection and refrigeration products.

Does Johnson Controls Have a Free Trial?

It is unclear whether Johnson Controls offers free trials. We suggest reaching out to Johnson Controls if you are interested in trying its access control products for free before committing.

Johnson Controls Pricing

Johnson Controls does not list its security prices on its website. We suggest reaching out to the company for a quote, as many installations involve custom setups to meet a business's needs.

Johnson Controls Access Control Products

Johnson Controls produces electronic, hosted, physical, managed and biometric access control systems. If you choose Johnson Controls, you must start with an electronic or hosted plan, then add physical, managed and biometric access features as needed.

FYI: Although Johnson Controls lists five types of access control products on its website, you only need electronic or hosted access control. You can then opt in to several physical, managed and biometric access control add-ons.

We've explained more about each Johnson Controls access control type below.

Electronic Access Control

Through Johnson Controls' electronic access control system, you can remotely monitor your facility and set your access standards as needed. You can also gather and interpret data and build meaningful business intelligence (BI).

Source: Johnson Controls

Hosted Access Control

Johnson Controls' hosted access control solution is similar to its electronic system, but it's hosted in the cloud instead of onsite. Johnson Controls says that its hosted plan will cut down your infrastructure costs, since it requires you to install less hardware.

Source: Johnson Controls

Physical Access Control

After you choose either electronic or hosted access control, you can also purchase physical access control products from Johnson Controls. These products include fences, gates, vaults, safes, barricades and other powerful physical barriers that other access control companies don't provide.

Managed Access Control

Through Johnson Controls' managed access control system, you can implement access control for your facility without hiring security staff or obtaining large amounts of capital. Instead, Johnson Controls will connect you with its own security professionals to manage your system.

Biometric Access Control

To bolster the security of your electronic or hosted access control technology, Johnson Controls also sells biometric readers. Johnson Controls says that its biometric access control platform is compliant with federal requirements, so you can presumably use it without worry.

Johnson Controls Payment Options

Johnson Controls does not specify its payment options on its website. We recommend that you reach out to Johnson Controls to ask about how you can pay for your access control solutions.

Best Features of Johnson Controls

These are some of the best features of Johnson Controls' access control systems:

• Access history. Johnson Controls' hosted access control system includes tools for viewing your entire access history. With these tools, you can see how often certain entry points have been accessed and by whom. You can also gather insights from this information using additional Johnson Controls tools.
  
  
• Automatic software upgrades. Neglecting to upgrade your software decreases your data's security, but this is a nonissue with Johnson Controls' electronic access control system. This system includes automatic software upgrades that keep your system up to date and fully secure.
  
  
• Biometric access. In addition to electronic and hosted solutions, the company offers biometric access infrastructure. Johnson Controls' biometric scanners and door locks can identify a person based on their fingerprint, iris or face. Since these qualities are unique to one person, the biometric access tools minimize the chances of keycard or passcode sharing.

The more you know: With biometric access controls in place, you eliminate the ability for an employee with card access to pass their card to someone who lacks access.

• Customer support. As you install your Johnson Controls electronic access control infrastructure, you'll have Johnson Controls staff ready and eager to assist you. You'll have this same level of consultative support available as you design and manage your system. This consistent communication with Johnson Controls can help you maximize your security.
  
  
• Since Johnson Controls' hosted access control system is cloud-based, you can easily customize it to fit any business size. This feature is as useful for a single facility with many access points as it is for multifacility management.
  
  
• Data and business intelligence. As Johnson Controls' access control systems operate, they collect data about your facility's access. Beyond that, they help you gather BI from your data. They give your company thorough, meaningful access insights that you can use for numerous purposes.
  
  
• Event notifications. Through Johnson Controls' hosted access control solution, you can set up notifications for every critical access event. These notifications arrive instantly after an event so that you can react immediately.
  
  
• Fire and safety integrations. With Johnson Controls managing your access control system, you can opt in to fire and safety integrations. These integrations add an extra layer of security in the event of an emergency that could threaten your team, facilities or information (or all three).
  
  
• Managed access control. Installing an access control system can be time-consuming and expensive, and the learning curve can be steep. Johnson Controls eliminates these challenges through its managed access control add-on. Instead of hiring new security employees or training your current team, you can have Johnson Controls do the heavy lifting.
  
  
• Multifacility access. Since Johnson Controls' hosted access control system is cloud-based, you can use it for several locations. This way, instead of setting up an onsite access control system at every location, you can make one purchase that governs all your properties.
  
  
• Permissions management. Both Johnson Controls' electronic and hosted access control solutions give you extensive permissions management Additionally, the hosted solution allows real-time permissions management, meaning you can potentially change permissions during a concerning event.
  
  
• Physical guards. You can purchase additional physical guards when you buy a Johnson Controls system. Many of these guards – such as fences, gates, vaults and safes – are not available directly from other access control companies. As such, Johnson Controls has a significant edge over its competitors in physical security.
  
  
• Remote control. You don't need to be onsite to use your Johnson Controls system. Both the electronic and hosted versions allow remote access control, so no matter where you are when a security incident occurs, you can act accordingly. Even if you're just admitting a guest remotely, the Johnson Controls system facilitates the process.
  
  
• Single interface. All Johnson Controls software streamlines access control through a single interface. This setup is especially helpful if you're managing several facilities; instead of logging in to a separate system for each location, you can oversee them all from the same dashboard.
  
  
• Visual verification. If you integrate security cameras into your Johnson Controls hosted access control system, you can visually verify access control events. This integration gives you another layer of security if you encounter potentially suspicious access events.
  
  
• Wireless locks. Access control often means adding extensive wiring and hardware to your facility, but this isn't the case with Johnson Controls' hosted access control solution. Instead, you'll get wireless locks that cut down on physical connections. As a result, setup costs less and takes less time.

To summarize these best features, we've created a comparison table of Johnson Controls' electronic and hosted access control solutions:

Summary

Johnson Controls' electronic and hosted access control systems are robust and straightforward. The electronic system is a great choice for one-site control, and the hosted system is top-notch for multisite management.

Johnson Controls' standout features extend beyond access control basics. The company's managed and biometric solutions are expansive, and its physical security add-ons are more diverse than any of its competitors' offerings. We recommend Johnson Controls for any business that needs flexible access control from a supportive company.

Johnson Controls FAQs

What is Johnson Controls?

Johnson Controls is a company that produces access control systems alongside commercial HVAC, refrigeration and energy solutions.

What kinds of access control does Johnson Controls offer?

Johnson Controls offers electronic, hosted, managed, physical and biometric access control.

Is Johnson Controls suitable for multi-business use?

Yes, Johnson Controls is suitable for multi-business use. Its hosted access control platform is customizable to fit businesses of any size, with any number of facilities.