Card Reader & Biometric Access Flashcards

Which communication protocol is most commonly used between a card reader and an access control panel?

Answer: Wiegand

Wiegand is the industry-standard protocol for transmitting card data from a reader to an access control panel.

What is 'tailgating' in the context of access control?

Answer: An unauthorized person following an authorized person through a secured door

Tailgating occurs when an unauthorized individual closely follows an authorized user through a secured entry point before the door closes.

A proximity card reader stops responding after a nearby lightning strike. The most likely damaged component is the:

Answer: Reader's surge protection or internal circuitry

Lightning-induced surges most commonly damage the reader's electronics, particularly if surge protection devices are absent or insufficient.

OSDP (Open Supervised Device Protocol) provides an advantage over Wiegand because it:

Answer: Supports bidirectional encrypted communication between reader and panel

OSDP supports bidirectional, encrypted communication, allowing the panel to receive status from and send commands to the reader — unlike the one-way Wiegand protocol.

When enrolling a finger for a fingerprint reader, best practice requires capturing how many sample scans?

Answer: 3 to 5

Capturing 3 to 5 sample scans during enrollment creates a more robust biometric template and reduces false rejections.

Which access card technology is considered the LEAST secure for high-security installations?

Answer: 125 kHz proximity (HID Prox)

125 kHz proximity cards transmit data unencrypted and can be easily cloned using inexpensive off-the-shelf equipment.

A mantrap (or airlock) is used in physical security to:

Answer: Control access by allowing only one person to pass between two interlocked doors at a time

A mantrap uses two interlocked doors so that the first must close and verify before the second opens, preventing tailgating and piggybacking.