Access Control
Commercial access control systems designed for Colorado businesses
ESI Technologies designs and installs commercial access control systems for businesses across the Colorado Front Range. Authorized for Gallagher, Salto, AMAG, and Genetec, with installations supported by 40+ years of integration experience and CJIS-certified technicians.
Commercial access control, built around your facility
Commercial access control is the combination of hardware (readers, controllers, electric strikes, magnetic locks), credentials (cards, fobs, mobile credentials, biometrics), and software that manages who can enter which areas of a facility, when, and with a complete audit trail. ESI installs commercial access control systems ranging from single-door deployments to enterprise platforms managing thousands of doors across multiple sites in Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, and the broader Front Range.
A modern access control system is no longer a card reader bolted to a door. It is a credential management platform with integrations into video, intrusion, HR provisioning, and visitor management. Specifying it correctly the first time avoids the most common problem in commercial access control: a system that gets the basics right but can’t scale or integrate when the facility’s needs change.
Card and credential systems
Card readers, key fobs, mobile credentials (HID Mobile Access, Apple Wallet, Google Wallet via integrated platforms), and biometric readers. Multi-format readers support card, fob, mobile, and biometric authentication in a single device, so a facility can migrate credential types over time without replacing reader hardware.
- Card, fob, and mobile credential readers
- Biometric access options
- Multi-format readers for mixed credential environments
- Visitor and contractor credential management
- Multi-site credential management
Door hardware and electrified locking
Electric strikes, magnetic locks, electrified levers, wireless locks (Salto), and exit devices with electrified options. ESI coordinates door hardware specifications with locksmiths, door manufacturers, and general contractors on new construction and tenant improvement projects, which is where most access control mistakes get made.
- Electric strikes and magnetic locks
- Electrified levers and exit devices
- Wireless and battery-powered locking (Salto)
- ADA-compliant hardware specifications
- New construction and TI coordination
Access control platforms
Cloud-based and on-premise platforms from Gallagher Command Centre, Salto Space and KS, AMAG Symmetry, Genetec Security Center, and others. Platform selection is driven by facility size, integration requirements, and compliance needs, not by which manufacturer pays the highest dealer margin.
- Gallagher Command Centre (cloud and on-premise)
- Salto Space and Salto KS
- AMAG Symmetry
- Genetec Security Center
- Cloud and on-premise deployment options
- Multi-site management from a single platform
Integration with video and intrusion
Access events tied to video footage. Door-forced-open alarms pulling camera feeds automatically. Credential denials reviewable alongside video in a single workflow. Genetec, Avigilon, AMAG, and Gallagher all support tight access-to-video integration, and ESI is authorized for each.
- Door-forced-open events linked to live and recorded video
- Credential denials reviewable in a unified interface
- Intrusion alarm integration with access events
- HR system integration for automatic credential provisioning
- Visitor management integration
Manufacturer-authorized across the major commercial access control platforms
Authorization is not a formality. Manufacturers like Gallagher, Salto, AMAG, and Genetec restrict who can buy direct, who receives factory training, and who can register warranties and software licenses. An unauthorized installer can place hardware on a wall. The support relationship, warranty coverage, and software entitlements run through the authorized channel only.
For commercial buyers, this matters at the moment something goes wrong. An unauthorized installation may work for years, then fail to receive a firmware update, fall out of compliance with a manufacturer’s hardware lifecycle policy, or hit a software license issue that can only be resolved through an authorized partner. ESI’s authorizations exist so the facility doesn’t end up in that position.
ESI is authorized for:
- Gallagher. Premium commercial-grade access control. Cardax controllers, Command Centre software, mobile credentialing, and high-security applications including government and infrastructure facilities.
- Salto. Wireless and electronic locking solutions. Strong fit for multi-tenant commercial properties, education campuses, and facilities where running wire to every door is impractical or cost-prohibitive.
- AMAG. Enterprise and government-grade access control. Symmetry platform supports large multi-site deployments with strong compliance documentation, common in federal, healthcare, and education environments.
- Genetec. Unified security platform. Security Center integrates access control with video management (Omnicast) and license plate recognition (AutoVu) on a single software platform. Strong fit for facilities consolidating multiple legacy systems.
- Napco. Commercial intrusion and access control hardware. Common in commercial retail and small-to-mid commercial deployments.
- LifeSafety Power. Power supply and integration hardware that supports the rest of the stack.
Access control for Colorado’s commercial, healthcare, and government facilities
Different industries have different access control requirements. ESI’s experience across these sectors informs how each system is designed.
Healthcare →
HIPAA-aligned access control. Secure zone segregation between clinical, administrative, and public areas. Panic button integration at reception and high-risk locations. Controlled-substance storage access with dual authentication and full audit trail. Visitor management integration for compliance reporting.
Education →
Campus-wide credentialing for K–12 and higher education. Visitor management at main entries. Lockdown integration with intrusion and PA systems. ESI has installed access control for school facilities across Northern and Southern Colorado.
Municipal and government →
CJIS-compliant deployments for law enforcement, corrections, and court facilities. Multi-facility credential management across city and county operations. Audit trail and reporting for compliance. ESI is CJIS certified and has installed access control systems for Larimer County, the City of Fort Collins, and other Colorado municipalities.
Manufacturing and industrial →
Yard gate access, shipping and receiving zone control, contractor and visitor access management. Integration with time and attendance where appropriate. License plate recognition for vehicle gate access on larger campuses.
Property management →
Tenant-controlled interior access with separate credentials per tenant lease. Shared common-area credentialing managed by the property owner. Clean technical and administrative separation between tenants is the defining requirement here, and one of the most common places multi-tenant systems fall short.
Corporate →
Multi-site corporate access control with integration to HR information systems for automatic provisioning and deprovisioning. New employees get credentials issued automatically on hire. Departing employees lose access automatically on termination. Manual credential management at scale is where most corporate security incidents originate.
How an ESI access control project works
ESI doesn’t sell a catalog of equipment. We design a system that fits the facility, the operational requirements, and the compliance environment, then install and support it.
1. Site walk and security assessment
An ESI project manager walks the facility to document every door requiring access control, current door hardware, conduit availability, network drops, and existing credentials. The site walk is where most project scope gets defined accurately. Skip it, and the proposal is a guess.
2. System design and proposal
A door-by-door schedule with reader type, lock type, controller assignment, credential format, and software platform recommendation. The proposal explains why each component was specified, not just what it costs. For multi-site deployments, the design also includes the multi-site management approach and any HR or visitor management integrations.
3. Professional installation
ESI’s licensed technicians handle reader installation, lock installation, controller wiring, network integration, and software configuration. We coordinate with the customer’s IT team on network requirements, with door hardware suppliers on lock and frame compatibility, and with facilities or the GC on conduit and power. Our installs are documented with as-built drawings the customer keeps on file.
4. Training and handoff
When the system is commissioned, ESI trains the customer’s administrator on credential issuance, user management, and reporting. End users get training on day-to-day operation. We don’t hand over a manual and leave. We make sure the team knows how to use what’s been installed before the project closes.
5. Ongoing support
A commercial access control system is only as reliable as its maintenance. ESI offers maintenance agreements and Managed Sites to keep the system performing: scheduled maintenance visits, firmware updates, credential audits, and priority response when something needs attention.
Frequently asked questions about commercial access control
How much does commercial access control cost in Colorado?
Cost depends on the number of doors, the platform tier, the credential type, and whether structured cabling is already in place. A small single-door system runs in the low four figures including installation. A 10-to-20-door commercial deployment with a mid-tier platform typically runs in the low five figures. Enterprise multi-site deployments scale from there. The two biggest cost drivers are the number of doors and the platform tier (cloud vs. on-premise, basic vs. enterprise).
How long does an access control installation take?
A typical single-door installation completes in a day. A 10-to-20-door commercial system runs one to two weeks depending on door hardware coordination and network readiness. Enterprise and multi-site deployments are scheduled in phases over weeks to months. The longest variable on any project is door hardware: new doors and electrified hardware lead times are often longer than the controller and software work itself.
Can access control integrate with our existing video surveillance system?
Yes, if the platforms support integration. Genetec Security Center, Avigilon Control Center, Gallagher Command Centre, and AMAG Symmetry all integrate access events with video footage. When integrated, a door-forced-open event automatically pulls the relevant camera feed, and credential activity is reviewable alongside video in a single workflow. ESI is authorized for all four platforms.
Should we choose cloud-based or on-premise access control?
Cloud-based access control is easier to manage across multiple sites, requires less IT infrastructure, and updates automatically. On-premise systems offer more control over data residency and don’t depend on internet connectivity for credential reads at the door. For most commercial facilities in Colorado, cloud-based platforms (Gallagher Cloud, Salto KS, AMAG Symmetry Cloud) are the default recommendation. For government, healthcare, and high-security commercial facilities with specific data residency requirements, on-premise platforms are often the right choice.
Does ESI service access control systems we didn’t install?
In most cases, yes. ESI services existing commercial access control systems across Northern and Southern Colorado, including Gallagher, Salto, AMAG, Genetec, and other commonly installed platforms. A site visit to assess the current system is the starting point. The answer depends on the platform, the age of the hardware, and the condition of the existing network and door hardware.
What manufacturers does ESI install for access control?
ESI is an authorized partner for Gallagher, Salto, AMAG, Genetec, Napco, and LifeSafety Power. Manufacturer selection on any project depends on facility size, integration requirements, security level, and compliance needs. ESI is vendor-agnostic in the selection process: we recommend the right platform for the facility, not the one with the highest dealer margin.
Is ESI certified for government and law enforcement access control?
Yes. ESI is CJIS certified, which is required for access control deployments adjacent to law enforcement, corrections, and court facilities. ESI has installed access control systems for Larimer County, the City of Fort Collins, and other Colorado municipalities.
Start with a free site walk
An ESI project manager walks your facility, documents every door requiring access, and delivers a system design built for your specific requirements, at no cost and no obligation. Serving Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, Denver Metro, and businesses across the Colorado Front Range.
Fort Collins: (970) 999-1681 | Colorado Springs: (719) 602-7336