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Building a Modern Access Control Lab with UniFi (Mag Locks, NFC & G6 Entry Camera)

  • Writer: Jonathan P
    Jonathan P
  • 1 hour ago
  • 2 min read

Access control has traditionally been complex, expensive, and fragmented across multiple systems. With UniFi Access, that’s starting to change.


In this lab setup, I wanted to test a clean, modern approach to door access using the UniFi ecosystem — combining a magnetic door strike, NFC reader, and the new G6 Entry camera into a single, unified platform.


Why UniFi for Access Control?

One of the biggest challenges with traditional access systems is integration. You often end up dealing with separate vendors for controllers, readers, cameras, and software.


UniFi simplifies this by bringing everything into one ecosystem:


  • Centralized management

  • Seamless integration with video (UniFi Protect)

  • Clean, intuitive interface

  • Scalable for small to mid-sized environments


For MSPs and businesses, this means less complexity and lower operational overhead.


Lab Setup Overview

This setup was designed to simulate a real-world deployment while keeping things simple and clean.


Components Used:

  • UniFi Access Controller

  • Magnetic door strike (mag lock)

  • UniFi NFC reader

  • G6 Entry camera


The goal was to create a fully functional door access system with both secure authentication and video verification at the entry point.


How It Works

The flow is straightforward:

  1. A user taps their NFC credential, Apple Wallet or PIN CODE on the reader

  2. The UniFi Access system validates permissions

  3. The magnetic door strike unlocks

  4. The G6 Entry camera records and provides visibility at the door


Everything is logged and managed centrally, giving full visibility into who accessed the door and when.


Why This Matters

From a security and operations perspective, this type of setup offers several advantages:


  • Improved Security: Controlled access with audit logs

  • Visibility: Integrated video at the door

  • Ease of Management: One platform for everything

  • Scalability: Easily expand to multiple doors or locations


For small businesses, offices, and even certain residential setups, this provides enterprise-level functionality without the traditional complexity.


Real-World Use Cases

This type of deployment fits well in environments like:


  • Office buildings

  • Automotive dealerships

  • Warehouses

  • Shared workspaces

  • Server rooms / restricted areas

Especially for multi-site businesses, having a consistent, cloud-managed access system can be a huge operational win.


Final Thoughts


UniFi continues to push into areas that were traditionally dominated by expensive, complex systems — and access control is no exception.


This lab setup shows how you can build a clean, modern, and secure door access solution using a unified platform. For MSPs, this also opens up opportunities to standardize deployments and offer ongoing managed security services.


If you’re looking to modernize your access control or build out a lab to test new solutions, UniFi Access is definitely worth exploring.

 
 
 
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