Data Methodology & Legal Notice

Overview

The Access Control Brand Index is built from public data collected through the Reddit API. Specifically, we analyzed all posts and comments from the /r/accesscontrol community over the past six months. The goal of this project is to understand how physical access control brands are discussed by practitioners and enthusiasts within an open, user-driven forum.

Data Collection

All data was obtained using the official Reddit API, which provides access to publicly available content in accordance with Reddit’s API Terms of Use. Our process identifies brand mentions using associated keywords (for example, “Signo” as an indicator of HID) and aggregates them for analysis. No private subreddits, deleted content, or user-restricted information are accessed or stored.

Data Processing & Scoring

Each brand is evaluated using a set of defined metrics:

• Frequency: The total number of times a brand is mentioned.
• Sentiment: A natural language processing model assigns a sentiment score from 1 to 100 based on the tone of each mention.
• Support & Ease of Install: Mentions referencing support quality and installation experience are analyzed and scored between 1 and 100.

These factors are then combined into a weighted composite metric known as the Global Score, designed to summarize brand performance in a single, comparable figure. Brands with fewer than ten mentions are excluded to preserve statistical validity.

Data Privacy & Anonymization

Although Reddit posts are publicly accessible, no personally identifiable information (PII) such as profile data, or complete quotes are displayed or stored in any identifiable manner. The analysis operates exclusively on anonymized, aggregated data. This project complies fully with Reddit’s API policies and ethical data use standards.

Accuracy & Limitations

The data presented reflects Reddit discussions as of the date of collection. Because Reddit content can be edited, deleted, or recontextualized over time, the results may not represent current opinions or trends. Scores are provided for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsements, factual certifications, or comprehensive market analyses.

Intellectual Property & Attribution

All Reddit content remains the property of its respective users and Reddit, Inc. This website and analysis are independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Reddit, Inc. All brand names and trademarks mentioned belong to their respective owners. The Access Control Brand Index is an independent, data-driven initiative intended for research, educational, and comparative purposes.

Contact

If you are a brand owner or Reddit user with questions, corrections, or takedown requests regarding this data, please contact us at pacs50[at]tacc.me.

Disclaimer: The insights and scores presented are based on publicly available discussions and do not represent endorsements or official evaluations of any brand, company, or product. All trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Learn more about our data methodology and legal notices.

Data Accuracy Disclaimer: The data and scores shown are derived from publicly available Reddit content as of the time of analysis. Because Reddit content may be edited or removed, results may not reflect the most current discussions or opinions.

© 2025 The Access Control Collective and AccessGrid, Inc. Data sourced via the Reddit API from public subreddit discussions. Reddit and all user content remain the property of their respective owners. Analysis and opinions are independent and provided for informational purposes only. No personal data is stored or shared.