--- title: What is a Cardholder? description: Find out what a Cardholder is and its role in your business security system. image: https://blog.dga.com/hubfs/Cardholder%20Banner.jpg --- [![cropped-DGA-Security-Logo-nsr-1-1](https://blog.dga.com/hubfs/Assets/logo/cropped-DGA-Security-Logo-nsr-1-1.png)](https://www.dga.com/) Search For: - [Contact](https://www.dga.com/contact/) - [Login](https://connect.dga.com/) - [Careers](https://www.dga.com/careers/) [Get A Free Consultation](https://www.dga.com/free-consultation/) - [Business Security](https://www.dga.com/business-security/) - [Intrusion Alarms](https://www.dga.com/business-security/intrusion-alarms/) - [Video Surveillance](https://www.dga.com/business-security/video-surveillance/) - [Access Control](https://www.dga.com/business-security/access-control/) - [Security System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/alarm-monitoring/) - [Environmental Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/environmental-monitoring/) - [Elevator Emergency Communication](https://www.dga.com/business-security/elevator-emergency-communication/) - [Fire Systems](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/) - [Design and Installation](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/design-installation/) - [Testing and Inspection](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/testing-and-inspection/) - [Fire Alarm System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/alarm-monitoring/) - [Contractor Support](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/contractor-support/) - [Industries](https://www.dga.com/industries/) - [Art Galleries](https://www.dga.com/industries/art-gallery-security/) - [Banking and Financial](https://www.dga.com/industries/bank-security/) - [Cannabis](https://www.dga.com/industries/cannabis-security/) - [Hotels](https://www.dga.com/industries/hotel-security/) - [Jewelry](https://www.dga.com/industries/jewelry-security/) - [Nonprofits](https://www.dga.com/industries/nonprofit-security/) - [Offices](https://www.dga.com/industries/office-security/) - [Property Management](https://www.dga.com/industries/property-security/) - [Religious Institutions](https://www.dga.com/industries/religious-institution-security/) - [Restaurants](https://www.dga.com/industries/restaurant-security/) - [Retail](https://www.dga.com/industries/retail-security/) - [Tools](https://www.dga.com/tools) - [DGA Blog](https://blog.dga.com) Search For: [Business Security](https://www.dga.com/business-security/) Business Security [Intrusion Alarms](https://www.dga.com/business-security/intrusion-alarms/) [Video Surveillance](https://www.dga.com/business-security/video-surveillance/) [Access Control](https://www.dga.com/business-security/access-control/) [Security System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/alarm-monitoring/) [Environmental Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/environmental-monitoring/) [Elevator Emergency Communication](https://www.dga.com/business-security/elevator-emergency-communication/) [Fire Systems](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/) Fire Systems [Design and Installation](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/design-installation/) [Testing and Inspection](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/testing-and-inspection/) [Fire Alarm System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/alarm-monitoring/) [Contractor Support](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/contractor-support/) [Industries](https://www.dga.com/industries/) Industries [Art Galleries](https://www.dga.com/industries/art-gallery-security/) [Banking and Financial](https://www.dga.com/industries/bank-security/) [Cannabis](https://www.dga.com/industries/cannabis-security/) [Hotels](https://www.dga.com/industries/hotel-security/) [Jewelry](https://www.dga.com/industries/jewelry-security/) [Nonprofits](https://www.dga.com/industries/nonprofit-security/) [Offices](https://www.dga.com/industries/office-security/) [Property Management](https://www.dga.com/industries/property-security/) [Religious Institutions](https://www.dga.com/industries/religious-institution-security/) [Restaurants](https://www.dga.com/industries/restaurant-security/) [Retail](https://www.dga.com/industries/retail-security/) [Tools](https://www.dga.com/tools) [DGA Blog](https://blog.dga.com) [Contact](https://www.dga.com/contact/) [Login](https://connect.dga.com/) [Careers](https://www.dga.com/careers/) Get A Free Consultation - Categories [Subscribe](https://info.dga.com/blog-subscriptions) - [Access Control](https://blog.dga.com/tag/access-control) - [Fire Systems](https://blog.dga.com/tag/fire-systems) - [Intrusion Alarms](https://blog.dga.com/tag/intrusion-alarms) - [Video Surveillance](https://blog.dga.com/tag/video-surveillance) - [Security Terms](https://blog.dga.com/tag/security-terms) [«  View All Posts](https://blog.dga.com) [Access Control](https://blog.dga.com/topic/access-control) | [Security Terms](https://blog.dga.com/topic/security-terms) # What is a Cardholder? - Share This Article - - - - [mailto:?body=https://blog.dga.com/what-is-cardholder](mailto:?body=https://blog.dga.com/what-is-cardholder) May 30th, 2025 | 1 min. read ![What is a Cardholder?](https://blog.dga.com/hubfs/Cardholder%20Banner.jpg) ![Blog Feature](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/298890/blog-files/blog--cards-feature.png) [Subscribe](https://info.dga.com/blog-subscriptions) ![Isabel Leckie](https://blog.dga.com/hubfs/Isabel%20Leckie.jpg "Isabel Leckie") [Isabel Leckie](https://blog.dga.com/author/isabel-leckie) Isabel is a Marketing Specialist at DGA. A cardholder is an individual who uses an access control system to gain entry to secured areas within a building or facility. Each cardholder is assigned a unique access credential, which could include a physical card, fob, key tag, or even a mobile device. Cardholders play a central role in any access control system. Each Cardholder's credentials have a permission set that determines which areas they can access and at what times. For example, an employee might be granted access to their office floor during business hours but restricted from entering sensitive areas like server rooms or executive offices. The access control system ensures that only authorized individuals can enter specific areas, enhancing security and streamlining entry processes. Cardholder credentials are easy to manage—administrators can quickly update permissions, deactivate lost or stolen credentials, and monitor access activity in real time using DGAConnect, DGA's online portal. This combination of convenience and security makes cardholder-based systems an effective solution for businesses, schools, healthcare facilities, and more. By using personalized credentials, organizations can maintain control over who can access their spaces while providing a seamless experience for authorized individuals. ![Access Card](https://blog.dga.com/hs-fs/hubfs/dga-blog/Access%20Card.jpg?width=600&height=314&name=Access%20Card.jpg)   [![DGA Security](https://blog.dga.com/hubfs/Assets/logo/cropped-DGA-Security-Logo-nsr-1-1.png)](https://www.impactbnd.com) 429 West 53rd Street New York, New York 10019 ##### Contact Sales 800 PICK DGA (800-554-5599) sales@dga.com ##### Contact Customer Care [customercare@dga.com](mailto:customercare@dga.com) 800-221-2300 ##### [Business Security](https://www.dga.com/business-security/) - [Intrusion Alarms](https://www.dga.com/business-security/intrusion-alarms/) - [Video Surveillance](https://www.dga.com/business-security/video-surveillance/) - [Access Control](https://www.dga.com/business-security/access-control/) - [Security System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/alarm-monitoring/) - [Environmental Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/environmental-monitoring/) - [Elevator Emergency Communication](https://www.dga.com/business-security/elevator-emergency-communication/) - [Nationwide Service](https://www.dga.com/business-security/nationwide-service/) - [The DGA Vault at 580 Fifth Avenue](https://www.dga.com/vault/) ##### [Fire Alarm Systems](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/) - [Design and Installation](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/design-installation/) - [Testing and Inspection](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/testing-and-inspection/) - [Fire Alarm System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/alarm-monitoring/) - [Contractor Support](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/contractor-support/) ##### [Industries](https://www.dga.com/industries/) - [Art Galleries](https://www.dga.com/industries/art-gallery-security/) - [Banking and Financial](https://www.dga.com/industries/bank-security/) - [Cannabis](https://www.dga.com/industries/cannabis-security/) - [Hotels](https://www.dga.com/industries/hotel-security/) - [Jewelry](https://www.dga.com/industries/jewelry-security/) - [Nonprofits](https://www.dga.com/industries/nonprofit-security/) - [Offices](https://www.dga.com/industries/office-security/) - [Property Management](https://www.dga.com/industries/property-security/) - [Religious Institutions](https://www.dga.com/industries/religious-institution-security/) - [Restaurants](https://www.dga.com/industries/restaurant-security/) - [Retail](https://www.dga.com/industries/retail-security/) ##### [Tools & Training](https://www.dga.com/tools/) - [DGAConnect Login](https://connect.dga.com/) - [DGAOneVIEW Login](https://dgaoneview.com/login#) - [DGA Payment Login](https://payment.mydga.com/login.aspx) - [Free System Training](https://www.dga.com/free-system-training) ##### [About DGA](https://www.dga.com/company/) - [Blog](https://blog.dga.com/) - [Careers](https://www.dga.com/careers/) - [Credentials](https://www.dga.com/credentials/) - [Meet Business Insurance Requirements](https://www.dga.com/meet-business-insurance-requirements/) © 2026 DGA Security Systems, Inc. | [Privacy Policy and Terms of Use](https://www.dga.com/privacy-policy/)