# Configure Access Control Areas Areas represent physical spaces and are defined by a set of doors that serve as entrances and a set of doors that serve as exits. An in/out door can have one direction serve as an entrance and another direction serve as an exit. Once you define an area, Command shows in real time who is inside. You can also [set up anti-passback rules for an area](https://help.verkada.com/access-control/users-and-credentials/configure-access-control-areas/secure-access-control-areas-with-anti-passback) to enforce stricter security requirements. {% hint style="danger" %} You can only configure **1 access control area per site**. {% endhint %} *** ## Configuration {% stepper %} {% step %} **In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Access.** {% endstep %} {% step %} **Select a site from the drop-down.** {% endstep %} {% step %} **At the top, click Settings.** {% endstep %} {% step %} **Under Area, click Configure.** 1. Specify the set of **Entrance Doors** for the area. 2. (Optional) Specify the set of **Exit Doors** for the area. 3. If you have in/out doors, assign the inbound reader as the entrance and the outbound reader as the exit, or vice versa. {% endstep %} {% step %} **(Optional) Configure additional area settings, including Anti-Passback, Violation Expiration, and Force Outside. See Area Settings below for details.** {% endstep %} {% endstepper %} *** ## Area settings ### Anti-Passback Enable **Anti-Passback** to enforce stricter access control by ensuring users properly enter and exit the area before re-entering or re-exiting. You can choose between **Soft Anti-Passback**, where users in violation retain normal access, and **Hard Anti-Passback**, where users in violation are denied access until the violation is cleared. {% hint style="info" %} For full details on how anti-passback works, violation types, exempt groups, and managing violations, see [Secure Areas with Anti-Passback](https://help.verkada.com/access-control/users-and-credentials/configure-access-control-areas/secure-access-control-areas-with-anti-passback). {% endhint %} ### Violation Expiration Enable **Violation Expiration** to automatically clear anti-passback or forced-outside violations after a set period. When enabled, set the **Violation Timeout** to control how long (in minutes or hours) a violation remains active before it is automatically cleared. The timer starts when the violation is first created. ### Force Outside Enable **Force Outside** to automatically mark users as outside the area if they haven't badged at an area exit door for a set period. When enabled, set the **Time to Force Outside** to specify how many minutes or hours must pass since a user's last badge event on an area entrance door before they are placed outside. Optionally, enable **Mark as Violation** to flag users who are forced outside with a forced outside violation. If hard anti-passback is enabled, users with a forced outside violation will be unable to gain access to the area until the violation is cleared. *** ## View and manage an existing area Once an area has been configured for a site, you can view and manage it on the area details page. {% stepper %} {% step %} **In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Access.** {% endstep %} {% step %} **Select a site from the drop-down.** {% endstep %} {% step %} **Under Area, click View.** 1. At the top, click **Area Settings >** **.** 2. Edit the configuration as needed. 3. Click **Save.** {% endstep %} {% endstepper %} *** ## View real-time occupancy of the area Once you’ve configured an area, you can view real-time occupancy of the area based on who has accessed an entrance door and has not yet accessed an exit door. {% stepper %} {% step %} **In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Access.** {% endstep %} {% step %} **Select a site from the drop-down.** {% endstep %} {% step %} **At the top, click Area.** {% endstep %} {% step %} **Click People Inside to see the list of people.** {% hint style="info" %} Click the refresh button to the right of **People Inside** to update the list of people. {% endhint %} {% endstep %} {% step %} **If you determine that someone in the list is not actually inside the area, hover over that person’s name and click Mark as Outside to manually correct the occupancy.** ​ {% endstep %} {% endstepper %} *** ## Edge cases and caveats #### ​Bluetooth is disabled for an area’s entrance and exit doors Bluetooth unlock offers a highly convenient and secure way for access users to use their phones as a credential. However, due to its range, Bluetooth unlock can be triggered unintentionally, such as when a user walks by a door without intending to open it. Because area occupancy relies on accurate reader badging when a user enters or exits, the system disables Bluetooth unlock for doors configured as area entrances or exits. If you add a Bluetooth-enabled door as an area entrance or exit, Command displays a message indicating that Bluetooth remains disabled while the door serves that role. ### Individual entry on DPI When DPI is enabled, the system marks a person in an area only after a DPI state change occurs following a valid credential presentation. If the DPI does not change state, the user who badged in is marked as *outside of the area* (this is independent from any APB logic). * If two people badge at a door simultaneously before it opens, the system does not mark the first person as inside. * For a door held open, the system marks each subsequent user who badges in as inside. For example, if two people badge simultaneously but the door opens before the second person (or any others) badges, each is properly marked as inside. *** {% hint style="info" %} **Prefer to see it in action?** Check out the [video tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFp7akwYJek). {% endhint %}