Those Pesky Keys: Solving The Brass Key Problem

We have all wrestled with brass keys. It seems that the more responsibilities you have, the more keys you get. Are you tired?

• Tired of a large keyring?

• Tired of the expense of rekeying?

• Tired of the time it takes to find the right key?

• Tired of asking for keys back?

• Just simply tired???

The solutions are more affordable today than they ever have been.

Key Replacement Solutions

Key replacement can take many forms, and most people just think of traditional access control, which can be very expensive. Typically, we need to run cable to the door, get an electrician involved to electrify the lock, and then install the hardware. Although this is the traditional and desired method of securing an opening, the costs can be prohibitive.

To understand the solutions available to us, we need to understand the different types of access control.

Real-Time Access Control

Remote Door Release

Real-time access control, at its most basic, is the ability to see information and interact with the door in real time. For instance, I scan a card and it appears in the software immediately. I’m able to unlock the door remotely. When I make a change to the users, those changes are pushed to the panel immediately.

Near Real-Time Access Control

This differs from real-time in just a couple of ways. It affects how quickly updates are done to the system and impacts the ability to immediately change the door status, either to lockdown or unlock on demand.

Offline Access Control

Offline access control means the locks are not connected to the main system but can still be updated. There are multiple ways of updating these depending on the system, but the most common methods are either physically going to the door with some sort of updating device or using the existing cards to update the system as they are used at the doors.

How Does This Relate to Key Replacement?

As an industry, we are most familiar with real-time access control and the costs associated with them. Offline and near real-time access control can significantly lower the costs associated with deploying newer technologies, including key replacement technologies. With advancements in this area, we are now seeing the ability to replace physical key cylinders and locks with battery-powered locks. This speeds up the process, leading to more rapid and affordable installations.

With multiple technologies and hybrid approaches, there is a technology that makes sense when we look at Total Cost of Ownership by preventing rekeying alone, but knowing a breach due to improperly managed physical key systems will be a thing of the past creates immense peace of mind.

Schedule a free assessment now to learn what kind of system and budget works for your situation.

Free Assessment