We’ve all seen this. The office building security guard with a ring of keys on his person; the maintenance man at the mall carrying a ring of keys; even the high school athletic staff has been seen carrying a ring of keys. While having a full set of keys on your person may seem convenient, it does create a security issue that can result in unmanaged access, lost keys or stolen property.

When it comes time to look at expanding the capabilities and functionality of a security system, users are faced with options that can often be overwhelming in number and complexity. For example, in a video surveillance system, choices include analog, IP and megapixel, while access control system upgrades can entail issuing all new identification cards. In many cases, once a decision has been made the implementation and programming can be equally daunting.

With the November elections now in the rear view mirror and the economy continuing its slow but steady improvement, many organizations are beginning the task of examining what improvements are needed in their physical security plans – transitioning analog video surveillance systems to hybrid or IP systems; implementing or upgrading electronic access control systems; adding perimeter security, and so on.

Securing and safeguarding semi-public facilities such as schools, hospitals or convention centers can be a challenging task for security professionals. Goals associated with keeping an environment safe for the occupants are dependent upon shifting technological and cultural influences and the line between fortress and freedom can become easily blurred.

In today’s competitive physical security environment, nothing can torpedo a product faster than poor quality workmanship and spotty performance. Because security is such a critical function in the organization, product solutions such as key control and asset management systems must be designed and manufactured to withstand rigorous use and abuse. Features must be easy to use and provide tangible benefits. Product spec sheets tell some of the story but there are three easy to spot visual clues that can help identify a well-made, effective key control system.