With the multitude of doors, entrances and restricted areas found on a university campus, maintaining safe and secure facilities presents unique challenges. To help facilitate the task, key control and asset management systems can be installed as an effective and increasingly important physical security technology for safeguarding dormitories, research labs, administrative buildings and so on. Regardless of the size or type of facility, a fundamental building block of an overall security strategy can be realized through managed key control and its capability for custom solutions, minimizing and monitoring risk and seamless integration with the building’s global physical security system.
An automated key control system is designed to store mechanical and plastic card type keys in a smart cabinet and to record all transactions. Keys can only be released to pre-authorized users presenting viable identification such as an approved user code, an access identification card or a pre-registered biometric finger- or hand-print.
These automated systems can be integrated with existing physical security systems to improve security across the campus. For instance, when a network-enabled key management system is integrated with the university’s access control system, individuals can be denied egress from an area if a key they accessed to enter a restricted area has not been returned. Or, systems configured with alarm and relay inputs/outputs can be integrated with existing video surveillance systems; when a key cabinet is accessed, the video cameras pan in that direction to capture the image of the user.
In network-enabled key control systems, authorization codes can be changed remotely to help prevent incidents such as allowing access to a recently terminated employee. As well, system administrators can add names to the system through the network, along with any access restrictions, to accommodate temporary users such as teaching assistants or dorm monitors. The cost effective, modular key control systems can be located throughout a campus facility and are easily added to as needs grow or change. The limitless configurations allow the key management system to be scaled up as needs expand and smart designs help to reduce wall space while providing easier access.
In today’s educational environment, key control systems provide secure and reliable access control. In stand-alone or integrated configurations, they add the extra layer of protection needed to help ensure a safe and guarded facility.
