Multi-building campuses such as universities, business parks, research centers, medical facilities, hotels and resorts often require several different types of physical security technologies as part of a comprehensive, overall security strategy. As a critical element of the plan, many organizations rely on an automated key management system to provide a higher level of control in securing, accessing and tracking keys.

The market for automated key control systems has increasingly expanded as end users across a broad plane discover the benefits of controlling access to valuable keys. New markets for automated key control and management systems now go beyond traditional applications in the corrections, healthcare, education, gaming or multi-family markets as well as specific applications such as automotive dealerships.

It has been said that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail and nowhere is this more true than in the management of physical security operations. In any organization, growth can trigger the need for significant changes and/or upgrades to physical security systems, including established key control systems. For the scalability of key control, as with other systems, the degree to which the needed changes can be met is determined by the plans put in place.

Access control systems for health care facilities can be designed in a number of ways and often include solutions such as card access systems (proximity or swipe styles), locks and keys, and even security guards. Along with these measures, one of the most frequently implemented and effective security solutions is an automated key control system with tracking capability.

Implementing a key control and management system is a straightforward process that involves three basic steps; take inventory of the facility to identify all access points and installed locks; ascertain the operational needs of the employees as well as others who may need access to the facility (i.e. service repair, cleaning crew, etc.); and establish a policy with easy to follow procedures for effective key control and management.