Security services are a large and varied business offering in today’s security conscious environment. Using a combination of personnel and technology, security service providers offer products ranging from manned security to mobile patrols to monitoring and investigation. To help ensure that services offered are of the highest caliber, and to provide an added layer of assurance, many security service providers use a key control and management system to secure and safeguard keys entrusted to them.

Whether it’s a real life application or part of a set design in an episodic television police series, key control and asset management systems can be found in many of today’s studio environments. The need for controlling and tracking keys and/or other small, valuable items is essential to a physical security strategy, and the entertainment world is no exception.

Video surveillance, intrusion detection and other physical security technologies are used extensively to help protect data centers from outside threats. They are excellent operational measures to guard against unauthorized personnel gaining access to the facility or those who would do intentional harm.Minimizing and controlling personnel access to computer rooms and equipment racks as well as offices and utility rooms is also a crucial precaution. This can be effectively accomplished using a key control and management system.

At corporate headquarters for insurance companies, a variety of methods are used to help protect assets and information. Whether it’s employee payroll data or personal identification information on policy holders, controlling access to areas where sensitive material is stored or used is mandatory, and one of the most effective solutions is a key control and key management system.

Like most other standard operating procedures within the military, there is a written policy for the storing and safekeeping of mechanical keys. Keys for padlocks, file cabinets, offices and so on must be controlled and accounted for, usually by a key control custodian, and a precise record kept of key usage. But even in today’s triplicate form-dependent military, there is a trend toward electronic documentation, and automated key management systems are replacing manual procedures with computerized control and real-time accountability.