VIDEO OF THE WEEK: Extending access control with automated key management

Global Marketing Manager for Traka, Tanveer Choudhry, outlines the core principles and benefits of automated key management.

The access control industry is developing at a rapid pace, with increasingly sophisticated technology being introduced. However, depending on the age and infrastructure of the building and the budget available it’s not always possible to automate every access point.

It’s a common principle within the security industry that a facility is only as secure as its weakest link. So even when sophisticated access control systems are installed, there can still be points of vulnerability.

Because of this, intelligent key management systems are becoming a popular choice. By automating the simplest of hardware, keys, and integrating them into a wider system, organisations are able to strengthen that weak link.

Benefits of automated key management

1. Hierarchy of access rights

Key management should be an extension of an access control policy, but in most businesses it consists of outdated manual sign-in/sign-out procedures. There is no efficient way to account for keys in this way, and in some cases there is no auditing at all.

A key vending system automatically ensures that only authorised users have access to a specific key or keyset. Creating this hierarchy of access rights can be essential in many instances. Keys to dangerous equipment or sensitive areas in the wrong hands can create serious security breaches and health and safety risks.

2. Monitoring & Reporting

Not only is it important to physically restrict access, but it’s equally critical to monitor it. Sophisticated key management allows you to report on who has accessed which keys and when they have returned them. This functionality is particularly useful should an incident occur. For example, Brighton & Sussex NHS Trust used data from a Traka system in an investigation regarding the theft of drugs from a ward. The data led Police and the hospital to uncover the culprit.

3. Cost-efficiency

Businesses are consistently scrutinising processes and working practices to reduce inefficiencies and increase profits. Something as simple as loosing keys can cost a considerable amount of money.

This was highlighted when a set of Wembley Stadium’s ‘laser keys’ were lost, which potentially cost tens of thousands of pounds to replace the locks. At the same time, it presented a significant security risk. If you are going to manage access to buildings, rooms, lifts, basements and equipment using keys, and indeed there is very little alternative, then you have a duty of care to find a way of ensuring keys are managed properly.

4. Closed-Loop

Sophisticated key management software can be programmed to work seamlessly with access control and can even restrict users from exiting the building if they try to leave without returning a key, creating a ‘closed-loop’.

5. Integration

Traka key management products can integrate with most existing third party access control software. The two systems communicate with each other in real-time. This results in being able to enroll users into the Traka database, grant access levels to key cabinets and receive reports and warnings about usage, all through one central point, creating a seamless approach to security.

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