Limiting Access to Your Business

When it comes to designing security measures for commercial applications, we take special care to make sure we limit access to your business to those who should have it. Due to the time commercial buildings spend empty, we must take serious measures to give you this security. Additionally, the security measures we install must secure your business against more than just thieves. After all, business security also involves tracking employee activity and keeping ex-employees out as well. These additional security needs make adding this security a multi-faceted endeavor. In this post, we aim to show you how we can help with limiting access to your business.

First, we’ll review how an effective master key system can add security to your business. Key security is a very important part of any commercial security plan, so this will prove useful. From there, we’ll show you how access systems and intercom systems utilize electronic locking hardware to control access for both employees and visitors to your business. Then, we’ll turn our attention to the power of interactive alarm monitoring. This security monitoring service greatly enhances any alarm’s effectiveness. Now, let’s dive in with a look at designing an effective master key system!

Designing an Effective Master Key System

Maintaining proper key control goes an extremely long way towards limiting access to your business. After all, even the best locks get thwarted if the person attempting to gain entry has a key. For this reason, we often work with customers to create master key systems to customize who can access which doors of your business. We do this by creating keys that we place on different “levels.” The “master” key sits atop this pyramid, and master keys can open any doors on the system. We can also create keys that unlock only certain “sets” of doors.

For example, we can provide employees with a key that works your property’s main entrance as well as their office and any common areas they must access. From there, we can also create keys that only unlock one door. You can then provide these keys, known as “user” keys, to provide access to a very specific area. For example, business owners often give out keys that unlock the padlocks at a business’s gates, but do not unlock any doors.

Additionally, our preferred lock manufacturers offer unique key control for their master key systems. When we create an account with a select few manufacturers, such as Medeco, we receive a patented keyway that only we have access to. This means that our master key customers cannot go to another locksmith to try to secretly create spare keys. Additionally, our key control customers create a list of individuals authorized to create new keys. When customers stop in for a copy of a secure key, we have to match their ID to the location’s list of authorized key copiers. If the individuals are not on the list, we do not create a key for them. Next up, let’s look at another unique form of door-related business security!

Utilizing Access Control Systems

Access control systems represent one of the most effective means of controlling and tracking access to your property. Installing this security measure involves using advanced lock equipment to control access to your property. Access control systems utilize electronic locking hardware to operate specific doors within a business. Rather than using a key at these doors, users approach a keypad or a credential reader and present either a code or a physical credential such as a card, a fob, or even their cellphone. Users who present an approved credential will then be able to open the door after the reader interacts with the door’s electronics to unlock it. Business owners can allow each credential to open only certain doors at specific times. This proves especially useful when securing larger businesses!

In addition to controlling access to certain doors, access control systems include software that tracks access as well. Every time an employee approaches an access door, it creates a time-stamped event that you can view on a computer by logging in to your access control system. This allows you to easily track employee activity within your business. Furthermore, it allows you to see if anyone tries to enter doors in your business that they should not attempt to enter.

For example, if employees without the necessary permission attempt to use their credentials to enter your business during a time that you do not want them to do so, the system will both deny access and “flag” this event. At that point, you will know which employee attempted this breach. The security and flexibility offered by these systems make them an extremely effective means of limiting access to your business. Next up, we’ll see how intercom systems can help you manage visitor access to your business.

Controlling Door Access with Intercoms

Intercom systems create a basic and effective way for visitors to attempt to gain access into a business. These systems use the same types of electronic locking hardware as we use in our access control systems to allow for remote locking control. Instead of installing readers at the doors, however, we attach stations with a doorbell on them to call in to the building. Audio intercoms have a doorbell with a speaker, allowing anyone with an indoor station and speaker to talk with them. Video intercoms have a camera on the outdoor stations and video screens on the indoor stations. This allows those inside to get a look at anyone attempting to gain entry and ensure the visitors are people they want to enter the building.

Upon verifying a visitor’s identity, the employee can then use a remote release button to unlock the door. These systems can prove invaluable to businesses with frequent visitors that do not wish to leave their doors unlocked during business hours. Let’s now turn our attention to how you can upgrade your alarm’s monitoring service to help your efforts in limiting access to your business.

Putting Interactive Security Monitoring to Work for You

Installing a burglar alarm in your business adds a couple layers of security. For starters, an alarm activation brings with it a blaring response from sirens installed around your property. For additional security, you can even install exterior sirens and flashing strobes for a great scare to burglars, as well as a more widespread alert to the potential danger. Furthermore, a monitored alarm also creates a central station response and, if necessary, a police dispatch to an alarm. Obviously, this makes business owners feel much more secure when leaving their office at the end of each day.

Moreover, our interactive monitoring customers gain an extra measure of employee-related security. Using our cellular dialer powered by Alarm.com, we give customers the opportunity to control their security system using a cellphone app. This includes the ability to arm and disarm the system remotely. Moreover, it also allows you to remotely add and delete user codes as well. This provides a big help in your efforts to track user codes and easily eliminate any alarm codes that should no longer get used. Finally, our interactive Alarm.com customers can also receive text alerts to notify them of system arming and disarming events. These alerts will let you know who has used the alarm, and when. The ability to control codes and receive alerts remotely make this a great help in limiting access to your business!

Putting it All Together and Effectively Limiting Access to Your Business