5 Steps to Developing an Effective Access Control Program
Author - Randy Neely
In The Key to Keys we review methodologies and protocols for issuing, tracking, retrieving and mitigating the loss of critical building/facility hard keys and access cards. All facilities employ personnel or contractors that are entrusted with accessing many, if not all, parts of the building; i.e. janitors, security officers, engineers, leasing staff, property/facility managers, just to name a few. The process for accounting for keys is age old as is the risk of keys becoming lost or misplaced. Not too long ago the answer to lost keys was “cutting” new ones; today, most facility owners/managers move quickly to rekey, ensuring the safety and security of the property’s employees, tenants and guests. We explore some of those processes and new technologies that keep our facilities more secure.
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In The Key to Keys we review methodologies and protocols for issuing, tracking, retrieving and mitigating the loss of critical building/facility hard keys and access cards.
Not too long ago the answer to lost keys was “cutting” new ones. Today, given heightened levels of security and awareness, most facility owners/managers move quickly to rekey.
Building key controls for a structure that has four exterior doors and is used for storing low cost packing materials would be considered Low Risk. In comparison, a building that is used 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, as living quarters for people, would clearly be High Risk.
...remember gas stations chaining the bathroom key to a huge, heavy tool, to ensure no one walked off with it; it usually worked.
...a Property Manager for an international commercial real estate company that owned the building. I can’t repeat what she said after I told her a set of master keys were missing. We agreed to meet at the building right away.
Rio officials did not seem to be very well-prepared, apparently losing the keys to one of the Olympic Stadium’s two gates.
...will put into perspective for you how critical it is for the entire industry to recognize the risk associated with master key loss. It’s time to stop the hush, hush.
Courts have been clear that these owners, managers, contractors, service providers, etc., have a duty to the safety and security of their guests, employees, visitors and anyone else that happens upon their property.
...here's how the rubber hit the road. This is the solution I was drawing on a piece of paper in 1987, but the technology didn’t exist. I wanted to create something that was preemptive, something that would prevent my security officers from losing their keys in the first place.
With more than 40 years of experience in the security and property management industries,
