corporate campuses and other facilities around the country, locksmiths — and the dealers they are connected to — are in a position to provide solutions that keep these complex systems within one centralized key management platform. In the beginning, and for decades, pa- per index cards were commonly used as a key management solution. For example, anyone who had access to a specific facil- ity was given a key with a serial number or other code on it, and that identifying information was transferred onto an index card, which was then filed away in the in- dividual’s desk. Another solution included rotational rekeying of an entire facility ev- ery few years, which was burdensome to many locksmiths and costly for the facility. However, the industry has been shiſting to favor electronic access control security solutions, with these locks usually having a keyed bypass cylinder. With lost and damaged keys account- ing for many security breaches, lock- smiths and key managers continue to be tasked with providing the appropriate key management solution. Each facility is different and, therefore, it is imperative to understand: how many openings are present in the building, how many in- dividuals have access to keys and which openings those individuals can access. This is mainly to ensure that keys do not end up in the wrong hands. Using Primary Digital Control Centers Despite today’s modernized schools, work- places and government facilities, most still lack a primary digital control center for key management operations. There are soſtware solutions available in the indus- try today that are designed to simplify and coordinate storage of an organization’s keys, keyholders, and door and building access information. This type of manage- ment soſtware also allows users to assign WWW.ALOA.ORG “Technology keeps advancing, and key management will play a role in ensuring all keys, physical and electronic, are being used correctly.” access levels, identify phantom keys and update coremarks and keymarks into a single intuitive user interface. With larger facilities, many of which are spread out across multiple buildings, there could be thousands of keys need- ing tracking. In addition to providing the ability to track keys, these other key management solutions can store a com- prehensive record of all cores, doors and buildings associated with each key. This allows security managers — and lock- smiths who assist with installations and the integrity of the building — the ability to identify areas affected by a lost key and implement necessary measures to protect the facility from unauthorized access. Another solution available to locksmiths is electronic access-controlled key boxes that provide an audit trail for each key. With continuous changes in technol- ogy, facilities have transitioned to new IoT-based access control devices such as fobs and key cards. Many key manage- ment solutions available in the industry cater to both mechanical lock and key as well as the newer technology. It is im- portant to use a high-security cylinder in these situations, since there would be no audit trail of entry if the locks were ever picked, bumped or key duplicated and used. What is different is that these “virtual” keys allow security managers and building locksmiths to see who ac- cessed a specific door and when, while also being able to set time restrictions on when certain users can use a specific key. As technology advances, it’s worth noting how mechanical locks and keys could change to real-time location systems (RTLS) or radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips. This trend would allow fa- cilities to track its users — just like a fob or access card — and could provide a more robust solution to access control. There are also standard pin tumbler keys that, when combined with specific key heads, can work as credentials for proximity op- erational opening. Smart management of the keying process and distribution of keys will serve customers responsibly. The field of access control will contin- ue to advance. However, doors will still need to be locked to protect individuals and property. Although the electronic solu- tions market has been exploding, because of budgetary consideration, keyed locks will not be disappearing anytime soon. Not only do manufacturers need to be versed in the newest innovations, but professional lock- smiths will want to understand the ever- changing industry, too. Technology keeps advancing, and key management will play a role in ensuring all keys, physical and elec- tronic, are being used correctly. ason Ferguson is mas- erkey systems manager or dormakaba USA, Inc. e oversees support and evelopment of Keystone Web key management software and the administration of mas- terkey systems for BEST, Stanley Com- mercial Hardware and Dorma locks. APRIL 2019 KEYNOTES 21
