Trimec Electronic Keypads for Access Control Systems  (1)

The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has made us all more conscious of who is coming and going from our property. Whether it is a family home, business premises or public building, property owners want full control over access for protection and peace of mind. As a provider of access control technologies, we are seeing a growing demand for automated gates with a variety of access control systems. There are a number of considerations that buyers need to make when investing. And as an installer, there is advice that you can offer to help your clients make the right choice for their property. Here are some of the key considerations you’ll need to make and discuss with your client. Whomever you buy from, you should be offered more than a simple instruction manual. Electronic locks, magnetic locks and code security In the first instance, you’ll need to advise on the type of lock and access control available. Electronic locks release on the operation of the automation system to allow the gates to open. Locks are required for all non-locking (also known as reversible) operators and are recommended for any gate on a multi-user site or any gate over 2.5m. Apply the same logic to an automated gate as you would to a domestic door – for example, you wouldn’t fit your front door with a lock on the same side as the hinges or a drop bolt at the hinge end of a manual gate so why dispense with this logic when the gate is automated? Electronic locks release on the operation of the automation system to allow the gates to open There are a number of locks on the market including magnetic locks, drop locks that “shoot” a bolt into the ground and side latching locks. These are all designed for external use. While the gate itself will provide physical security, the customer will want to feel in control of who enters their property, when and for what purpose. Consider access for mail and deliveries, waste disposal and visitors arriving on foot etc. There is a range of options available. Intercom systems will allow the user to vet visitors, keypad entry can allow remote access for visitors with a specific code, remote controls allow an oncoming driver to open the gates without getting out of the vehicle, and a timer control can be used to open or close the gates at certain times of the day. Vehicle detection loops can be installed discreetly under the tarmac allowing the presence of vehicles to exit the gates and prevent closing while obstructed. Sliding gates versus swinging gates There are a number of locks on the market including magnetic locks, drop locks that “shoot” a bolt into the ground and side latching locks Gates can be automated to either swing or to slide open and in the case of swinging gates, the opener may be concealed underground or gate mounted. The most suitable opener for your installation will depend on the space available and the type of gate selected. Concealed underground automation is ideal for highly ornate gates. However, where gates are fully infilled (typical of many timber designs), gate mounted openers are concealed from the front of the gate by the gate leaf and present a cost-effective option. The choice between slide and swing is largely down to space - swing gates require a clear space for their opening arc while sliding gates require space to one or both sides of the gate. Sliding gates are perhaps the best choice where the drive slopes or when drive space is limited, as they use the least space when opening. Voltage Most swing gate and sliding systems are available in 24v or 230v. The 24v systems still need 230v mains power – there is a transformer built into the 24v control panels. Deciding which voltage to use can include a combination of factors such as the material of the gates, the location of the system and the safety features you want. Concealed underground automation is ideal for highly ornate gates With wrought iron gates, the wind can pass through them whereas with fully boarded wooden gates (popular because they give full privacy) the wind has nowhere to go, so they act like sails. For commercial or industrial applications with larger entrances and a heavy gate, you may need 3 Phase 400v power (sliding gates only). Installing gate motors in confined spaces The environment in which you are fitting may well influence which gate and motor you recommend. Will it be in an exposed area which is subject to the elements? Will it be positioned on a slope? Sliding gates are perhaps the best choice where the drive slopes or when drive space is limited Installers have always faced the challenge of installing gate motors in confined spaces. When fitting a pedestrian gate, there is often limited space in which to work – potentially making an installation time consuming and technically demanding. If this is the case for you, consider a gate operator which is designed specifically for installations with limited space for maneuver. An example of this is the E5 compact gate operator. The operator is not only small but has an optional slide lever attachment designed for installations where there is extremely limited space, meaning that just 8cm of the pillar is needed for installation. What’s more, improved fixing points and a simple ‘hook and fasten’ process means assembly is safe, quick and straight forward. Ultimately, you’ll be looking for a good quality, reliable product with good service. Work with a supplier that offers more than just a manual. If they are happy to offer training, their time and advice when you buy, the chances are you’ll get their support long term.

The safeguarding of premises through the monitoring of entrance and exit points has traditionally been a very manual aspect of security. Human operators have been relied on to make decisions about who to admit and deny based on levels of authorization and the appropriate credentials. The access control business, like many industries before it, is undergoing its own digital transformation But the access control business, like many industries before it, is undergoing its own digital transformation; one where the protection of premises, assets and people is increasingly delivered by interconnected systems utilising IoT devices and cloud infrastructure to offer greater levels of security and protection. Modern access control solutions range from simple card readers to two factor authentication systems using video surveillance as a secondary means of identification, right through to complex networks of thermal cameras, audio speakers and sensors. These systems, connected through the cloud, can be customized and scaled to meet the precise requirements of today’s customer. And it’s the ease of cloud integration, combined with open technologies and platforms that is encouraging increasing collaboration and exciting developments while rendering legacy systems largely unfit for purpose. Remote management and advanced diagnostics Cloud technology and IoT connectivity means remote management and advanced diagnostics form an integral part of every security solution.Cloud technology and IoT connectivity means remote management and advanced diagnostics form an integral part of every security solution. For example, as the world faces an unprecedented challenge and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause disruption, the ability to monitor and manage access to sites remotely is a welcome advantage for security teams who might otherwise have to check premises in person and risk breaking social distancing regulations. The benefits of not physically having to be on site extend to the locations within which these technologies can be utilised. As an example, within a critical infrastructure energy project, access can be granted remotely for maintenance on hard to reach locations. Advanced diagnostics can also play a part in such a scenario. When access control is integrated with video surveillance and IP audio, real-time monitoring of access points can identify possible trespassers with automated audio messages used to deter illegal access and making any dangers clear. And with video surveillance in the mix, high quality footage can be provided to authorities with real-time evidence of a crime in progress. Comprehensive protection in retail The use of connected technologies for advanced protection extends to many forward-looking applications. Within the retail industry, autonomous, cashier-less stores are already growing in popularity. Customers are able to use mobile technology to self-scan their chosen products and make payments, all from using a dedicated app. From an access control and security perspective, connected doors can be controlled to protect staff and monitor shopper movement. Remote management includes tasks such as rolling out firmware updates or restarting door controllers, with push notifications sent immediately to security personnel in the event of a breach or a door left open. Remote monitoring access control in storage In the storage facility space, this too can now be entirely run through the cloud with remote monitoring of access control and surveillance providing a secure and streamlined service. There is much to gain from automating the customer journey, where storage lockers are selected online and, following payment, customers are granted access. Through an app the customer can share their access with others, check event logs, and activate notifications. With traditional padlocks the sharing of access is not as practical, and it’s not easy for managers to keep a record of storage locker access. Online doors and locks enable monitoring capabilities and heightened security for both operators and customers. The elimination of manual tasks, in both scenarios, represents cost savings. When doors are connected to the cloud, their geographical location is rendered largely irrelevant. Online doors and locks enable monitoring capabilities and heightened security for both operators and customers They become IoT devices which are fully integrated and remotely programmable from anywhere, at any time. This creates a powerful advantage for the managers of these environments, making it possible to report on the status of a whole chain of stores, or to monitor access to numerous storage facilities, using the intelligence that the technology provides from the data it collects. Open platforms powers continuous innovation All of these examples rely on open technology to make it possible, allowing developers and technology providers to avoid the pitfalls that come with the use of proprietary systems. The limitations of such systems have meant that the ideas, designs and concepts of the few have stifled the creativity and potential of the many, holding back innovation and letting the solutions become tired and their application predictable. Proprietary systems have meant that solution providers have been unable to meet their customers’ requirements until the latest upgrade becomes available or a new solution is rolled out. This use of open technology enables a system that allows for collaboration, the sharing of ideas and for the creation of partnerships to produce ground-breaking new applications of technology. Open systems demonstrate a confidence in a vendor’s own solutions and a willingness to share and encourage others to innovate and to facilitate joint learning. An example of the dynamic use of open technology is Axis’ physical access control hardware, which enables partners to develop their own cloud-based software for control and analysis of access points, all the while building and expanding on Axis’ technology platform. Modern access control solutions range from simple card readers to two factor authentication systems using video surveillance as a secondary means of identification Opportunities for growth Open hardware, systems and platforms create opportunities for smaller and younger companies to participate and compete, giving them a good starting point, and some leverage within the industry when building and improving upon existing, proven technologies. This is important for the evolution and continual relevance of the physical security industry in a digitally enabled world. Through increased collaboration across technology platforms, and utilising the full range of possibilities afforded by the cloud environment, the manufacturers, vendors and installers of today’s IP enabled access control systems can continue to create smart solutions to meet the ever-changing demands and requirements of their customers across industry.

There’s growing noise around smart homes and smarter security. You’ve probably heard it. But there is a place where access control and more have been smart for decades: the workplace. Home automation and IoT are still playing catch-up with the commercial sector. A new insights report from ASSA ABLOY and IFSEC Global — “The Smart Door Locks Report 2018” — measures just how fast consumer smart technology is running. According to a survey conducted for the report, 61% of households now claim to own at least one smart home device or system. Energy monitors, home CCTV cameras, intruder alarms and smart door locks are the most popular, according to the report. All these functions, of course, have been available to businesses for years.61% of households now claim to own at least one smart home device or system Educating The Smart Home Consumer Paradoxically, report data also questions how much consumers really know about their smarter home. A surprising 42% of those surveyed, for example, were unaware they could control a smart door lock from their phone. In fact, many leading smart door lock models offer this feature, delivered by Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and an app. Despite a wealth of features offered by the latest smart door locks — remote and location-based locking/unlocking; voice activation; timed access; emailed entry alerts; and integration with smart camera and lighting systems — most people still have limited knowledge of their capabilities.  Smart technology is increasingly becoming the new norm in terms of home security  Only 14% of survey respondents described themselves as “very familiar” with what a smart lock can do. Even though most of them probably use smart access control solutions at their workplace. Secure Homes Through Smart Technology Monitoring and security are not the only drivers for smart home adoption. We humans also love convenience, and modern living presents us with problems that smart home technology can solve. Ironically, given the report’s findings, it takes a smartphone to really unlock the convenient possibilities of smarter living. The device that’s “always to hand” is central to the newest generation of smart door locks.A smart door lock is a convenient way for a landlord or agency to offer round-the-clock check-in and check-out If homeowners wish to remotely manage property access for friends and family, many smart door locks oblige. You let in guests remotely, send them a virtual digital key, or provide a temporary or single-use PIN to unlock the door. It is just as easy to revoke a digital key, if you don’t want its owner to come around anymore. This is a significant improvement over sharing physical keys — or hiding one under the doormat. We cannot be totally sure where a metal key ends up and have no way to track or cancel it once it’s “out in the wild”. Commercial access control offers such functionality as standard, of course.  In addition, smart door locks offer more than just stand-alone operation and clever functions. In a domestic setting, magic happens when locks work in harmony with a home automation system, connected by protocols like Z-Wave, ZigBee or Wi-Fi. "Smart" Security On The Move  The smartphone is becoming a remote control for managing a connected life beyond just home (and even workplace) security. According to Accenture, the parcel delivery services market will grow by $343 billion by 2020. Just like home security, convenience is a major driver of change. Homeowners can send guests a virtual digital key to their phones, or provide a temporary or single-use PIN to unlock the door A recent PostNord pilot in Sweden aimed to remove the inconvenience of waiting home for a postal delivery. Selected customers of some major Scandinavian e-retailers could choose to have parcels delivered inside their front door, if it was equipped with a Yale smart door lock.  Home delivery is among potential smart services covered in “The Smart Door Locks Report 2018 ”. When asked whether the ability to receive parcels securely in a porch or lobby would make them more likely to invest in a smart door lock, 79% said it would.It is easy to revoke a digital key, if you don’t want its owner to come around anymore Vacation Rentals And Smart Home Tech ASSA ABLOY research published in 2017 forecasts continued growth in the European vacation rentals sector (at 5.8% CAGR). Smart door locks are also making an impact here, at both ends of the market: for service providers — agents and homeowners — and for travelers. A smart door lock is a convenient way for a landlord or agency to offer round-the-clock check-in and check-out, without creating extra work or staff costs. Both Intersoft, in Croatia, and Hoomvip in Spain have built vacation rentals management systems around an app and the ENTR® smart door lock. Agents issue, revoke, track and manage virtual keys for all their guests, saving everyone time and hassle. travelers use their phones and an app to unlock their apartment. For these visitors the smartphone is already an essential travel accessory. It is a boarding pass, a credit card, a travel guide, and a postcard home... why not a door key, too? And if this key is backed by a trusted home security brand — and a company with vast experience in the mature market for commercial “smart” security — better still.

Could the data that the access control system generates reveal priceless business insights? In many businesses, the answer is affirmative. The problem is how to analyze that data quickly and accurately to bring valuable, digestible business benefits. As reported by the Houston Chronicle, ‘Data is at the core of nearly every business decision made. A new Reporting & Analytics Tool for CLIQ access control systems enables security and facility managers to extract, visualize and analyze the data from their own premises. CLIQ wireless access control system ASSA ABLOY’s CLIQ is a wireless access control system based on programmable electronic and electromechanical keys, cylinders, and padlocks. The system can be managed securely from anywhere with an internet connection via the CLIQ Web Manager (CWM). The CWM’s new tool makes all system data easy to understand and to export, and share with staff and stakeholders across the business. If data really is the ‘new oil of the digital economy, this new tool helps CLIQ wireless access control customers tap it efficiently. CWM Reporting & Analytics Tool The new CWM Reporting & Analytics Tool streamlines decision-making, informing it with data drawn from the security system. It also frees security managers from their desk, with all of the tool’s data and functionality available inside the Amazon QuickSight app for Apple and Android systems. Any authorized person within the organization can access its valuable insights, from anywhere in the world. Visual dashboards for faster analysis A clear, visual layout helps managers to spot relevant data and any anomalies, at a glance This new tool helps an access control system to do more than just keep people and assets safe. Data that the system generates every day can contribute to business success. A clear, visual layout helps managers to spot relevant data and any anomalies, at a glance. A bespoke dashboard offers a rapid system overview, in order to help identify the most used keys, view heat and cold maps of lock usage, and spot keys whose access has been denied most often, for example. Granular, single lock, and key level Drilling down to a more granular, single lock or key level helps managers identify who is using which openings and when, and decide whether staff or contractors have the appropriate access rights. These tasks become simpler and even instant. At a glance, the tool helps security managers track a relevant business activity. They will spot critical patterns in weekly or monthly access use, so as to help plan maintenance schedules more efficiently, for example, among many more bespoke insights into what is happening on site. Access management integration with process software The new Reporting and Analytics Tool is available as a simple subscription add-on to new or current CWM users. CWM already enables a wide range of security workflows, including real-time access management. It can integrate access management with existing business process software to build a single interface, which controls everything. Now, its new Reporting & Analytics Tool can help businesses make smarter, better, data-informed decisions.

Security stakes are high at healthcare premises. Patients expect and deserve privacy and safety. Yet, most medical buildings must remain welcoming spaces, many open around the clock. The protection of drugs and confidential data is critical, and every breach demands thorough investigation. Such needs go way beyond what mechanical security was designed to meet. Real-time control and monitoring Hospitals, for example, are often large and spread out. Their locks may need to integrate with fire detection, CCTV, and other building systems. Labs and pharmacies are safer when access is managed with time-limited ‘keys’, which can be revoked. In care homes, security must be matched by convenience for a client group, who may have limited dexterity or learning skills. Here, real-time control and monitoring can help managers to react quickly. Too much is asked of a traditional metal key, if it is expected to do all this. Yet, wired security doors can be an expensive retrofit option. Fortunately, there is a solution: wireless access control. Wireless access control solutions Wireless devices provide the easiest upgrade or replacement for any access control system Wireless devices provide the easiest upgrade or replacement for any access control system, based on mechanical or magnetic locks. Credentials, including RFID smartcards, programmable keys, or secure mobile keys stored on a smartphone, replace cumbersome physical keys. Wireless components make it a cost-effective option to add electronic control to many more areas of a building. With online locking systems, facility managers can monitor and manage premises at any time of day or night, even viewing the status of medicine cupboards or server racks from the same administration software interface. Integrating wireless locks  Swapping existing locks for battery-powered cylinders or escutcheons can link a door to an access control system. In one recent survey of access control professionals, 95% of respondents judged system integration with other building/security management functions to be ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ important. To meet this challenge at the Haute Savoie region’s new hospital, managers selected Aperio locking integrated online with an ARD access management system. Because Aperio locks are wireless, the hospital could introduce more layers of security and secure doors without incurring excessive installation or operating costs, including for sensitive offices and drugs stores. Staff no longer carry big bunches or waste time hunting down keys. Individual permissions are all stored on a single, programmable RFID credential. Battery-powered Aperio devices All battery-powered Aperio devices integrate natively with the central system, so wired and wireless access points at Center Hospitalier Métropole Savoie (CHMS) are managed together, with real-time logs, remote door opening, and free time-slot management. “Having just a single badge, and not having to carry around heavy keys, has been a major advantage for us,” said Béatrice Dequidt, Health Executive at Center Hospitalier Métropole Savoie. “We have implemented internal HR management procedures, creating badges that are automatically integrated into ARD's operating software,” adds Alain Gestin, CHMS’s IT Systems Architect. Powerful, real-time access control Aperio and ARD also maintain compatibility of credentials with the French government’s electronic CPS Aperio and ARD also maintain compatibility of credentials with the French government’s electronic Health Professional Card (CPS), for added staff convenience. Multiple key systems and varied openings, including fire doors, glass doors, offices, pharmacies, car parks, and lifts, plus hundreds of workers and contractors needing different, constantly changing permissions. Faced with these challenges, managers at Hospital MAZ, in Zaragoza, knew mechanical keys could not provide the 21st-century security they needed. SMARTair Wireless online access control Hospital MAZ upgraded locks to SMARTair Wireless Online electronic access control, which keeps facility managers updated in real time. A unified access system is controlled by intuitive software, installed at the central server, and managed via client servers in different departments. Because the SMARTair Wireless Online system updates via communications hubs in real time, security managers implement all changes via the central system, without needing to waste time walking through the hospital, changing rights one door at a time. Employee convenience is greatly enhanced. Staff and contractors carry a single MIFARE smart card programmed with individual access permissions. Cards are personalized to double as employee IDs, so 625 staff and approximately 100 contractors only carry a single card. "We have achieved all our objectives with the installation of the system,” said Miguel Angel Hernández Jerez at Hospital MAZ. Intelligent keys Programmable electronic key systems put the advantages of access control into a familiar form. They reinvent the key for the 21st century, making it more flexible, powerful, and better equipped to handle modern security demands. Lost keys and departed employees are no longer a problem, because their access rights are canceled with a click. The key’s familiarity is welcome to a user group who are not experts — at least, not in access control. CLIQ electro-mechanical locking system CLIQ offers easy-to-use access control, based on high-security mechanical disc cylinders Managing physical keys can impact nursing care, as pharmacy managers at the UK’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham discovered. An older, mechanical system made it difficult to keep track of who held the right keys. Searching for that person wasted valuable time. They identified a better solution for convenient secure access to controlled medicines: CLIQ electro-mechanical locking. CLIQ offers easy-to-use access control, based on high-security mechanical disc cylinders, combined with encrypted electronic locking and identification. With CLIQ, power to the lock is supplied by a standard battery inside every CLIQ key, so no wires are required — making it an ideal retrofit solution for doors, cabinets, and mobile drug trolleys. Each employee carries a single programmable CLIQ key to open any authorized CLIQ lock. No CLIQ device unlocks without the key first being authorized by the software. Remote key management QE Birmingham’s new CLIQ system allows for remote key management. Audit trails for locks and padlocks are available on-demand, so nurse managers can instantly see who has accessed particular cabinets or drug trolleys. “Programmable key solutions really boost medicine safety in hospitals,” said Stephan Schulz, CLIQ Product Manager at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEA, adding “Nurses at Queen Elizabeth, Birmingham, carry their own key with personalized access rights, so they don’t waste time finding out who has the key to every cupboard. Patients benefit.” “The message from all nursing staff is that patients are getting medicines much easier and in a more timely fashion,” said Inderjit Singh, Chief Pharmacist at QE Birmingham, adding “For us, the key return on investment is the quality of service we’re providing.” Simple, effective door control without software When installing a Code Handle electronic PIN lock, users need never worry again In any busy medical facility, however small, it is easy to leave a door unlocked. With expensive equipment or controlled drugs on the other side, an opening invites opportunist trouble. But, when installing a Code Handle electronic PIN lock, users need never worry again. A Code Handle fits right over an existing cylinder, users can simply swap the current handle for a low-profile Code Handle, and fix it in place with two screws, to instantly add PIN security to a consultation room, medicine store, or equipment cupboard. It adds electronic security without a bulky push-button door unit, which disrupts interior aesthetics. Code Handle electronic PIN lock solution In Spain’s Basque Country, Fylab sought this easy solution for their consulting rooms. Requirements were straightforward: secure, keyless access around a facility with a lot of daily traffic from professionals and the public. They needed a device that is easy to retrofit, with a design to chime with Fylab’s contemporary medical workplace. Code Handle added this security to three consulting-room doors, without wires or cables. “I am no artist or handyman, but I managed to fit the handles within 10 minutes,” said Fylab’s Founder, Borja Saldias Retegui. Their Code Handle devices lock both wooden and glass doors, keeping equipment and personal belongings safe. “Code Handle provides the simplest solution for access control in a small facility,” Borja Saldias Retegui adds.

The Thiepval Museums, in northern France, needed trusted, secure entry and exit control to reduce theft from their premises. User-friendly management of access rights was essential, for both internal and external users. The museums needed a system that will be able to cope easily with changes, site extensions and two-site operation, and a solution that would remove the need to change all cylinders, when an employee loses a key. eCLIQ locking cylinders installed Now, the Historial and Thiepval Museums are equipped with 52 eCLIQ locking cylinders, across the two sites. ASSA ABLOY’s eCLIQ key-operated solution offers them simplified access management, incorporating easy activation and deactivation of keys and simpler administration of access rights, and schedules for external providers and contractors. A unified system manages access to both locations. Every authorized key holder carries one battery-powered key programmed with only their tailored access permissions. With eCLIQ, missing keys are quickly de-authorized, cutting risks associated with key loss or theft. At any time, facility managers can generate an audit trail to verify who has accessed which locks. Designed for museum security Installing an eCLIQ system has allowed security teams to better monitor service providers Across the two sites, the museums have 40 durable, compact, and waterproof eCLIQ keys, of which 19 are already allocated to regular users. These Bluetooth-enabled keys are available to employees and contractors, helping the latter to improve their responsiveness when they are needed on-site. Installing an eCLIQ system has allowed security teams to better monitor service providers, along with their movements around and between the two sites. It is straightforward for museum managers to limit contractors’ access rights to the duration of a task, whether recurring or one-off. eCLIQ locking system Fitting eCLIQ locking system was a simple and wire-free task, and the museum staff, performed the installation themselves. One training session, with the admin software, was sufficient, to put them at ease with their new system. Looking after eCLIQ components is also easy, an integrated lubricant reservoir ensures cylinders, don’t require maintenance for up to 200,000 cycles. AES encryption, rapid processing, and efficient energy management is built into the eCLIQ chip. When a key’s battery runs out, it is easily replaced without tools. Easy and effective access control “I am very happy with the eCLIQ solution,” said M. Guyot, Technical and Security Manager at the Historial and Thiepval Museums, adding “Today, I promote the solution to those around me. I have also given a demonstration to the Somme General Council, to show the effectiveness and simplicity of the eCLIQ solution.” Guyot adds, “Normally, as a user client, we try to help you improve your products, but there was nothing to say in this case!”