That’s so smart!

Many schools and healthcare campuses choose to use access control cards. There are 3 main types:

• Magnetic stripe
• Proximity, and
• Smart cards

Magnetic stripe cards are the least secure, proximity cards provide mid-level security and smart cards are the most secure because they are the most difficult to duplicate. Contactless smart credentials utilize high security encrypted data, which is mutually authenticated in communication between the card and reader, providing optimum security.

Smart cards cost approximately the same as the other cards and they can be used for many applications beyond access control, including cafeteria and library privileges, sporting event admittance, cashless vending and transit. Smart cards can provide identification, authentication, data storage and application processing.

Modular all-in-one locking systems combine the lock and reader so a campus can choose the electronic lock they need today knowing it can be later upgraded without taking it off the door. The locks provide multiple, interchangeable credential reader modules as well as interchangeable offline, wired and wireless networking modules so access control can be installed at doors where it had been previously unfeasible.

Although the best known and most widely used credential is the common key, keys are easily duplicated. If lost, locks need to be rekeyed and new keys issued. Because a lost key can be costly to a district, many schools have adopted key management systems. With a patent-protected key management system, keys are only available to authorized individuals through professional locksmith channels, which helps prevent unauthorized key duplication.