From small community colleges to large multi-campus universities, every educational campus setting is unique. While each setting is unique, campus security teams all share common goals to improve security and public safety. Electronic key control systems are installed at educational campuses globally to account for typically hundreds to thousands of keys, which need to be managed and tracked to prevent security incidents, theft, and to safeguard assets.
Morse Watchmans, the original developer of electronic key control systems, provided a process of managing and tracking keys with accountability and audit reports over three decades ago. The signature KeyWatcher system is an instrumental security solution that expedites management of all physical keys for educational campuses of all sizes.
What is electronic key control?
KeyWatcher systems allow designated campus security teams to assign users, track key usage, locate keys, schedule automatic reports, and set up email and text notifications when a key is overdue. KeyWatcher systems provide asset management for all keys, and the assets they protect. KeyWatchers also provide access control for security professionals and key control administrators, who determine who can have access to specific keys. Full audit trail reports are available at any time so key control administrators always know where keys are located, who has them, and when they are due to be returned.
When considering key control security for an education campus property, assessing the size and needs and the types of systems available makes the process simpler. KeyWatcher systems are modular, scalable, and expandable, which makes it easier to address changing needs, such as renovations and expansions, or the addition of a new building.
Small Campus Settings
Smaller college campuses, such as a single building with an inventory of keys that may amount to a few hundred or less, can benefit from a small stand-alone, non-networked KeyWatcher system. A non-networked system offers data privacy and is a solid security system to manage important master keys. A small stand-alone system is a great tool and a resource to store all the room and facility keys, so staff no longer need to take them home. When keys leave the school campus, there is an increased risk for expensive re-keying should they become lost or misused. A designated key ring for first responders can also expedite response time for crisis and emergency management.
Medium to Large Campuses
Buildings with expansive interior footprints and multiple floors typically require multiple key control cabinet locations installed for maximum efficiency and productivity. Installing these key control cabinets on a closed network at several locations throughout the building or across multiple buildings is an ideal solution. Within networked key control systems, keys may be returned to any cabinet location for added convenience.
University campuses typically have multiple security technology and business systems including video surveillance and access control systems. Adding a key control system, which also provides access control, and integrating it with other security and business systems delivers real-time data when the systems are synched and working together to provide centralized security snapshots of what is occurring on campus.
Security personnel can then monitor all security system activity from a centralized location or department. From a centralized department, security personnel can conveniently activate or deactivate users, track key usage, locate keys and conduct key audits.
Large University Campuses with Affiliated Satellite and Global Locations
For higher education campuses with satellite locations in multiple cities and/or abroad, KeyWatcher systems allow protocols for networking over a wide area network (WAN). This allows for tighter key control security and consistent security standards for all locations under the same ownership, whether private or public, which can be managed by a centralized security office. All key control activities can be viewed across all locations, whether domestic or overseas, and audited instantly.
The Benefits of Key Control for Educational Campuses of Any Size
Key control systems, such as the Morse Watchmans KeyWatcher, are an essential security tool for educational campuses of all sizes. Tracking keys can be a frustrating task, but it does not need to be with electronic key control systems. Besides reducing the likelihood of lost keys and expensive re-keying, key control adds security operational efficiency and accountability and saves time and money.
For more information on Key Control for campuses visit: Morse Watchmans’s website.
