Low-Tech Access Control: Master Keying Explained

By: Brian Rhodes, Published on Jan 09, 2020

Mechanical keys are one of the most fundamental forms of access control. 'Master Keying' can allow individually different credential keys to segment access, but requires no electricity, no network, and uses regular door locks.

*** ****** **** **** is *** ****** **********. In **** ********, ** explain:

  • *** **** ***** ****
  • ******* *** '*****' ** Each ***
  • *** ***** ***** *** So *********
  • *** ****** *** ******* Are *********
  • ****** **** ** * Huge ****
  • ******* ****** *** *****

*******, ***** *******,**** *** * ******** quiz.

Basic **** ********

*** ****** ** '*** tumbler' ***** ***** *** not ******* ***** *** original ******* ***** ** the *****. *** **** are **** ****** **** globally, **** *** **** the **** ***** ********.

*** ******** *** ***** offers * **** *********** on *** *** *** interacts *** ********** ***** a ****:

*** ********* ** ******: the **** ******** ******* (usually ******* * - 7) ******** **** ** different *******. * *** is **** **** ** turn *** **** ** the '****** ***********' ** key **** ******* *** length ** *** ****.

* ***** *** ******** the ****** ** *** the **** ** ***** top "***** *****" ***** between *** **** (*** part **** *****) *** the ******* (*** ******, outside ****) ** *** lock. ** ******* *** may ** **** ** slide **** *** ****, but *** ****** *** cuts ** *** ******** align *** ****, ********** the **** **** *******.

Codes ****** ****

**** *** *******, *** the ********** ****** ** key **** **** **** them, *** ******** ********* in ****.

* ************ *** **** is **** ****** * locksmith ** *** * replacement *** ***** ****** and **** ** ***** work **** * ****. Various ********** ** * code ****** ******* **** models, **** *** ******** depth ** * ***, the ***** ** * cut, ** **** *** width ** * ***, but *** ************ ** a '*** ****' ** fairly **********.

*******, *** ***** ** a *** ***** **** eight ** **** ******** depths, ***** * "*" depth ********* *** *** is *** *** ** all, *** * "*" cut ******* **** *.***" in ********. ***** *** range ** ****** ** not ***********, * **** is ********* ********, *** even *.***" ******** *** be *** ********** ******* a **** ******* *** remaining ******.

**** *** ****** ** five ** *** ****, the **** ** ********* as * ****** ** depths **** **** ******* representing *** *** ****** for * ***** *** position.

*** ******* *** ***** has * **********, **** **** ****-**-*****:

** * ****** ***** system, ***** *** ********* so **** **** **** one ****** *** **** opens ****. ** **** explain *** **** ******* in *** ********* ********.

Master ****** *******

*********** * ****** *** is * ****** *** that *** **** **** locks. * ******* ****** keying ****** ********* *** plan *****.

**** **** ***** ****** of **** ********** ** roles/jobs **** **** ****** credentials ********* *** ******:

******** ** *** ****** and ******* **:

  • ****** ****:***** *** **** ****** to ***** *** **** need ****** ** * single ****; ********'* *** offices, ****** ********, ***. These **** ********* **** only *** ****.
  • ****** (** ***-******) ****:***** *** **** ****** to ********, **** *** able ** **** * range (*** *** ***) doors. *** *******, *** Engineering ******** ** **** to **** *** ********** engineering *******, *** ** on.
  • ***** ****** ****:*** ***** ****** *** opens *** *****, ********** of ***** ***-****** ** patron **** *** **** in ***. *** *******, building *************** **** ***** keys ** **** ****** to *** **********.

** *** **** ** the ***** *****, *** will *** **** **** key ***** - ******, Master, *********** - ** shown **** * ********* bitted ***********, *** **** key ******* ** *** same "****** ****** ******". Master *** *********** **** often ****** **** *** other ***.

Master **** ********* *** *** **** ****

***** *** ****** ** a **** ******** ***, they *** ********* ******* controlled *** ******.

** **** *****, ****** keys *** *** **** be ********** **** ***** actually ******, *** **** destroyed ***** *** ** maintain ***** *******.

Same ******* *** ********* ****

*** ********** ** ******* alone ** *** * Master ****** ****** *****. Locks ** * ****** keyed ****** *** ***** to **** *** ********* key *** ************.

***** **** *** *** differently, **** *** *** the **** **** *******. Locks ** ***** ******* typically ****** ** **** in *** **** ****** Key ******. ** ***** this ******* ** ****** in ****** **** ****** *******: Restricted ************.

Losing ****** **** **** ****

*** ** *** ******* weaknesses ** * ****** key ****** ** * high-level ***, **** * Master, ***********, ** **** Great *********** *** ***** lost ** ******. ** that *******, **** ***** door ** ** ***** for ** *********** ** risk ** ***** ******, and *** **** '***' is ** ***** ***** door **** - *********** hundreds ** ***** *** many ********* ** ******* in ********* *** *** key ******** *****.

**** **** ****** ********** a ****** *** ****, the ******* *** ***** staggering - **** **** story ***** * ** college ******** **** *** ******* at **** ******* ******** dollars.

**** ********* ***** ******** not ******* ** ******* master **** ** *** despite *** ********* ***** available. ** **** ** one ** *** ******* advantages ** ********** ****** control, ***** ** * credential ** **** ** stolen, ** *** ** immediately ****** *** *** made ** ** ******* - ** ******* ***** or ****** ********.

Shear ***** **** ****** ****** ********

*** ********* ***** ***** how * **** ***** when ** **** *** a ****** '***** ****', or ***** *** ******* that ******* ** ** even ********** ******* **** halves.

*******, ******* ** ***** single **** ** ********* lengths, ****** **** ******* use **** **** ** of ******* ********* ****** (wafer *********). *** ***** below ***** ****, ***** a ****** '***' **** be ******** *********** ** 4 ** * *****, and ***** **** **** one ********* ***** **** is ******** ****** * pin *******:

*** ************ ** ******** shear ***** ** * pin ***** *** *********** of ******* ********* **** opening *** **** ****. In * ****** *** system, *** ***** *** built **** * ****** multiple ***** *****. *******, the **** **** *** them *** ******* **********. Therefore, *** ***** ******* the *** ** * common ***, *** **** common *** ** **** issued ** '****** ***'.

*** ***** ***** ** another **** ** *** concept, ***** ********* ** a ****:

*** *** ***** *****, the *** ******** *** open *** ****. **** key *** * ******* code ********.

*******, * *** ***************** **** **** **** lock, ** ***** * key *********, ** *** ***** subsequent ***** *********** **** matches * ***** **** up ** **** *** lock ****.

** ***** ******** ***** lines, **** **** **** no ******** *********** ** another *** *********** **** the **** ****. ** administratively ********* ******** ***** line ************ **** *** master/grandmaster ****, ****** ****** systems ** ********* ** locks *** ** *****, all *********** ******** **** a ****** ***.

Master ****** *****

*** **** ** ******** a ****** ****** ****** is ******* ******** ** a ***-****** ****** ****** and ***** ********* **** per **** **** ********** access.

** *******, **** *** tumbler ***** *** ** constructed ** ******* **** a ******, *** *** wafer **** *** ****** supply ***** *** **** locksmiths. ******* * **** for *** ** * master *** ****** ******** more ***** *** ** handling **** ****, *** usually ** *** **** more **** * *** dollars **** *** **** lock ** *******.

*** **** ********** ******* of ******** * ****** keying ****** ** ********** each ********** *** **** and **** ******* ****, however, **** **** ************* and **** ******** ************ will ** **** *** no **** **** ****** hardware. ********** *********-***** ******** can ** ********* *** less **** $***, *** even ******** ******** *** be **********, ******** ******* for **** ***** ** locks/keys *** ** *******.

*******, *** ******* **** in * ****** ****** system ** *** ********** management ** ****. ** order *** *** ****** to ****** ******, ***** time * *** ** issued ** ********* ** must ** **********. ***** most ***** ******* ******** shear *****, * ********* should ***** ** ***** to *** *** **** without ***** ******* *** those ***** ***** *** being ****, ** **** they *** ************* *** a ****** ** *********** key *** ****** ***.

****

*******, ***** *******,**** *** * ******** quiz.

Comments (19)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

01/09/20 03:19pm

**** ****** ******** ***** lines **** *** **** easier ** ****?

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 01/09/20 03:31pm

*********** ********.

** ******* ** ***, multiple ***** ***** **** a **** ****** ** pick. ** **** *****, multiple ***** ***** *** easier ** '****' ** well.

*** ******* * ****, even **** ******** ***** lines, ** **** ******* than **** ****** *** TV *******. ** *** take ***** ** **** a * *** ****. :(

** **** *******/******* **** difficult, **** ****** ***** use '******** ****' **** tapered ******** **** **** a ********* ****** '***** positives' **** ******* * lock:

*** *** *** *** is ******** '*****' **** it *** **** ****** and *** **** ***** for *** **** ** be ******** ****** ** the ******'* ********. *** in *******, *** *** is ***** *** ** a ***** **** *** the **** **** **** secure.

******* ******* ** **** mostly ** **** *** not *****, **** ** an ********* *********.

Michael Miller

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 01/09/20 04:50pm

* ****** ** * lock *** *** *** how ** **** **** years ***. ***** **** in *** **** ****** "if *** ***'* **** the **** ** * mins **** *** **** in"

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Michael Miller | 01/09/20 05:28pm

* ****, **'* ****.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Michael Miller | 01/09/20 05:48pm

*'* *** * *** reader, *********** ******:

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 01/09/20 04:58pm

*** ******* * ****, even **** ******** ***** lines, ** **** ******* than **** ****** *** TV *******. ** *** take ***** ** **** a * *** ****.

**, * ***'* ****** with ****** *** **. I **** ***** **** Picking ******. *** *******:

** ******, *** ** slightly ****** ** **** picking **** **** ******.

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 01/09/20 05:35pm

** ******** ** **** picking, *** ***** ****** to **** * **** installed ** * **** is ****** ********* **** uninstalled ** * ***** vise.

*** ****** ** ****** he *** ***** ** much ******* ** ******* level **** *** **** over *** **** **** if *** **** *** installed ** * **** with * ****** *** or **** ****** ******* tension ** *** *********.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Brian Rhodes | 01/10/20 06:49pm

** **** *******/******* **** difficult, **** ****** ***** use '******** ****' **** tapered ******** **** **** a ********* ****** '***** positives' **** ******* * lock:

****'* *********! **'** ******** to ** *** **** guys, *****?

Avatar

Christopher Freeman

01/09/20 03:34pm

***** *** *****

Lee Brown

01/09/20 05:46pm

***** ******* *****.

* ***** ******* **** key "*************" *** *********** are **** ****** ********** for ************ **** *** tumbler *****.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 01/09/20 07:17pm

"**** **** ****** ********** a ***** *** ****, the ******* *** ***** staggering - **** **** story ***** * ** college ******** **** *** ******* at **** ******* ******** dollars."

**** ** **** ** with *** *** ******** cylinders?

****** **** ******** ***** pick ** * ********** key ****** ** *** cheap.

**** ***** ***** ** the ****** ****** *** there, **** *** ***** people **** ***** ******* and ****** ****.

*** **** ***** *** thrown **** ***** *** locks *******.

*** ****: **** * LEVEL ****** *** ******, 10 ***** ***, **** 5000+ ***** ****, **** an *****!

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 01/09/20 07:23pm

** **** *****, *** lock ***** *** ******** but *** ****** ****. The **** **** *** tossed, *** **** ****'* good *** **** ** that *****.

*** ***** ** ****** labor ** ******** *** system, ********* *****, ******* new *** ******, *** distributing *** *** ****.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 01/09/20 11:34pm

**** *** ****.

*** **********: *** ****** "commonly *** ******** ****" may ** ********* ***** it's "******** *** ******** ****" :)

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 01/09/20 11:42pm

******. * ****** **** one/ ******** ** ** avoid *** ***********.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 01/10/20 03:05pm

** *** ** ****** locksmith **** * ****** key **** ** ******* at **, ******* ****** the ****?

** *****'* ***** **** it. ** *******, ******* the ******** "** *** DUPLICATE" *******, ***** ******* a ********* **** *********** duping * ******?

****, *'* ******** **** if * ** *** presented **** *** ****, a ****** *** * patron ***, ** ******'* tell *** ** *** master ** *** *****, or **** **** **** even *******.

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 01/10/20 06:31pm

* ***'* **** ** say '** ** **********', but ** ** ******** even ** ****** ********* could ** * ****** just ** ******* * single ***. ******** ****, maybe, *** *** **** one.

**** **** ****, * would *** ** ********* if ***** *** * savant ********* *** ***** calculate *** *********** ** a ****** ******'* ***** lines **** ** ****** a ****** ***.

****'* ***** ***** *****, but *'* ******* **** mathematical ********** *****.

Avatar

Marco Sanchez

01/10/20 05:19pm

**** *********** *** ** I *** ** **** a *** **** ****** Do *** *********? ****** for * ****** *** is ****** ** ***** our *** $*** ******* for * **** **** key...

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Marco Sanchez | 01/10/20 05:31pm

*** *** *** * key-copying ***** **** ********* or *** ** *** that.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Marco Sanchez | 01/10/20 06:47pm

****** ******* - ********** Keys *****

Login to read this IPVM report.

Related Reports

Keypads For Access Control Tutorial on Jul 28, 2020
Keypad readers present huge risks to even the best access systems. If...
Favorite Access Control Credentials 2020 on Sep 15, 2020
Credential choice is more debated than ever, with hacking risk for 125kHz and...
Risks Of Managing End User Passwords (Statistics) 2020 on Sep 11, 2020
Alarmingly, most integrators used spreadsheets to manage passwords, IPVM...
Access Control Course Fall 2020 - Register Now - Last Chance on Sep 09, 2020
Starts next week! IPVM offers the most comprehensive access control course in...
Milestone Presents XProtect On AWS on May 04, 2020
Milestone presented its XProtect on AWS offering at the April 2020 IPVM New...
Dynamic vs Static IP Addresses Tutorial on Apr 16, 2020
While many cameras default to DHCP out of the box, that does not mean you...
Worst Camera Manufacturers 2020 on May 06, 2020
Which camera manufacturer have integrators had the worst experience with in...
IPConfigure Presents Orchid Fusion VSaaS on Apr 30, 2020
IPConfigure presented Orchid Fusion VSaaS at the April 2020 IPVM New Products...
Access Visitor Management Systems Guide on Jul 22, 2020
"Who are you, and why are you here?" Facilities that implement Visitor...
Forced Door Alarms For Access Control Tutorial on Aug 17, 2020
One of the most important access control alarms is also often ignored....
K7 Wall Mounted IR Temp Gun Tested on Jun 26, 2020
The original K3 model was missing a number of important features but the...
Clinton Public View Monitor (PVM) Mask Detection Tested on Jul 09, 2020
Face mask detection, or more specifically not wearing one, is expanding...
Use Access Control Logs To Constrain Coronavirus on Apr 09, 2020
Access control users have included capabilities that are not commonly used...
Door Fundamentals For Access Control Guide on Aug 24, 2020
Doors vary greatly in how difficult and costly it is to add electronic access...
Add Door Operators To Fight Coronavirus on Mar 31, 2020
IPVM recommends that integrators advocate and end-users consider adding door...

Recent Reports

Mobile Access Control Usage Statistics 2020 on Sep 21, 2020
Most smartphones can be used as access control credentials, but how...
Axis Compares Fever Camera Sellers to 9/11 on Sep 18, 2020
Axis Communications, the West's largest surveillance camera manufacturer, has...
Chilean Official Investigated for Motorola And Hikvision Contracts on Sep 17, 2020
A corruption investigation is underway in Chile after a crime prevention...
Huawei HiSilicon Production Shut Down on Sep 17, 2020
Huawei HiSilicon chips are no longer being manufactured or supplied to...
Virtual ISC West and GSX+ Exhibiting Contrasted on Sep 17, 2020
Both ISC West and ASIS GSX are going virtual this year, just weeks apart, but...
X.Labs Sues FLIR on Sep 16, 2020
X.Labs, the maker of Feevr, has sued FLIR, the publicly traded thermal...
Video Surveillance 101 September Course - Last Chance on Sep 16, 2020
Today is the last chance to sign up for the Fall Video Surveillance 101...
No Blackbody Mistake, Half Million Dollar, Hikvision Fever Camera System in Georgia on Sep 16, 2020
A Georgia school district touted buying Hikvision fever screening "about...
Costar Technologies / Arecont H1 2020 Financials Examined on Sep 16, 2020
Costar's financial results have been hit by the coronavirus with the company...
Startup Cawamo Presents Live Alerts With Edge AI and Cloud VMS on Sep 15, 2020
Cawamo, an Israeli edge-to-cloud analytics and VMS startup, presented its...
Favorite Access Control Credentials 2020 on Sep 15, 2020
Credential choice is more debated than ever, with hacking risk for 125kHz and...
Dangerous Hikvision Fever Screening Marketing In Africa on Sep 15, 2020
A multi-national African Hikvision distributor is marketing dangerously...
New Products Show Fall 2020 Announced - Register Now on Sep 14, 2020
IPVM's sixth online show will feature New Products from over 25...
Hanwha 8K / 33MP Camera Tested on Sep 14, 2020
Hanwha Techwin has released an 8K / 33MP resolution camera, the TNB-9000 with...