Smartlocks are a growing market, with millions sold. Kwikset's Kevo is one of the most common choices, using the Unikey smart phone access control platform. Many like the concept of controlling locks with their phones but doing is not easy, as sh...
By Brian Rhodes - about 2 months ago
2Gig is one of the most widely used intrusion systems, with two product lines that are the main offering of many alarm companies, huge national installers and small mom & pop shops alike. In this dual-test, IPVM bought both variants of this a...
By Brian Rhodes - 3 months ago
Lock keyways can be the difference between a lock working or not. Understanding keyways is important for access control. Indeed, a member recently commented: My biggest problem is specifying the right hardware with the wrong keyway In this n...
By Brian Rhodes - 3 months ago
More and more people carry smart phones. Many think this could replace the conventional key or card for access control. However, using a phone creates a number of challenges, including both ensuring various phone models work and that the door har...
By Brian Rhodes - 3 months ago
The biggest challenge for many access control systems are glass doors. Here's what happens when a maglock is improperly installed to an existing glass door: Unlike wood or steel doors that can be modified to work with electrified locking hardwa...
By Brian Rhodes - 4 months ago
New IPVM survey data reveals integrator's top 5 problems with electronic access control: High Cost Complex Doors and Hardware Lowball Competition Grudging Customers Legacy Systems Inside, we collect integrator comments that explain these...
By Brian Rhodes - 9 months ago
While wireless locks are one of the hottest areas of access control, two of its biggest challenges are high cost and limited integration with mainstream access control platforms. Allegion's newest wifi lock line, Schalge NDE has addressed those t...
By Brian Rhodes - 9 months ago
Properly configuring access control door controllers is key to a professional system. These devices have fundamental settings that must be configured appropriately, including: Unlock times / extended unlock times Door Hold Open Alarms Reques...
By Brian Rhodes - 9 months ago
Assuming every door can be secured with either a maglock or an electric strike can be a painful assumption in the field. While those items can be applied flexibly with various openings, there are occasions where certain hardware cannot be used. A...
By Brian Rhodes - 9 months ago
Hotel access control seems to work magically. Unlike electronic access control systems used in commercial security, doors in hotels are not typically connected to a central server to confirm access. How does it work then? How can the hotel assu...
By Brian Rhodes - 11 months ago
This 15 page report provides the most in-depth guidance on specifying Access Control systems you will find. Specifying Access Control correctly can be tricky, because every opening has quirks and are prone to outside factors that impact system pe...
By Brian Rhodes - about 1 year ago
In our 12th access company profile, we examine Software House's C-Cure access control platform: Comparing Software House to their competition Examining their management and client software Reviewing their product and support costs Covering t...
By Brian Rhodes - about 1 year ago
Controlling access to hazardous environments require equipment meeting specific ratings that certify they will not start fires. Understanding those ratings mandate careful selection. Inside this note we discuss: Where is explosion proof access ...
By Brian Rhodes - about 1 year ago
In this age of classroom shootings, many are looking for barricade locks - a cheap and easy stopgap to bolster door security. Critics condemn barricade locks as dangerous and even deadly because they do not satisfy basic building codes, while p...
By Brian Rhodes - about 1 year ago
Straight from the hipster startup hotbed of Brooklyn comes a new IP access control system. And if the tough streets of NYC do not offer enough credibility, Kisi also claims German engineering: True to startup form, the company offers big claim...
By Brian Rhodes - about 1 year ago
In our 12th access control company profile, we examine AMAG Symmetry access control platform: Comparing AMAG to their competition Examining their management and client software Reviewing their product and support costs Covering their hardwar...
By Brian Rhodes - over 1 year ago
This is our 9th in a series of access control company profiles. In this entry, we cover Brivo. Profile Brivo is a US based access company offering hosted systems, where users subscribe to a monthly cloud service to manage their systems rather th...
By Brian Rhodes - over 1 year ago
Keeping surveillance networks secure can be a daunting task, but there are several methods that can greatly reduce risk, especially when used in conjunction with each other. In this guide, we look at several security techniques, both physical and...
By Ethan Ace - over 1 year ago
Inside we examine Honeywell Pro-Watch access control line: Comparing Honeywell to their competition Examining their management and client software Reviewing their product and support costs Examining their dealer requirements Covering their ...
By Brian Rhodes - over 1 year ago
The popularity of Power over Ethernet applications has spilled over into Access Control. Taking advantage of the general popularity of powering cameras through data cables is also a natural application for access control. However, the demands for...
By Brian Rhodes - over 1 year ago
Inside we examine RS2 Technologies Access It! line for best customer fit, key features, pricing, and main weaknesses. Profile RS2 is a US access company offering a range of platforms from small systems to enterprise platforms. Regardless of vers...
By Brian Rhodes - over 1 year ago
Your voice is your key with a new residential doorlock, Kwikset's Premis. Using your Apple phone, you can command your door to lock and unlock even if you are miles away. The idea sounds cool, but how does it work and is it secure? We take a deepe...
By Brian Rhodes - over 1 year ago
The most basic rule of access control is 'never lock people in', but is the problem of active shootings big enough to beat the code? Some in the security market think so, and support is growing for a non-code compliant type of lock called a 'barr...
By Brian Rhodes - over 1 year ago
In this note, we profile access control provider DSX. This is the second installment of a series leading to an access control vendor comparison report. We examine DSX's overall strengths, ideal customer market, pricing, and biggest gaps in this n...
By Brian Rhodes - over 1 year ago
3 years ago, we asked "Should Smart Integrators Lead with Access Control?" pointing out some of the relative strengths of access control and emerging challenges of the video surveillance business. Now, we more firmly make the case that smart inte...
By Brian Rhodes - over 1 year ago
