Keys are the weakest link in most buildings. They get copied, lost and never returned, and you have no record of who used them or when. Electronic access control fixes all three problems. Here’s what property managers and business owners should know before choosing a system.
What access control actually does
An access control system replaces keys with credentials, such as a fob, card or phone, and controls which doors each person can open and when. Every entry is logged. When someone leaves, you turn off their access in seconds instead of rekeying locks.
Credential options
Key fobs and cards
Familiar, inexpensive and easy to hand out. Lost fobs are simply deactivated and replaced. They’re a good fit for residents and staff who come and go daily.
Mobile credentials
Residents and employees unlock doors with their phone. Nothing to lose or copy, and access can be sent or revoked remotely, which is handy for contractors, cleaners and short-term access.
PIN codes and intercoms
Useful for gates, deliveries and visitors. Modern video intercoms let tenants or staff see who’s at the door and let them in from their phone.
Cloud-managed vs. on-premise
Older systems run on a server in a closet and are managed from one computer. Cloud-managed platforms, like the Brivo and Verkada systems we install, let you manage every door across every site from a browser or app, with automatic updates and no server to maintain. For most commercial and multifamily properties, cloud management is now the better choice.
Where access control helps most
- Multifamily buildings — main entries, garages, mailrooms, amenity spaces and package rooms
- Offices — after-hours entry, server rooms and suites with different tenants
- Industrial sites — gates, loading docks and restricted areas
- Schools and public buildings — lockdown capability and controlled visitor entry
Pair it with cameras
Access logs tell you which credential opened a door. Cameras tell you who actually walked through it, and whether someone followed them in. Integrated systems link each door event to the matching video clip, so investigating an incident takes minutes instead of hours.
Questions to ask before you buy
- Can I manage every door and site from one app?
- What happens to the doors if the internet or power goes out?
- Can the system grow as I add doors, gates or buildings?
- Does it integrate with my cameras and intercoms?
- Who supports it after installation?
Get a door-by-door plan
Technologies NW is an authorized Brivo and Verkada partner serving Seattle and the Puget Sound. We’ll walk your property and give you a door-by-door plan with a fixed quote. Book a free site assessment or call 425-492-5609.