The essential features of electronic key management
Managing physical keys effectively depends on having the right controls.
Choosing the right electronic key management solution for your enterprise
- Access control – this could be a simple pin. More sophisticated solutions offer access via security token or biometric control
- Inventory management – provides a way to catalog the keys in your cabinet. Your key will need to be attached to a fob to identify it in the system.
- User management – provides controls not only over who has access to the cabinet, but also manages who can access which keys stored in the cabinet.
- Reporting – management reports allow administrators to view all activity on the system including failed access attempt
- Tamper alarm – some sort of alarm is essential should someone try to brute force the cabinet open or extract a key to which they do not have permission to access
- Power backup – backup power supplies are essential in the event of power failure.
Traka intelligent key cabinets
These in-built controls are just a starting point. With rich integrations, TrakaWEB key control software can send notifications to networked control systems to support more sophisticated compliance models. Our installation teams are experienced in supporting a range of workflows and logical rule sets where this sort of regulation is required. For example, our key cabinets support Lock-out, Tag-out, and Try-out isolation procedures for handling hazardous situations in the mining industry.
- Booking schedule – enable staff to book items ahead of time, ensuring that items such as vehicles are available at critical times.
- Distance/Mileage/Fuel recording – require that the mileage is recorded after a borrowed vehicle is returned
- Conditional access – perform additional checks against a user for example that their license is still valid and their training is up to date.
- Fault logging and fault logging alerts – collect a fault report when an item is returned. If a fault is recorded a key can be removed from circulation until the issue is reviewed and remediated.
- Reason logging – recording for what purpose the item is required
- Maintenance lockout – centrally prevent items that need maintenance are borrowed
- Curfews – provide a curfew by which an item must be returned. Create alerts if the item is not returned to the schedule.
- Secondary authorization controls – for restricted items require that two or more signatories authorize item checkout.
The problem with traditional lockable key boxes and cabinets