The designation and tracking continue up the chain of command, to include managers for an area or territory up to your loss prevention experts who can use key tracking data to inform strategic security decisions. Good key control relies on managers to designate and track the keys that are distributed at a location.

Master keys make it easier for employees who need high-level access to carry only a single key instead of needing a separate key for every door or carrying a janitor key ring with all the keys needed to access everything in their store.īy designating levels of access by need before considering convenience, large organizations can eliminate unnecessary key distribution for employees who need little or no access given to them individually.

Master keys provide levels of access so that employees who only need to open a single door or a group of doors keyed alike have access to open only that lock while managers have a higher level of access and can easily open all the doors necessary for their job duties.Master keys were designed to solve two problems: Even great employees occasionally make mistakes, but an accidentally misplaced key can have a significant impact on your organization. An unavoidable part of doing business is trusting your employees to have your company’s best interests in mind. One of the biggest reasons that all large organizations should care about their key control is to effectively manage access. We have a short video demonstrating how rekeyable key cores work with master keys. This cuts down on the cost and storage of backup key cores or locksmith callouts. Rekeyable key cores allow for a lock to be changed without having to remove any of the locking hardware from the door. Particularly for commercial organizations with a number of facilities and access points to keep track of, security breaches can quickly become expensive and time-consuming. Rekeyable locks address the cost and time frustrations associated with frequent rekeys. One of the decisions you will need to make about your locks that can have a big impact on the day-to-day management of your key control is choosing between a standard interchangeable core and a rekeyable key core. There are a variety of options when choosing what locks to use throughout your organization. An interchangeable core that is part of a master key system will open for a user key and for a master key. An interchangeable core that is not pinned for master key access will open for a single key cut that interacts with the correct pins. There are pins housed inside a cylinder and a slot for a key to be inserted. To understand how key cores contribute to different key systems, it helps to know how a modern lock works. The only difference between a master key lock and a “normal” lock is what key systems that key core is included in. A lock that works for a master key is fundamentally no different from a lock that works for user keys. What is a Master Key Lock?Ī master key lock cylinder can be a standard key core, also known as an interchangeable core, or a conventional lock that is installed in door hardware used in a master key system. Master keys play an important role in your key control because of the way they both enable and limit access only to those who need it.

With a single master key, a key holder can open any number of doors throughout an organization that are keyed under the master key lock system design.

Master keys enable your employees who need more access to a specific location or a number of facilities than a user-level key. One of these components is a master key system. There are a number of components that contribute to your key control and the ease with which an organization can maintain security while also enabling employees with the access they need to complete their job responsibilities. This is why physical security and key control, is so important for organizations of any size. For commercial organizations, the choices made to keep your products, people, and facilities safe can have a big impact on your bottom line.

Master key storage