Whether you run a small business or a large corporation, reliable security is essential for the safety of your personnel, property, and sensitive information. Break-ins and burglaries happen all too often, but you can keep your business safe and secure with a key card access system.

A key card access system is a security system that grants access to entrances with an electronic key card rather than a traditional key. These systems make managing access to your office or building easier while also increasing security. Let’s take a look at four of the ways key card access systems reduce your business’s risk of theft.

Lower the Risk of a Break-In

Did you know that 2.5 million burglaries happen every year? And contrary to what you might see in the media, many burglars aren’t smashing through windows or kicking down doors. No, they are often walking right through the front entrance. Even if you lock your office building’s door with a traditional lock and key, your property may not be as safe as you think. A manual lock can be picked with the right tools. Key card access systems, on the other hand, are a lot more difficult to crack.

Don’t Worry About Lost or Stolen Keys

At some point in your life, you’ve probably lost your house key and had to call a locksmith to change all your locks. It’s a nuisance, but you’re better safe than sorry; after all, you never know who might find your key and what their intentions may be. Thieves may also gain access to your business with a stolen key. Rather than change each of the locks and then reissue new keys to all of your employees, switch to a key card access system. When a key card is lost or stolen, you can simply deactivate that one card, ensuring that it can’t be used by any ill-disposed individuals.

Monitor Activity

Even for smaller companies, it can be difficult to keep track of the comings and goings of every employee, visitor, client, and service person. Commercial access control systems, like key card access systems, are often designed to create a record of everyone who enters and exits any door. Not only is this record highly beneficial for tracking employee activities and attendance, but it’s also useful in case of theft or property damage. Simply check the log to find out whose key card gained entry to the location of the incident.

Avoid Risks Due to Employee Turnover

Finally, though we’d like to believe all of our current and former employees are trustworthy and well-intentioned, it’s once again better to be safe than sorry. After an employee leaves the business, you’ll want to repossess their building key to ensure they can’t reenter for any reason. Unfortunately, standard keys are fairly easy to duplicate. Key card access systems, on the other hand, offer a safeguard against this as they can’t be easily copied. And, if you don’t get the former employee’s key card back upon their departure, you can always deactivate the card, as mentioned above.

You can reduce your risk of burglary by installing a key card access system in your place of business. With controlled access and management, you’ll no longer need to worry about lost or stolen keys or unmonitored activity on your property.