The 4 Layers of Physical Security: Reinforcing Protection With Electronic Key Control (2024)

By KeyTrak security, electronic key control, access levels, verifiable audit tail, authorization levels, biometrics, theft, general, top post

In a survey of business leaders, 25% of respondents reported an increase in physical security incidents over the past year. Just over a quarter of respondents attributed this increase to a rise in local crime. As a result, these businesses experienced project delays (32%), asset damage (30%), and impact on inventory (27%).

1. Deterrence

Just as lighting, fences, and security cameras discourage trespassers, placing your keys in a secure key control system made of heavy-duty materials like steel can help prevent unauthorized people from accessing keys for vehicles, high-security rooms, or valuable assets.

An electronic key control system with multifactor authentication enhances security by requiring employees to log in using a unique password, proximity card, or fingerprint scan. This added layer of protection makes unauthorized access more difficult. To hold employees accountable, the system automatically records the times employees take and return keys, creating a real-time verifiable audit trail.

2. Access Control

Your business likely has some form of access control, whether it’s mechanical locks or digital locks. But if you’re not monitoring who can use your keys, fobs, or access cards, you’re missing a vital layer of security. By implementing a key control system, you can limit which keys are available to users based on job function, time of day, and even days of the week. This measure helps prevent employees from accessing restricted areas and items after hours.

3. Detection

Imagine having an entry point with no locks, no surveillance, and no security patrol. How would you know if anyone entered the building without permission? You wouldn’t. If you're currently using manual key control, such as a pegboard or lockbox, you have no way of detecting the exact moment someone removes a key or fails to return a key on time.

For example, before implementing an electronic key control system, Russell & Smith Automotive Group had repeated issues with lost keys and missing vehicles but no way of knowing who was responsible. An electronic key control system gave management the insight and accountability required to prevent unauthorized use.

With this level of control, you can choose triggers to sound an alarm or send a text or email to the system administrator. These events could include unauthorized users attempting to access the system, overdue keys, or a system drawer being left open for too long. By alerting you of overdue keys and other suspicious activity, your system helps you identify and resolve potential security breaches.

4. Identification

Once you’ve detected unauthorized access to an area of your business, it’s important to identify the person responsible. By using a key control system with a biometric fingerprint reader, you can eliminate the risk of password sharing and identify who accesses the system. The system will only authorize users with registered fingerprints. Since no two fingerprints are alike, you’ll know exactly who’s accessing your system.

Additionally, if your system has a motion-activated video camera, it’ll record any person who approaches the system, even without an attempt to log on. Combined with your main surveillance system, this feature expands your monitoring capabilities, helping you detect suspicious activity more effectively.

By integrating an electronic key control system into your broader security strategy, you can support each layer of physical security: deterrence, access control, detection, and identification. This multifaceted approach increases your defense against security incidents, protecting your assets and preventing disruptions that could hurt your business’s profitability.

This post was originally published in 2014 and updated in 2024.