Does Your Business Need a Master Key System?

8 June 2018

It doesn't matter how big or small your business may be, security is likely to be one of your primary concerns. Protecting your assets, stock, confidential information and even any cash you keep on your premises can all come down to who has a key to get into and around your building. Even if you trust all your employees implicitly, giving everyone access to all areas of your business can lead to problems. If an employee loses a key or has one stolen, then your business may well be left wide open. If this worries you, then you may want to consider setting up a master key system. How does this work?

What Is a Master Key System?

Master key systems give you control over who can access different areas of your business. Typically, this system comes with one or more overall master keys that will open any lock in the building; any other keys you give to employees will have restricted access.

So, for example, you may have a master key that opens any door, room or cupboard, but your employees' keys may restrict their access solely to areas where they work in the building. This system can enhance your security, especially as you will also have control over who can have replacement or additional keys made.

Do You Need a Master Key System?

A master key system can be a useful way to enhance the overall security of your business. For example, you may benefit from the following advantages:

1. You can limit entrance access to your building by only giving entrance/exit keys to a set number of employees.
2. If you store cash on the premises regularly, you can protect the cash you have on site by restricting access to your finance office to your finance staff and holders of master keys. Any other employees wouldn't be able to use their work keys to get into this office.
3. If you have problems with stock disappearing from your site, then you can limit access to storerooms to senior supervisors and managers who can sign stock in and out as your employees need it.

Who Needs Access?

It's important to map out the access that your employees need to do their jobs before you design a master key system. Preventing employees from accessing areas, rooms or store cupboards that they need to get into to do their jobs is counterproductive.

Tip: Don't just assume that all-access keys should only be given to senior members of staff. You'll probably also need to give your cleaning staff fairly full access so that they can do their jobs.

The easiest way to map out a system is to work out what access each employee needs. The mobile locksmith that puts in your master key system may be able to help you with this.