Ask our solutions experts about our special program and pricing for Nexkey customers!

Startup access control provider, Nexkey, announced in early August 2022 it is shutting down.  A security integrator, ASG Security, agreed to pay to keep the Nexkey cloud software live to end of year (31-Dec-2022)

• ASG has contacted Nexkey customers and informed them they do not believe the system will function properly due to backend system degradation and loss of functionality, and urging customers to replace their system as do not have any access to correct it.
• SimpleAccess has received customer comments about “outrageous amounts” being charged to setup a new system.

• Works with the leading commercial lock and access control brands
  • HID Global, Schlage, Mercury, Yale, Assa Abloy, Allegion, and more
• Part of a profitable, $600+MM company
  • Industry-leader in business for over 30 years (not a startup)
• SimpleAccess Solution is ideally suited to replace Nexkey systems
  • • Flexible system, mobile phone, wired and wireless solutions
    • Affordable, lower upfront costs

The way you do business is changing – and the way you secure your business should change, too. If you’re still on the fence about upgrading your small- or medium-sized (SMB) business’s door access control system, read on to discover why now is the time to revamp your approach to physical security.

Defining building access control

Simply put, building access control is the system behind how and when employees and visitors can enter your business. These can span the continuum of low-tech offerings to high-tech systems for the most secure spaces. Compared to traditional locks and keys or a standalone smart lock, an access control system is more robust and secure way to manage access for multiple users with unique permission settings, remotely monitor and manage access, see analytics, and scale easily as your needs or budgets grow.

When it comes to locks and hardware to protect your assets there are five main categories.

Traditional locks and flat keys sit at one end of that continuum. This system is familiar — but also problematic for several reasons:

• Physical keys are cumbersome and obsolete
• Administrating traditional keys and locks is time-consuming and inefficient
• Keys don’t provide a record of who accessed your business and when

Access cards and fobs can provide a record of who entered a space and when. They are physical devices that can be lost or stolen, but one clear advantage of access cards and fobs is that access can be revoked without physically returning the card or fob.

Pin codes fall squarely in the category of “things you know.” These are short codes entered in a keypad at the door. With today’s smart access control and keyless entry systems, individual codes are easily customized per user, can be issued and revoked to guests with time limitations, and easily managed with remote, cloud-based access software.

Mobile phone credentials offer the user convenience of not having to keep track of a key or access card, and the administrator the convenience of remotely granting and revoking access privileges. And since they’re tied to an individual’s smartphone, they’re not as easily shared (or forgotten) as a key, fob or access card.

Why now is the time to upgrade your access control system

Now that it’s clear what an access control system is, here are five reasons why you small business needs a physical access control system now more than ever.

1. Employees expect flexibility.

Over the past few years, flexible and hybrid work environments have transitioned from being a rarity to a necessity — and now an expectation. Support the kind of convenience your employees want and need with a smart door access control system that lets you customize access, remotely, and from your smartphone. Giving your employees the flexibility to access your building with changing needs and schedules, through a key card, fob, or even their mobile phone.

2. Your legacy access control system is aging.

According to a study by HID Global, 52% of organizations surveyed are relying on card readers that are three to six years old, while 39.2% are using software that’s three to six years old. Don’t put your employees, sensitive information and business assets at risk by relying on aging systems and door locks.

3. Employees are departing at record rates during “The Great Resignation.”

Employees are leaving their jobs at record numbers, according to the  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. All those resignations and terminations mean more administration work for you to ensure departing employees have access to your business revoked in a timely manner. Higher turnover also likely means more frequent onboarding of new employees remotely, bringing a second wave of admin work to provide new access credentials. A smart keyless entry system gives you options and convenience with not only the hardware but also with remote management and notifications.

4. Save time on access control administration when you’re already spread thin.

If you’re like most SMB leaders, you’re already working more than 50 hours a week. And a big chunk of that time — 20+ hours — is going to ancillary and non-revenue-generating tasks that aren’t related to your core business. A smart access control system eliminates the administrative work around managing keys. You can quickly and easily manage your employees’ role-based access from a simple smartphone app from anywhere, freeing up more time to focus on the things that matter most for your business.

5. A smart access control partner makes it easy to upgrade.

You juggle a lot of different roles as an SMB leader — and no one can be an expert in all things. An access control partner like SimpleAccess can design and support a smart access control system that fits your needs, including coordinating installation and training new staff. You can step up to the simplicity, seamlessness and security of smart, mobile access control – and never again be forced to moonlight as a locksmith or IT professional.

Congratulations! You’ve made the savvy decision to upgrade how you secure your small- or medium-sized business (SMB) with a smart access control system.

Between the increased security risks that businesses face and employee demand for greater flexibility, this situation is a no-brainer. Traditional locks and physical keys just don’t allow for the security, simplicity and tracking that your business needs.

But not all “smart” access control systems give you the full benefits that you want. Here are seven common mistakes that SMB leaders make when making infrastructure upgrades to their physical security and building access systems.

Accounting for all entrances and secure spaces

The first step is to determine the scope of the access control solution you need. This seemingly straightforward step is where many SMB leaders can take a wrong turn on their road to upgrading their physical security system. Here are a few key questions to ask:

• How many entrances does your business have?
• Are you accounting for secondary and emergency exits?
• Do private offices, like those of your HR director or CEO, need to be locked, or will confidential material be secured in another way?
• Are there any internal spaces, like server rooms or storage spaces, that call for an additional layer of security?

The truth is that many busy SMB leaders simply don’t have time to do a careful security audit of their entire facility and business. If you don’t want to be forced to moonlight as a locksmith and a security consultant or to be influenced by the bias of the local provider’s limited offering and short-term support, here’s some good news: Providers like SimpleAccess can handle the planning and access control system installation for you, delivering deep security expertise to build a solution that fits your needs — and will be there to support your needs every step of the way.

Consulting with all relevant stakeholders for your smart access control upgrades

Everyone who enters your business will interface with your door access control system in some way, so selecting your new system shouldn’t occur in a vacuum. Exactly who you need to consult can depend on the nature of your business – but your IT and/or security teams need to be at the top of the list. Unfortunately, one study found that only 1 in 3 (37.7%) of responding organizations have their security and IT teams collaborate to establish security best practices.

If your SMB doesn’t have a security or IT team, lean on a partner like SimpleAccess that can help develop the right solution for you. You want partners that give you the ability to connect multiple brands, devices, and systems together under one easy-to-use system that don’t require IT expertise and include ongoing support.

Bringing other stakeholders in early is also important for ironing out problems and concerns to get buy-in before you install a whole new system.

Individualized and role-based access control

Once you’ve determined your physical needs for a smart access control system, the next step is to consider who needs access, to what, and when. This is called role-based access, and it sets parameters for access around job titles. Building out role-based policies – instead of just granting access on a one-by-one, ad hoc basis – makes administration of the system faster and simpler going forward.

Individualized access can be customized to enable the flexibility that employees demand. For instance, your IT director may need access to your business on Saturday evenings to update servers during non-peak hours, while your sales manager might need access in the early morning hours for calls to other time zones. You can also update access permissions remotely and on the fly – all with a few taps and swipes on your smartphone.

Varying visitor access needs

First off, you must define who your business’s visitors are. Obvious categories include a client coming in for a meeting or a job candidate for an interview. But don’t overlook other types of visitors such as consultants, contractors, janitorial staff and maintenance workers.

Once you’ve defined who your visitors are, you must also determine what spaces they need access to – and for how long. Best-in-class solutions like SimpleAccess give your visitors and your administrator(s) the ability to manage all of these situations from the palm of your hand with an easy mobile app – reducing the time and paperwork required to get visitors in the door.

Auditing and reporting door access

Your considerations around an access control system shouldn’t stop when an employee enters your business. In the event of a breach or theft, you’d obviously go straight to your access logs to see who was in the building. Plus, a detailed and reliable real-time access log isn’t just for retroactive investigations. It can provide time and attendance verification, contact tracing and more.

Staff onboarding for access control software

How will staff be onboarded – both initially when the system is installed, and on an ongoing basis as new employees are hired? A study by HID Global found that learning a new system was one of the chief objections to implementing a new access control system. It’s also where the simplicity and security benefits can be lost in a hurry. If employees struggle to use the system, administration becomes a headache. And if their frustration bubbles over into workarounds, you could put your business at risk. Developing a comprehensive plan for training current and future staff on how to use the system will limit your administrative burden and risk going forward.

Small- and medium-sized business (SMB) leaders have a lot on their plate — now more than ever. Your time is pulled in a million different directions, with 20 of the 50+ hours the typical SMB leader works every week getting eaten up by peripheral, non-revenue generating tasks like administration and HR. It might seem like improving physical access and security falls into the “I’ve got more important things to worry about” bucket — but don’t wait until a facility access issue or security event takes place to take action. The reality is that smarter access control is a simple way to make a positive impact on your business.

Subpar physical security can put SMBs at risk

Protection is the first thing you think of with physical access. Unfortunately, physical security is more important than ever for SMBs. The risks are coming from both inside and outside the business. A 2021 study by the National Retail Foundation cited that 53% of business owners have seen the risk of internal theft rise in the past five years, while a report by The New York Times stated that 69% of retail stores have seen an increase in theft in the past year[1]. Whether it’s theft, property damage, or even the risk of having inside information (IP) stolen, the impacts of subpar physical security can have disastrous consequences for a business.

Think beyond keys with smart door access control

Here’s a simple question: What is a door access control system? It’s more than just a traditional lock and key; it’s a system that controls who has access to your business and when – protecting your assets and employees. But traditional locks and keys are problematic for several reasons: They’re obsolete and cumbersome; they don’t provide an access log of who accessed your space and when; and the administration of physical keys is a hassle.

By contrast, smart door access control systems give users the credentials they need to access your space right on their smartphones – making them simple to administer, seamless for employees, and secure for your business.

Door access control systems span the continuum of security and flexibility. They include:

• Traditional deadbolts and keys
• Pin codes (either generic master codes or individualized codes)
• Fobs, cards and access readers (e.g., barcodes, magnetic strips, proximity cards and smart cards)
• Biometrics
• Mobile door access

Keyless Entry System control is about more than security

Using a keyless entry system is an easy way to improve security – but this simple change also drives serious benefits across your business. Read on to learn the biggest benefits your business stands to gain by switching to a smart, cloud-based access control system.

Enable flexible work arrangements with smart access control systems

Over the past few years, hybrid and flexible work arrangements transitioned from the exception to the expectation. Employees are coming and going outside of the traditional 9-5. Smart access control systems make it easy to enable flexible work arrangements, without creating new administrative burdens, hassles for employees or business risks.

Employee authorization can be role-based and customized for individual needs. For instance, your IT director may need access to the server room, but you don’t want to extend that privilege to every employee. Or perhaps you need to grant temporary access to a contractor who will be working on-site for a week. Access parameters can be updated on the fly and remotely with a remote access control approach to physical security. No swapping keys or re-keying locks.

Provide a seamless experience for visitors with access control software

We’ve all been there: You visit an office and are asked to scrawl your name and contact info on a clipboard. Not only does this method offer an antiquated first impression, but also it is a problematic method for auditing and emergency management.

According to one study, only 25% of organizations know how many people are in their facilities at any given time[1]. An additional 28% of organizations employ an old-fashioned sign-in roster to record visitor access. More concerning is the fact that 32% of organizations don’t have any method for tracking visitors on-site. In other words, they don’t have a way to limit visitor access to essential spaces, or to ensure that their presence was accurately recorded should an audit be required

A smart access control system solves all these shortcomings. Guests can receive a pin code or credential in advance and allowing them access without you being required to be present. Paper sign-in sheets are replaced by automatic real-time registration of all employees and visitors entering and existing a facility. And you can add additional levels of security tracking access to specific areas within your business.

Grant door access on demand for contractors and delivery personnel

The after-hours call – either on a weekend or while you’re traveling – that requires facility access can create logistical headaches. How do you grant delivery personnel, service providers or other contractors access to your business when you’re not physically there? A remote door access control system simplifies logistics for these and other occasional visitors, enabling you to grant on-demand access remotely from a mobile app – anytime, anywhere. This is more secure than a key in a lock box – which can easily be shared or copied – and access can be granted or revoked at any time with a few swipes and taps on your smartphone.

Historically, physical keys were the only way to gain access to your home, your car, and your business. But that’s quickly changing. More and more people use a keyless entry system in their cars and in their homes. And more and more businesses are shifting away from keys – and towards the convenience and simplicity of digital identity verification and physical access control.

According to research by HID Global, more than half of businesses had already implemented at least one form of more secure credentialing. That number has only increased as the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way businesses operate.

The business world is evolving. The way you access your small or medium-sized (SMB) business should, too. Read on for three reasons why physical keys are insufficient for securing your business.

#1: Physical keys are obsolete

Modern flat keys were designed by Linus Yale, Jr. in 1861 – and they haven’t changed much since then. It doesn’t take an expert to pick a keyed lock. And it only takes five minutes (and less than a dollar) to make a copy (or ten) of a physical key. Is that the kind of technology that you want to rely on to secure your business?

Physical keys are also cumbersome to manage. Employees forget or lose keys – and it can seriously disrupt productivity. Moreover, whether you’re granting building access to employees, visitors or contractors, juggling a pile of keys doesn’t necessarily project a modern image for your business.

By contrast, smart access control turns your mobile phone into a simple, secure and seamless “digital key.” This makes smart door locks much harder to pick; makes it much less likely that employees will forget or lose their “key” (their mobile phone!); and gives your business a future-forward image.

#2: Administration for physical keys is time consuming and inefficient

With millions leaving their jobs in the ‘The Great Resignation’, employee turnover is high and will continue to be a cost to your business — both in time and hard costs. Physical keys just add another tedious and costly task. Revoking access means either physically collecting keys or rekeying the corresponding door locks, which can cost upwards of $100-250 per lock.

Don’t lie awake at night stressing about whether your business assets are secure. With keys, it can be easy for an employee to forget to lock up at the close of business. With a smart access control system, you can ensure your building is open or locked at the appropriate times without having to rely on busy employees to take on that responsibility.

A smart door access control system gives you administration in the palm of your hand. Grant new employees access privileges, or revoke privileges for departing employees – all with a few taps and swipes – whether onsite or remote.

#3: Keys don’t provide a record of door access events

Physical keys don’t provide any way of tracking who entered your business and when. Mitigating that lack of record-keeping with a security camera facing the entrance isn’t a perfect solution, either. If a breach or other issue does occur, you’re stuck manually reviewing footage – eating up precious time during the critical response window. With a smart access control system you have a time-stamped record of building access events.

The changes brought about by the pandemic add another important reason for monitoring and documenting physical access records. Hybrid and flexible work policies have employees coming and going outside of the traditional 9-to-5. And concerns around proper distancing and contact tracing make it more important than ever to have a record of who accesses your business or who was present during a time period.

Moving to smart access control and keyless entry door locks makes monitoring and documentation of access events and personnel present automatic and easy. You can see exactly who has entered your facility – and when. And you have those records automatically saved for audit purposes.