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Using Access Control Systems

There is much more to being a locksmith than just getting people back into their houses or cars. It used to be that you had to learn each new lock that came onto the market, have the right picks and know how to defeat each one. There weren’t that many new products coming online so it was fairly easy to keep up.

Nowadays we have to almost be computer engineers as well as locksmiths. There are as many electronic locks and access control systems around that we’re expected to know now too. For the most part these are mainly restricted to commercial and business properties, but higher value residential homes are also embracing the electronic age.

Larger businesses have contracts with the security company to maintain their systems, but for smaller businesses or when these security companies prove unreliable, we get called. Not only do these devices protect the property, they also track and trace staff and allow managers to check attendance, timekeeping and movements around the building. There are different types of access control system a locksmith needs to know about, here are the different types.

Magstripe readers are used extensively in commercial properties, otherwise known as swipe card readers. Employees are given a card which corresponds to their names and access level, which permits or denies access to certain parts of the building as the management dictate. They are very efficient and easy to use, which is why they are so popular.

Control panels are mainly used for building access only. They generally consist of a keypad, into which an employee can enter a combination code to access the door. Fairly typical of many external entrances to commercial property.

Biometrics are becoming increasingly popular in access control. Either using retinal or fingerprint scanning to access buildings, or departments as the business sees fit. These are often restricted to high value businesses, laboratories and those with security concerns. They are quite expensive to fit and maintain.

Proximity readers are also quite popular as access controls. These used RFID or other radio medium to broadcast an identity to a proximity control. This then verifies and allows or disallows access to parts of a building. They are useful because they need no interaction from the user in order to work. They can be carried on the person and are picked up as they approach the reader. These are popular, partly thanks to the Disability Discrimination Act and the fact that non-able bodied people had difficulty with many forms of access control.

A locksmith is expected to know most of these systems. It’s impossible to know all of them, which is why we all specialize. There is simple too much on the market right now to know it all, and know it well. Our toolbox now has as much electronic gadgetry in it as traditional locksmithing equipment and we are having to learn computers as well as metalwork. It’s a brave new world in locksmithing.

Cape Coral and Fort Myers Locksmith

Locks and keys only normally enter our mind when we leave the house, or when we go to our car.  Other than that we never think about them.  Well I do, but I’m a locksmith.  For such an important part of our lives, locks receive very little of our attention.  For the most part they just do their job day after day and we only consider them when they jam or go wrong, or of course when we lose them.

Locks are one of the most important aspects of our lives.  They protect us, our property and our wellbeing.  They keep criminals and fear at bay, and they make us feel safe, yet we often buy the cheapest ones we can and ignore them until we need to replace them.

If you live in any populated area, you need to think about the security of yourself and your property.  You can’t do much about increasing the security of your car unless you opt for an after-market alarm system, but your home or office can always be made more secure.

Locksmiths are like the police, we only get called when something has happened or when something is wrong.  We most often meet our clients when things aren’t going well or they aren’t at their best.  One of the unique occupational hazards of our trade, and one you need to be able to handle if you want to last any length of time.  The ability to deal with stressed or upset people is essential in our line of work, and is something you are either born with or have to learn.  You can’t take it personally, especially if the person has suffered a crime or lost property.

Unfortunately it is most often these times when people consider their physical security and look at their locks in a little more detail.  For the most part locks aren’t something you have to think about that often.  Every few years or so, of if there has been a spike of crime in your area.  Making sure you have the best lock for your situation doesn’t always mean having to buy the latest and greatest device, it can be as simple as having the tumbler replaced and new keys.

Your local locksmith can advise on what security measures will suit your situation best.  Consultation is part of the service we offer and it doesn’t cost much.  It’s much better to spend a little money now than having to pick up the pieces later.  It’s a saying common in medicine, but we use it too, “prevention is better than a cure.”

If you haven’t had your security checked out recently, then maybe you should.  Spending a few dollars and an hour of your time reviewing your property might just save you a lot of grief later on.

Starting your own locksmithing company

Starting your own locksmithing business can be a daunting prospect, as can starting any kind of business.  It is a profession that is always moving, evolving and you will have to keep up if you want to be successful.

If you can cope with the constant learning and development, then locksmithing is a rewarding career.  It is one of the few permanently “in demand” businesses.  Despite the economic gloom of the last couple of years, those of us in security have seen no drop in demand for our services.

If the economy is doing well, our services are in demand because criminals want all the nice fruits of people’s labor.  If the economy isn’t doing well, criminals are more desperate for money and burgle more.  For us, it’s a win-win situation.

A lot of the job is about allaying fear.  While the majority of people will never be burgled, they will be affected by the fear of being burgled.  Our job is to make them feel as secure as possible by providing the best advice, guidance and equipment to help them secure their property.

The vast majority of us are “one man bands”, sole operators who run our own business and work alone.  There are larger firms out there, but they are in the minority.  It’s often by choice that locksmiths stay small.  It keeps things simple and allows you to specialize in something.  Growing large complicates matters somewhat and you will invariably spend more time running the business side of things than helping people.

While it may sound morally wrong, we work on fear.  People are afraid of being burgled or attacked in their home, and we have to capitalize on that.  There is nothing wrong with demonstrating how easy it can be to break into a clients car or home to show them how vulnerable they are.  You have to keep it within limits though, and only do it to prove a point, not to scare them into buying stuff they don’t need.

To last any amount of time in this business you will need to join trade associations and any local locksmith guilds.  Not only will they add a bit of credibility to your operation, but they can also help with advice.  They helped me with business advice, financial as well as trade skills, training and holding seminars describing the new innovations in the industry.  While you may be a sole trader, no man is an island.  Engage your local locksmiths and keep in touch.  Don’t be afraid to share information and be nice.  There is enough business out there for us all.

Being a locksmith involves constantly working, developing and training.  Keeping on top of developments is almost a full-time job in itself.  As long as you are the type of person who can cope with constant change, and have a genuine desire to help people, this could be a trade for you.