What does "key control" mean?

"Key control" means knowing exactly who has keys to your home or business at any given time. It means keys are not readily available and certainly cannot be copied without proper authorization. And it goes without saying that keys should not be loaned to someone without a proper record trail.

I'm sure many people are reading the opening paragraph and thinking to themselves, "I have control of my keys because it has 'Do Not Copy' stamped on them, nobody can copy them!" Well, I hate to disappoint you but unless you have a restricted keyway, 'Do Not Copy' is nothing more than a polite request to the holder of the key not to duplicate it. A polite request is not something I want to rely on when protecting my property and personal safety.

When purchasing a high security locking system (with restricted keyway) for your home or business, you will have several choices as there are many high security locks on the market. Patents are very important when considering what type of high security system is best for you. Always ask your locksmith how long the patents are on their high security keys and try to choose a company with the longest running patents.

Upon purchasing a high security locking system you will be issued an owner's key order card. You must sign the card immediately upon purchase of your new high security product. It is recommended that you keep your key order card in a safe place.

When you present a signed card to order extra high security keys your locksmith will validate the signature on the card by comparing it with the signature on a signed photo identification. When a person ordering a high security key is not the signatory on the card, your locksmith will require a letter of instruction bearing the signature appearing on the card and specifically identifying the person permitted to order the high security key, validate the signature on the letter by comparing it with the signature on the card and validate the identity of the person ordering the key from a signed photo identification.

Restricted keyways are becoming more popular in condominium common areas in an attempt to gain control of unauthorized key entries. Usually one or two council members are designated as signing authorities for extra key orders ,making sure to keep key ledgers up to date.

Businesses installing high security locks are gaining control of their keys as well as saving costs of rekeying during staff changes. Once the key is returned to the employer, he can be assured that an illegal key will not resurface.

We have come a long way in controlling the unauthorized duplication of keys, however we certainly have a long way to go in educating people on the importance of key control. Unauthorized key duplication is still one of the most frequent and serious security violations today.