Home security has become a cornerstone of modern living, with an overwhelming majority of U.S. households now embracing security systems. As crime rates decline across most categories, more people are recognizing the value of comprehensive security solutions. This growing demand is particularly strong among renters, who increasingly seek community-wide access control systems as part of their ideal living situation.
Door access control systems consist of all the ways that you allow authorized people into your communities—and keep unauthorized people out. Secure access control in both residential and commercial properties is critical for protecting your residents and your property. You could go with a traditional system with old-fashioned metal keys, but you’d be missing an opportunity to increase peace of mind, streamline your operations and improve the resident experience.
Vulnerabilities in traditional systems
Every multifamily community has some kind of access control, even if it’s unintentional or outdated. A single door or gate can keep some people in and others out. However, traditional access control systems have vulnerabilities that modern technologies help eliminate. While these systems have been in use for decades, relying on physical keys, manual processes and basic security measures can leave holes in your community protection.
Physical key vulnerabilities
Using physical keys presents two vulnerabilities that can impact security and your bottom line: Key duplication is expensive at scale but all too easy for unauthorized visitors—increasing your overhead while leaving vulnerabilities in your system. Meanwhile, a lost or stolen key requires changing multiple locks—an expensive and time-consuming process.
Limited access control
The harder your system is to use, the more likely people will cut corners to save time or money. Static access permissions in traditional access control systems require physical changes (like changing locks) to update. For large communities, changing permissions quickly becomes a full-time job. And without real-time monitoring, there’s no record of who comes and goes from your property.
Inadequate security measures
Any access control system can help protect your property, but outdated systems leave more holes for criminals to exploit.
Basic locks and bolts can be easily bypassed with tools or techniques. Anyone can buy a lock-picking kit on the internet. In a few minutes, they could be in one of your units.
A lack of integration with other security systems means your traditional access control system operates in isolation. Video surveillance might catch a glimpse of a criminal, but it won’t tell you whose key they copied to get in. But integrate your cameras with smart access control, and you’ll have a record of who’s credentials have been compromised.
Human error and negligence
Not everyone uses an access control system as intended. Unnecessarily complicated or inconvenient systems introduce human error and vulnerabilities.
Failure to secure access points is often an issue. Propping open a door at move-in or move-out is common, while absentmindedly leaving doors unlocked leads to unauthorized access.
Inconsistent security practices occur when staff and residents use your access control in different ways. If some people immediately report lost or stolen keys while others borrow another set, you’ll struggle with key management.
Key components of access control systems
Most access control systems have the same basic components working together to ensure secure entry and management of access points. Understanding how these components work together is critical for ensuring your system functions properly.
Authentication methods
Also known as credentials, authentication methods are ways for people to verify their identity or confirm they have permission to enter your community.
Old-fashioned metal keys are the original authentication method. You can unlock a door or gate if you have the right key.
Key cards have a magnetic strip that slides through a reader like a credit card or an RFID chip to hold up to a reader. If a key is lost or stolen, you can digitally invalidate it without changing every lock it could access, which saves your staff time and money.
Biometric systems scan for something unique about a person, such as fingerprints or eyes. Some of the newest ones use facial recognition. These systems ensure credentials can’t be shared between people (except in the rare case of identical twins) but don’t allow for easy admittance of guests or vendors.
Mobile credentials allow entry using a smartphone device's app or a digital key. Since most people carry their smartphones wherever they go, they don’t have to worry about forgetting or losing a physical key.
PIN codes are a string of numbers a person memorizes so they can punch it into a keypad to gain entry. They’re convenient because you don’t have to carry a physical key, but it means that the credential is more easily shared among friends and family, which could compromise security.
Entry systems
Entry systems include the physical components of an access control system. They’re the barriers, locks and readers found at an entry point.
Readers and keypads are devices that accept authentication methods. They’re usually connected to the locking mechanism so that the door will unlock when a person presents a valid credential.
Electric strikes hold a door or gate in place until your access control system receives the signal that an authorized person wants to enter. Electric strikes can be triggered remotely.
Magnetic locks also allow for remote entry. When powered, a magnet keeps the door securely closed until proper credentials are presented.
Integration capabilities
A door access control system that doesn’t integrate with your other systems and technology has limited uses. But if you integrate it with video surveillance, you can visually confirm a visitor’s identity during access events and enhance security. You can also integrate it with a visitor management system to empower residents to let guests in while streamlining your operations.
What are door access control systems?
Door access control systems are security solutions designed to manage entry to specific areas of your multifamily community. Access control systems are made up of physical components and digital components:
Authentication methods are the ways people can prove they’re authorized to enter. That might be a metal key, a key card, a biometric scan or a mobile credential.
Entry systems include all the entry points on your property, such as doors, gates, garages, elevators, electric strikes, magnetic locks and keypads.
Management software allows your staff to note who can access specific areas of your property. These management systems can monitor entry events, manage user credentials and generate audit trails for security purposes.
When all these components work together, a door access control system easily allows residents, staff, vendors and guests convenient entry while preventing access to anyone who doesn’t have permission. Every entry creates an access event for systems with digital credentials that property managers can monitor in real-time or look at later in a log.
Exactly how your door access system behaves depends on the type of system you have:
Standalone systems operate independently. They’re generally best for small communities with just one or two entry points or other single-door applications, such as a small office with a handful of employees.
On-premise systems are physically installed and managed on the property, usually via a control panel inside a leasing office. They allow for greater customization than standalone systems.
Cloud-based systems have a digital control panel instead of a physical panel on-site. Cloud-based access control allows for remote management, scalability and integration with other smart building technologies.
Benefits of implementing door access control systems
Door access control systems are designed to manage and monitor entry to buildings or specific areas within properties, but they can also enhance security, efficiency and convenience for property owners and managers.
Enhanced security
The right door access control system prevents unauthorized access. With 94 million U.S. households now utilizing security systems and camera adoption rising from 42% to 52% in recent years, it's clear that comprehensive security solutions are becoming the norm.
Restricting access to residents, staff and approved visitors significantly reduces the risk of vandalism and theft. Systems with real-time monitoring keep property managers in the loop about what’s happening in their communities even when they’re off-site or on the other end of the property. They can respond more quickly to any suspicious activity or unauthorized access attempts.
Improved access management
Door access control systems make it easier to manage who has access to different areas. Property managers can customize access levels with digital credentials. They can give a technician temporary access to a unit to do repairs or instantly give a resident access to the business center when they purchase the amenity. With easy user management, they can also quickly activate new resident credentials on move-in and revoke them at move-out through a centralized management interface
Audit trails and reporting
Accountability is critical for securing your property. Access control systems can help by generating an audit trail. The right system will automatically track access events so you can see a detailed record of who accessed what areas and when. These records can help your team comply with safety regulations or conduct internal audits without adding to your to-do list.
Convenience and user experience
The right access door control systems are just plain more convenient than outdated systems, and modern residents expect this convenience—in fact, 74% of renters actively seek communities with access control systems and are willing to pay an average of $43.81 monthly for this amenity.
Keyless entry options mean no one has to carry keys, you don’t have to manage them and late-night lock-out calls are a thing of the past. Touchless options help people enter your community when their hands are full and avoid spreading germs.
Integration with other security systems
Some access control systems integrate seamlessly with other security solutions to enhance overall protection. For example, integrating with video surveillance gives you a comprehensive view of security events, enabling better incident response. Access control can also integrate with alarm systems to alert you during unauthorized access attempts.
Security solutions offered by SmartRent
SmartRent provides advanced security solutions tailored for modern residential and commercial properties. Our innovative technology enhances safety and efficiency, and our products integrate seamlessly together to create comprehensive security that protects your assets while delivering a great resident experience and streamlining your operations.
Smart door access control
SmartRent’s door access control systems use credentials such as key cards, PIN codes and mobile access so you have options. With them, you can:
Monitor access events in real time
Easily add or remove residents at move-in and move-out or give vendors temporary access
Minimize repetitive work because they integrate with existing security infrastructure
Video surveillance solutions
Our systems integrate seamlessly with industry-leading high-definition cameras and cloud storage options, making it easy to add video surveillance to your system. You can keep an eye on your communities from anywhere.
Visitor management systems
With SmartRent, residents can manage visitor access independently. They can let in a dog walker in real time or provide visiting family members with their own PIN code. It’s more convenient than physically letting a visitor in, and it’s completely hands-off for your staff.
Remote management capabilities
Staff members don’t have to be on-site to manage keys or keep an eye on the front gate. Instead, you can centralize more of your operations by granting temporary access to service providers or visitors and monitoring real-time access events and security alerts.
Integration with smart home technology
All SmartRent products play well together, but we also fully integrate with other leading security solutions and smart home technology leaders so you can design a system that works best for your unique community.
Customization and scalability
Every community is unique, meaning no access control system will fit every property perfectly. That’s why we made SmartRent so flexible. It’s easy to customize a system that works for you, then scale it across your community—and your entire portfolio
Getting started with the right door access control system
A door access control system is critical for securing your multifamily community and eliminating vulnerabilities. However, the right technology can streamline your operations, save money and improve the resident experience as well.
See how SmartRent’s access control solutions integrate with our Smart Apartment solutions, or contact us for a demo on implementing door access control systems in your buildings.