When it comes to the world of doors and locks, you’re not necessarily stuck with only standard keys. You may choose to go the e-key route. But isn’t it best to know the pros and cons before making any decision?

I say yes.

Let’s check out some of the advantages and disadvantages to both of your options.

Standard Keys Pros and Cons

Standard Keys Pros – Price Point

Standard keys have a lower price point. They’re so common, the price has stayed incredibly low. If you’re keying a facility with several doors or if you’re on a tight budget, standard keys are likely appealing to you.

Standard Keys Pros – Options

As well, you have many more options with standard keys. You can get them made almost anywhere, including hardware stores, the grocery store, or even at a kiosk in the mall. When convenience is at play, standard keys make a lot of sense. You also have several different choices when it comes to the type of system you want to use, and you can choose the level of security you want based on your key system.

Standard Keys Cons – Theft

That said, because standard keys can be copied and made almost anywhere, this puts them at bigger risk of being stolen or copied. If this happens, you may have to rekey your entire store and that can cost a pretty penny.

E-Keys Pros and Cons

E-Keys Pros – Audit Log

I’ve talked about audit logs here before and they’ve proven to be really helpful in certain industries. If you’re in a facility where you have a need to keep track of employees leaving and entering your building, an audit log is great.

E-Keys Pros – Approval and Denial of Access

Have you ever been away from your facility and someone shows up and needs to get inside? With e-keys that’s no longer a problem. You can approve or deny access on the fly even if you’re not in the building. If you’re someone who travels a lot, this can be a very valuable feature.

E-Keys Pros – Multi Point Access

When you have a key system using standard keys, you have a need for a multi-level key system and you need a set of policies and procedures for how to keep track of who is on what level of access. With an e-key none of that is needed. Each credential can have access to several different areas and all of that information is stored in the server.

E-Keys Cons – Less Options

Because e-keys are a relatively new technology, you have fewer options. This can limit you if you have a certain look or style in mind.

E-Keys Cons – Battery Operated

Let me clarify that not all e-keys run off batteries, but those that do will have to be changed regularly. This can be a pain to keep up with and if your batteries die at the wrong time, it can leave you in a tough spot. The dates the batteries are changed are something you’re going to have to keep with to make sure you don’t get locked out of your facilities.

These are just some of the basics when it comes to e-keys and standard keys. If you have more questions and are having a tough time deciding, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.