If you’re looking into networked safe locks, you may have heard that you need a peripheral network hub (with a significant added cost, added installation time, and added maintenance) to ensure the lock’s security.
Critical question: If your facilities already have Wi-Fi, why would you need an added hub?
Simple answer: You don’t.
The fact is, Wi-Fi, like any network, may have security vulnerabilities. But a few simple steps—which your organization may already have in place—can make Wi-Fi the more secure and most economical choice.
Considering a Wi-Fi safe lock? Here’s how to make your network secure.
1. Install firewalls.
Most businesses and organizations already have firewalls in place but check with your IT team to be sure that appropriate firewalls are operational and updated.
2. Use secure VPN.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) not only protects your safe access control, but also ensures appropriate data security. Cost and coverage may vary, but an investment in VPN makes sense for most organizations.
3. Add additional layers of security to your Wi-Fi safe locks.For added protection, your IT team may choose to add additional password protections to your locks even within the secured network, ensuring that only appropriate personnel have access at any time.
4. Check hardware security standards.
It’s not enough to protect your network. If you’re considering a Wi-Fi safe lock, be sure the units themselves were designed and constructed according to the latest and highest industry encryption standards.
5. Have a backup plan.
Whether you choose a hub-controlled or Wi-Fi safe lock, be sure to have a backup plan in place in case the network or power goes down. Most Wi-Fi safe locks are still accessible at the lock even if the network is unavailable, with wireless synchronization after the network is restored.
NexusIP sets the standard.
Sargent and Greenleaf engineers look for ways to use the latest technological advances to meet modern requirements without sacrificing security. When it comes to networked safe locks, our team observed that the industry standby—using an external hub component to support the locks—was driven by old information. New options for network security make today’s Wi-Fi networks more secure than ever before. With that in mind, S&G designed NexusIP: a streamlined Wi-Fi safe lock solution that reduces complexity without compromising security standards.
Learn more about networked safe locks and how NexusIP fits into the big picture of your security program.
