Industry Influencer Q&A: Access Control from an Integrated Perspective
Security end-users tend to approach hardware-based solutions like key cabinets and asset management lockers as singular solution; however, they should be looking at these vital pieces of a business from an integrated perspective – as a piece of a larger puzzle.
In this Industry Influencer Q&A sponsored by Traka ASSA ABLOY, Hector Melendez, Technical Director for Traka Americas, explains how important it is for security integration partners to instill this mindset in access control customers.
What talking points or benefits should integrators highlight to help their clients move beyond viewing access control components as standalone products and more toward integrated security ecosystems?
Melendez: The biggest mindset shift we need to encourage is that security isn’t a collection of devices; it is a living, connected ecosystem. Every component, from access card readers to key cabinets, should work in concert to enhance visibility, control, and responsiveness. Integrators should highlight how integration allows for:
- Real-time decision-making: If an employee returns a key late, or doesn't check in an asset, that event can immediately trigger an alert or restrict further access through the building.
- Centralized audit trails: With integrated systems, you're not chasing down reports from five different platforms. Everything is in one pane of glass.
- Policy enforcement across the board: Access rules can extend beyond doors to physical keys, vehicles, or sensitive equipment.
Integrators are not just selling security products, they are giving clients the ability to manage risk, compliance, and efficiency across their entire operation – all from a single, connected system.
What are some of the key integration points between physical access control systems, key management cabinets, and asset tracking solutions that integrators may overlook?
A lot of integrators focus only on door access and forget that the real security breakdowns happen after the door – when someone gains access to physical assets or keys they shouldn’t have. Key integration points often overlooked include:
- Credential synchronization: Ensure that access cards or credentials used for doors are the same ones used to access key cabinets or lockers. This provides seamless user management and policy enforcement.
- Access dependencies: You can link access to a key or asset with door access—for example, unless a key is returned, a user can’t badge out of the building. That’s powerful.
- Event correlation: Integrate logs from key cabinets and asset lockers with your VMS or access control events to tell a full story of who did what, when, and why.
- Mobile integration: Use apps to manage access, handoffs, and approvals remotely, which is especially useful in facilities with distributed locations or field-based users.
Integrators should dig deeper into the user workflows and daily operations to uncover these high-impact integration opportunities.
How do integrated access control solutions improve operational efficiency and reduce the total cost of ownership vs. managing multiple disparate systems?
Think about the time and money wasted managing siloed systems: separate logins, manual data entry, conflicting permissions, redundant hardware, and support contracts all add up. Integrated systems reduce total cost of ownership by:
- Eliminating redundancy: You manage one database, not five. That’s fewer IT resources, fewer maintenance calls, and tighter compliance.
- Streamlining response and investigation: When everything’s connected, you can trace incidents end-to-end without pulling logs from multiple places. That saves time and avoids errors.
- Automating workflows: Approvals, escalations, and access provisioning can be automated across systems, reducing manual admin and improving user experience.
- Reducing training and support costs: One interface, one system, one learning curve.
The bottom line is that integrations aren’t a nice-to-have; they’re a force multiplier for both security and operations.
How does software enable data sharing and centralized management of access control hardware?
Software is the backbone that connects the ecosystem. It allows for shared credentialing, centralized user policies, unified reporting, and real-time alerting across all hardware layers – whether it's a key cabinet, a badge reader, or an equipment locker. With a robust platform like Traka's, you get:
- Centralized visibility: Admins can monitor multiple locations and devices from a single dashboard.
- Dynamic access rights: Changes made to a user’s access profile are reflected instantly across all integrated hardware.
- API integrations: Software bridges systems—whether it’s HR platforms, video management systems, or visitor management tools—so security aligns with business operations.
Software breaks down silos and gives you a brain behind your security ecosystem, enabling proactive, policy-driven control instead of reactive oversight.
What are some best practices when transitioning a customer from legacy, standalone access control components to a fully integrated security platform?
This isn’t just a tech project, it’s a change management process. You’ve got to bring people, process, and technology along together. Here’s what I recommend:
- Start with a gap analysis: Map out what systems are in place, where the data silos exist, and where integrations will have the most immediate impact.
- Get stakeholder buy-in early: Facilities, security, and IT all need to be at the table. Show them how integration solves their pain points.
- Prioritize interoperability: Choose hardware and software that support open APIs and proven integrations. Don’t get locked into proprietary systems.
- Pilot first, then scale: Start with one location or system (like key management), integrate it well, prove ROI, then expand.
- Train and support users: Make sure the people using the system day-to-day are part of the process. Keep interfaces intuitive and workflows aligned with how they already work.
The goal isn’t just to “integrate” systems. But rather optimize them so the customer gains insight, control, and scalability without friction.