FST has announced the release of the Key-Trak GEM (general, education and military) Key Management System into Southern Africa. Key-Trak systems currently manages over 4000 sites worldwide, carry the highest approvals of UL (Underwriter laboratories), are Y2K compliant and run on easy-to-use Windows-based platforms.
Briefly consider the enormous cost involved installing an access control system controlling hundreds of doors, when all that is really required is a detail report of who used the key to unlock the door, when and why. For the normal householder keeping track of all the keys that are needed for the average home is no small task.
Imagine then the problems that Clarke Howard had on his plate as Chief of the Fort Meade military base in Maryland in the United States. Fort Meade is home to 2351 military personnel with 6000 dependants and 78 tenant organisations; between them 11 700 keys fell under his jurisdiction.
The keys used to dangle from thousands of hooks that lined the walls of a 3 x 4 m room behind Howard's office. But now they are tagged with microchips and slotted into 14 computerised drawers, courtesy of the KeyTrak EZ management system. All those keys represent the security of Fort Meade, classified papers, computer and other expensive equipment, antiques and more than 100 homes considered to be of historical importance.
Computerised key storage system
Now, with the help of the computerised key storage system Howard not only knows who has got what key, but also why he has got it, when he took it out of the computerised bank of drawers and for how long it was in his possession.
The new tracking system will dramatically reduce the amount of time spent searching for missing keys and the savings in buying replacement keys will be considerable.
"In today's security conscious world controlling access to every key in your organisation is paramount," says FST Director Neil Hughes Jnr. "But with KeyTrak EZ you create a secure environment that limits access to keys and property, tracks key usage and ensures the safety of the occupants of the building in question. KeyTrak houses keys in a computerised, locking steel drawer. Each key is attached to an 'intelligent' key tag with a semiconductor 'button'. Access to the drawer is controlled by requiring authorised users to enter their IDs and passwords to retrieve keys. The system automatically records the identity of the person who removed the key, tracks which keys are removed and records the time the key was taken."
Detailed reporting
Detailed reports containing this and a variety of other useful information are automatically generated and can be printed or uploaded to other computers. To increase security KeyTrak comes with a built-in alarm. With its password verification and the alarm KeyTrak offers a foolproof system of safeguarding keys and keeping out unauthorised users.
It certainly has made Clarke Howard's life a lot easier.
For details contact FST on telephone (011) 455 4526, fax: (011) 450 2890, e-mail: [email protected] or visit www.fireandsecurity.com
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