Do you own a business and utilize various keys? If so, there are likely some keys that are more important than others. Perhaps you have given out several keys to employees to use throughout their shifts. Some of these employees may no longer work for you, and they may have returned the keys you gave them, but it is possible that they made copies. You may even be so busy with managing your business that you have delegated someone else to handle the keys in your business. This individual may be an excellent employee, but they may underestimate the importance of notifying you when keys are not returned. 

What are the risks of not having some form of key control and key auditing for businesses?

The most obvious risk is that you put your business at risk for thefts. There are also safety concerns. For example, a disgruntled employee who was fired might return to the premises with ill thoughts on their mind. If they have certain keys, they might be able to bypass secured areas and damage property or hurt employees. Perhaps your business has trade secrets, and someone with keys could access this information and intentionally cause problems for your business. 

Are there alternatives to lock replacements?

Your locks can likely be rekeyed, which means that old keys will not work. Depending on the size of your business and employee turnover rate, rekeying may not be the most viable solution. For example, if people have keys and frequently quit, rekeying each time someone leaves may not be ideal due to cost. In many cases, a better option is to get a specific key control system in place. For example, only allow employees with tenure and management positions to access keys, and advise them to keep their keys with them at all times. Make it a rule that they must physically use all keys and never let unauthorized employees use their keys even for a minute. You may also want to consider upgrading the locks in your business to significantly reduce the chances of a breech. 

What are lock upgrade options for businesses?

One reliable upgrade would be keyless lock systems. These systems would require a code or scannable card to gain access to areas. Individuals without the codes or disabled cards would not be able to enter. If someone gets fired or quits, changing the codes and removing credentials is simple. You could also invest in higher quality locks and keys. For example, restrictedhigh-security keys from a locksmith are an excellent idea because they can only be duplicated by the locksmith who originally makes them. Identification is needed for duplicates. A locksmith like Economy Lock & Key, LLC is an excellent resource to use to determine the best options for making your business more secure.