What is a smart lock?
In terms of usage, smart locks are just the same as traditional locks. They need two main components to work: the lock itself and the key. What, then, makes a smart lock… smart? There are many different types of smart locks. Let’s take a look.
Types of smart lock
Smart cylinders – The cylinder is a critical component of a smart lock mechanism. The cylinder is embedded in, for example, a door or gate. It is opened using a smart key which can be a digital key or a key fob (that has the end user’s access credentials programmed onto it), or a phone key (where the access credentials are sent to an app running on a smartphone). In the case of iLOQ, these cylinders are even smarter because they are battery free. The power needed for recognizing the access rights and opening the lock comes from the kinetic energy generated by pushing the digital key into the cylinder or the near field communication (NFC) induction between the smartphone and the cylinder when it is held against it.
Smart padlocks – Strong, sturdy and smart padlocks are used to secure, for example, gates, fences and tele towers in critical infrastructure and telecom sites and data centers. They are also ideal for smaller storage areas such as medicine cabinets, lockers, barriers and mailboxes. Smart padlocks are available in different sizes depending on the grading needed (which means the security level of the lock). Grade 3 smart padlocks are ideal for medium/high security purposes, grade 4 for high security and grade 5 for extra high security.
Smart padlocks are also available in different shackle lengths (to allow them to lock around larger objects or through thicker materials). iLOQ’s grade 3 smart padlocks are available with 25 mm, 60 mm and 110 mm shackle lengths, while grades 4 and 5 smart padlocks have options of 27 mm and 50 mm.
The smart element with iLOQ’s phone key padlocks is that there are two operational versions. The first is where the smartphone is needed to open the lock (which creates an audit trail), but it can be closed by simply turning the knob. The other version is where the smartphone is needed to both open and close the padlock. This has the added advantage of creating two audit trails – the first when the padlock is opened and the second when the padlock is closed. This provides the opportunity to estimate for how long the padlock had been open and the added assurance that it has been closed. This helps to prevent unauthorized access if the lock is left open.
Smart cam locks – Cam locks are smaller and more compact locking mechanisms. They consist of a cylindrical barrel with a keyway and a protruding bar known as a cam. When a key is inserted and turned, it activates the cam, causing it to rotate into the locked or unlocked position. Smart cam locks are ideal for controlling and monitoring access to secure storage assets such as medicine cabinets, lockers and mailboxes. These too can be opened with digital keys or smartphones.
Smart key tube locks – These kinds of smart locks are ideal for 3rd-party services, like fire or telecoms companies, who need to get fast access (often in an emergency) using a property’s own key. There is no need to waste time picking up and returning a key from an administration office. It is stored in a tube which is mounted in the wall on the outside of the building. It can be opened by the 3rd party using their digital key or smartphone.
Smart door readers – A door reader is a type of access control system that is used to control the lock on a door. It usually looks like a small black box that is installed next to the door. The door can be opened using access credentials that are stored on a key or, if the door reader has a keypad, it can also be opened with a PIN code. For smooth and secure access, iLOQ’s smart door reader uses NFC technology. Mifare RFID (radio frequency identification) tags can also be read. This allows frequently used doors to be opened with a variety of devices such as digital keys, NFC-enabled smartphones, key fobs and RFID tags when they are held against the lock, or with a PIN code.
Another benefit of iLOQ’s solution is that it allows two-way communication with the keys. If a user’s access credentials change, they can be updated the next time the key is presented to the lock. This helps to ensure that there is no unauthorized access.
Why is a smart lock good?
As we have seen above, there are many benefits for using smart locks compared to traditional locks.
- Access is secure – access credentials for the smart locks determine who has access to where and when.
- Access is smooth – people can get fast access using a variety of smart keys – digital keys, phone keys, key fobs and PIN codes.
- Access is traceable – audit trails help prevent or even solve instances of misuse or unauthorized access.
- Access is reliable – an added bonus with iLOQ’s battery-free smart locks is that you never have to worry about not being able to get access as batteries in the locks have run out. They also operate reliably in all kinds of environments and harsh weather conditions.
Are smart locks safe?
Traditional mechanical keys are major security risks. Here are just a few examples of the issues that may occur.
- Lost or stolen keys – if keys are lost, stolen or unreturned, for example, at the end of a rental period, unauthorized people will have immediate access. Replacing locks after keys are compromised can be costly and inconvenient. With iLOQ, lost, stolen or unreturned keys can be immediately blocked rendering them useless if someone finds them.
- Unauthorized key copying – mechanical keys can be easily copied without permission or without knowing about increasing the risk of unauthorized access. With iLOQ’s smart-locking solution, keys cannot be copied. Individual access credentials are programmed to the digital keys or sent to iLOQ’s app running on the user’s smartphone.
- Lock picking – traditional mechanical locks can often be picked, bumped, or manipulated, which can allow intruders in without having to destroy the lock. iLOQ’s smart locks are robust and cannot be picked or interfered with. The smart cylinders that are opened using a smartphone do not even have a keyway.
- Wear and tear – mechanical keys and locks wear out over time. This makes them unreliable or easier to compromise and could leave you locked out or with reduced security levels. iLOQ’s smart locks are robust and durable and do not wear out over time.
- Limited access control – mechanical keys do not provide audit trails or user-specific access control. You can’t track who has tried to open a lock or when. iLOQ’s real-time audit trail reports are an excellent tool to help prevent unauthorized access, or solve instances of misuse, by showing exactly who has accessed where and when.
- Complex administration – for buildings with a mechanical locking system and many doors and users, it’s difficult to keep track the number of keys in circulation and who has them. The keys can be easily lost or misused. With iLOQ’s smart locks, you can see at all times who has keys, to where they have access and at what times.
- Possible forced entry – brute force can often be used to break into properties with mechanical locks. iLOQ’s smart locks have been tested to examine their resistance to attacks such as, sawing, twisting, drilling and cutting.
- No remote management – mechanical locks cannot be remotely controlled, rekeyed, or locked/unlocked remotely, unlike, for example, iLOQ’s smart locks.
Smart locks, with personalized access credentials, are the best way to mitigate these risks and protect a property, the people who live or work there and its assets.
Do smart locks contain information about me?
Credentials, programmed to smart keys (digital or phone keys), give you access to the places you live and work. Therefore, a certain amount of data about you is needed to generate these credentials.
The number of users and amount of data is rapidly increasing as more and more smart locks are installed throughout the world. Traditional data center solutions cannot fulfill security and data privacy requirements. A strong global cloud-based infrastructure is needed to ensure that access management solutions are secure and resilient, that they are operational at all times, and are protected against a wide range of cyber threats (including data breaches, unauthorized access, and attacks which aim to temporarily or indefinitely disrupt services).
iLOQ’s cloud service provider, Amazon Web Services (AWS), ensures that its physical data centers, hardware, software, networking, and virtualization layers are secure and that your data will never get into the wrong hands.
What kind of technology does a smart lock use?
Smart locks commonly communicate through wireless protocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or NFC. Wi-Fi-enabled smart locks communicate with the property’s wireless network, allowing remote control and access from anywhere with an internet connection. Smart locks that use Bluetooth connect directly with smartphones or tablets that are nearby. They don’t rely on an internet connection and are ideal for short-range interactions.
iLOQ’s smart locks are battery- and cable-free and need no WiFi or internet connection. The power needed to open the locks comes from the motion of pushing the smart key into the lock or from the NFC induction of a smartphone when it is held against it.
What kind of doors can be locked with a smart lock?
All kinds of assets, not just doors, can be protected with smart locks. These include internal and external doors, gates, storage warehouses, mailboxes and lockers.
Can a smart lock go on any door?
Smart locks can be installed very quickly into new buildings and retrofitted into older ones. It takes only a few minutes and a basic screwdriver. No drilling or changes to the existing infrastructure are needed. The cylinders can be added to all depths of door with extension pieces available for thicker doors.
What are the disadvantages of a smart lock?
As mentioned above, some smart locks rely on batteries or an external power supply. Unfortunately, this creates access issues if the batteries have run out or if there is a power outage in the building. Luckily, iLOQ’s smart locks are battery- and cable-free and need no external source of power or Wi-Fi or internet connection. And, for smart locks opened using a smartphone, with iLOQ’s solution it’s no problem if your phone is out of battery – doors can be accessed with your back-up key fob.
Because of the technology involved, smart locks are more expensive than traditional mechanical locks. However, they offer a whole range of added benefits not available with mechanical locks and the return on investment is fast. Consider how much time, effort and costs are involved, for example, if a master key (the key in a mechanical access system which can open every lock in the property) is lost; all the locks and keys in the system must be changed. With iLOQ’s smart locks, a lost or stolen key can be instantly blocked (rendering it useless if an unauthorized person tries to use it). A new key can be programmed and there is no need to change or re-key any locks or change any of the keys still in use; high levels of security are maintained while administration procedures and costs are minimized.
Battery-operated smart locks usually use up to four AA batteries in each lock. This means that they have to be regularly replaced (sometimes too early to avoid the risk of them running out). It also causes a lot of unrecyclable battery waste. With iLOQ’s smart locks, the use of batteries is eliminated saving maintenance time, costs and environmental impact.
Are smart locks bad for the environment?
As mentioned above, smart locks that use batteries have an impact on the environment. With iLOQ’s battery-free smart locks, there’s no need to purchase batteries, you can prevent the travel-related environmental impact of regularly visiting many sites to change them and also eliminate the need to dispose of huge amounts of battery waste every year.
With iLOQ’s digital keys, just one key contains all the access credentials needed to smoothly move around the place where you live or work. There’s no need for separate keys to the front door, your apartment, the garbage room, laundry or warehouse. That eliminates the resources needed to make so many keys and the environment impact of transporting them from production to iLOQ’s premises and then onwards to dealers and end users. And with iLOQ’s smartphone solution, there’s no need for physical keys at all. All access credentials are sent remotely and in real time to iLOQ’s app running on the end user’s smartphone.
Have we convinced you?
In conclusion, smart locks are just the same as traditional locks in simple terms of usage. But the benefits in terms of security, convenience, usability and environment impact outweigh any additional costs.
