How to Determine which IC Cores are Best For Your Business

Recoring after a lost or stolen key is an expected part of most organizations' key control. It's a simple process that can save your business time and money. Interchangeable (IC) cores are commonly used in commercial and multi-site facilities because they are easily managed, cost-effective, and allow you to easily swap out key cores without locksmith assistance. With the different options on the market today, deciding which IC Core is suitable for your business can be a challenge. Here are a few things for you to consider before making a decision.

Assess Your Current System and Future Needs

You first want to consider what lock hardware you are using now. This will help you determine what brands of IC Cores and keys are compatible. What is working for you, and what pain points do you have with your current system? You'll also need to assess how many access points you are securing and how many employees necessitate keyed access. 

What Type of Keys are you Currently Using?

Key duplication is one of the biggest frustrations key control program owners share. Keys that can be copied without your knowledge or permission are a security risk. Restricted key blanks are not available on the open market. Additional keys are only available through the manufacturer or an authorized distributor. This eliminates the possibility of unauthorized copies. Look for manufacturers who also provide serialization on their restricted keys in order to more efficiently track who has which keys and what access those keys have.

Analyze Your Current Process for Key Control

Key tracking and auditing are some of the most time-consuming aspects of key control. Your ability to control keys lies in the types of keys and cores you use, along with the tracking and management of keys. If you have key holders or access points you are not keeping accurate track of, you could have security breaches happening without your knowledge.

While tracking keys, locks, and key holders is a tedious process, the method you use to do your key tracking can make a huge difference. Key tracking can be accomplished in a single spreadsheet file or with robust, real-time software with recurring audit capabilities. Look for IC cores with associated tracking software to track all of your various keyed security components. This is especially important for large or multi-site organizations juggling many employees and access points.

How Often Do You Rekey Locations?

For companies using a master key system, rekeyable locks offer an additional benefit. Rekeyable locks can be rekeyed at the master key level without affecting user keys. If a master key is lost or stolen, a step-change key associated with the affected lock for your master key system can be used to change the locks. While new master keys will need to be distributed to those keyholders, you can avoid affecting user keys and the hassle of distributing new keys to every user. Rekeyable key cores help maintain access for those who need it while making the process of addressing security breaches much simpler.

Visit our IC Core comparison page for more information on which IC Cores are right for your business.