Key control refers to various methods for making sure that certain
keys
Key or The Key may refer to:
Common meanings
* Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm
* Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock
* Key (map ...
are only used by authorized people. This is especially important for
master key systems with many users. A system of key control includes strategies for keeping track of which keys are carried by which people, as well as strategies to prevent people from giving away copies of the keys to unauthorized users. The former may be as simple as assigning someone the job of keeping an up-to-date list on paper. A more complex system may require signatures and/or a monetary
deposit.
Levels
Preventing unauthorized
copies
Copy may refer to:
* Copying or the product of copying (including the plural "copies"); the duplication of information or an artifact
**Cut, copy and paste, a method of reproducing text or other data in computing
**File copying
**Photocopying, a p ...
typically falls into one of the following five levels.
* Level 5 (lowest): ordinary unrestricted keys. This level relies on the
honor system
An honor system or honesty system is a philosophical way of running a variety of endeavors based on trust, honor, and honesty. Something that operates under the rule of the "honor system" is usually something that does not have strictly enfo ...
. Users are instructed not to make copies or loan keys and trusted to comply. This is common for
private residences.
* Level 4 (low): unrestricted keys marked "Do Not Duplicate". These keys can theoretically be copied anywhere, but many stores will refuse to copy them. This is a very low-level deterrent which
ALOA
''Aloa'' is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae.
Species
* ''Aloa cardinalis'' (Butler, 1875)
* '' Aloa ihlei'' Černý, 2009
* ''Aloa lactinea'' (Cramer, 1777)
''Aloa sensu lato''
* '' Aloa albistriga'' Walker, 1865
* ''Aloa colla ...
calls "deceptive because it provides a false sense of security".
* Level 3 (medium): restricted keys. These keys are not generally available at
retail outlets
Retail is the sale of goods and services to consumers, in contrast to wholesaling, which is sale to business or institutional customers. A retailer purchases goods in large quantities from manufacturers, directly or through a wholesaler, and t ...
and often can only be obtained through a single source. The supplier has their own rules in place to prevent unauthorized duplication.
* Level 2 (high): patented keys. By definition, patented keys are restricted. They also have the added feature of being protected by
patent law
A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an enabling disclosure of the invention."A p ...
. Anyone who sells such a key without permission of the
patent holder
A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an enabling disclosure of the invention."A p ...
could face financial penalties.
* Level 1 (highest): factory-only patented keys. These keys cannot be cut locally. In addition to the restrictions above, users must send an authorization request to the factory to have additional keys cut and strict records are kept of each key.
It is worth noting that none of these levels can protect against a user who loans a key to someone else and then falsely claims that the key was lost. Additional methods of key control include mechanical or electronic means. Electronic key control systems use serialized key assignments housed in a centralized database to allow for better tracking of each key made.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Key Control
Locksmithing
Physical security