What to consider before duplicating your office keys

When you run a business, you don't want keys to your front door in just anybody's hands. Duplicating office keys is necessary, sometimes, but you want to make sure it's done in the correct manner.

The last thing you need is old employees with a key to your building. What if they decide to use that key to break in? Maybe they will or maybe they won't, but why take the chance?

Before you duplicate your office keys, there are a few things to consider.

The Risk

Duplicating your office keys could put a key into the hands of the wrong person. You might also lose control over who can duplicate your keys. With a duplicate, you might give it to someone that takes it and gets more copies made. This can become risky.

Even if a key says "Do Not Copy" on it, not all locksmiths or key makers will pay attention to this. There are also machines out there where someone could get a key copied, even if it's stamped with this.

You can use a patented keying system to help make it harder for others to duplicate your office keys. With the help of a good commercial locksmith, you can set up a patented keying system that only allows authorized personnel to get copies of the keys.

Do you Need a Master Key System?

In some cases, it makes sense to have a master key system. This key will work on all of the doors in your office. However, you can have other keys created only allowing specific access throughout the building.

If you decide to use this type of system, you will need to be very careful with your grand master key. If it becomes duplicated, someone will be able to use it in any lock in your building.

Those offices with high turnover may want to use interchangeable cores. These cores can be changed in am atter of minutes. They keep lost or stolen keys from working in your locks.

Re-Key Your Office

If you've already had office keys duplicated and you know there are some rogue keys out there, it's time to have your office re-keyed. This will allow you to get a whole new set of keys and start your system over. Often, this is necessary, if you cannot retrieve a key from a former employee.

While it's considered unethical and even unlawful to make a copy of an office key, if you don't own the business, it still happens. Sometimes, it leads to break-ins or other issues you really don't want. Re-keying allows you to reset the system and start from scratch. It makes all the old keys obsolete.

If you're trying to get duplicated keys made for your office, you want to be careful. A duplicate in the wrong hands can be a big issue for your business. It's always important to know who has access to your office. Be careful whenever you duplicate keys and always use a professional locksmith.

The Three Most Common Door Lock Problems

You probably haven’t thought much about problems that can happen to your door lucks until an issue came up for your family. You knew that your locks were getting old or that you could always call a locksmith if something ever went wrong, but what are the most common door lock problems that happen and you should be aware of?

For starters, you could end up with a key breaking in the lock or just a key that isn’t working right. In another scenario, you could end up with your locks misaligning or being too loose, or even a slow lock and faulty door issues. Take a closer look below at the three most common areas of door lock problems. 

The key doesn’t work or broke

Have you ever tried to turn your key and it broke in the lock? Perhaps the key got stuck in the lock or maybe even the key won’t insert at all. Key issues are one of the most common door lock problems. 

If your key broke inside the lock because you tried to force it to turn after it got stuck, you can try to pull it out with pliers. If that doesn’t work, call a professional to help as they may need to help you try to get it out. 

If the key isn’t working, first make sure you are using the right key. If you are, then you may be having an issue with a deadbolt not interacting properly with the strike plate, which you would be able to find out in the case that you do finally open the door and find that the key now works fine.

 If it’s a new key, it may have been cut improperly. Call the locksmith to get this looked into and to see if it’s a bad key or a broken lock. 

Misaligned locks or loose locks 

Next, you could run into a lock issue in which you have poor alignment or it’s too loose. You want the deadbolt to fit properly into the strike plate along the door jam, but when it’s off even by a little, the lock may not work at all. This can sometimes happen when a person is too rough on the door or if a door isn’t installed properly or shifts from conditions like too much humidity. 

You could also be dealing with a loose handle or lock since these things will loosen up over the years. This is an easy fix with a tightening of screws, but if you wait too long to correct it, you’ll likely end up needing to call for help with an emergency lockout. 

Slow lock or faulty door 

Finally, beware of slow locks and faulty doors. A slow door lock is common when dirt or grime accumulates in the lock. This is not a hard fix, but it’s easy to make it worse which is why you should call a professional to help correct it. 

A faulty door mechanism can also happen with time and wear and tear. With excessive use and not getting the maintenance they need, they can become defective. In those scenarios, you’ll want to properly maintain your locks and doors to avoid a slow lock or faulty mechanism because these are mechanical functions that only a professional will be able to properly repair later on. 

These are a few of the most common door lock problems that you could come across on your property. Be sure to maintain your doors and locks, and call a local Chicago locksmithin the event that you need something repaired.

What to Consider for an Effective Security Budget at Your Business

The security of your business is vital to your success. Without proper security, you could be at risk of something happening that causes a huge loss or even bankruptcy.

Setting up an effective security budget requires a few specific considerations. Here are some of the top considerations you should have if you're trying to set up your business security budget.

Figure Out What's Absolutely Essential

Every business has specific things that are essential to doing business. These could be systems you own, business equipment you use, intellectual property, data or anything else you need to stay in business.

Before you set up your security budget, make sure you identify what's most important to protect. Something that is absolutely critical for your business to function needs to be considered above something non-critical.

Identify the Risks to Your Business

Every business has risks. Identifying the risks will help you set a budget as you will know which areas of security need to be protected the most. Some of the risks you may be facing include:

• Brand Reputation

• Legal repercussions

• Fines

• Financial losses

• Competitive advantage

While protecting your business from hackers and from break-ins is very important, you also have to consider other risks when setting up your security budget. Sometimes, it makes sense to invest hundreds of dollars every year to protect against a risk that could cost you tens of thousands of dollars, such as a hacker holding your valuable business systems hostage.

Cover All Your Bases

It doesn't do much good to set up a security budget that leaves holes in your security. If you were to invest in an actual business security system for the building and the things inside, but you decided to only secure three of your four doors, criminals will figure this out. You're left vulnerable, which isn't good.

Along with protecting your physical assets, you also need to consider your data, intellectual property and employees. The entire business needs to be protected and you need to consider this when setting up your security budget.

Start with the Basics

It's important to start with the absolute basics, such as the locks on your doors and windows, anti-virus software on your computers and access control for any sensitive areas, such as server rooms. Having your doors fully secured with high-quality locks will go a very long way to deterring actual break-ins. Make sure you have top-quality locks, such as Mul-T-Locks, installed by a commercial locksmith.

Once you've covered the absolute basics, it's time to start budgeting for things, such as security cameras and high-quality monitoring services for your systems. Make sure you start with the basics in your budget as most will come with a one-time cost or a smaller investment. Then, move on to the more sophisticated security measures.

Setting up a business security budget isn't easy, but it's necessary. If you're not sure where to start, you can hire an expert to analyze your business and let you know what the major risks are to your business. This will help you to assess what the costs may be to secure your most vulnerable areas.

3 Things to Consider When Installing New Doors at Your Home or Office

If you’re planning to install new doors at the house soon or even your office, there are a few things you’re going to want to consider before doing so. Sometimes asking the right questions now before doing the project makes a huge difference in the results of the project.

For example, have you considered how often a door will be used when choosing the materials of that door? Are you choosing a door based on aesthetics or practicality? What kind of door really makes sense for what you’re trying to do? Take a look at these 3 considerations that you should take before you install doors at the home or office.

What kind of door makes sense to use

The first question to ask if “what type of door really makes sense to use for this space?” there are a number of factors that you’ll consider in answering what type of door makes sense to use, including the style, the security, and even the energy efficiency level.

The style of the door should match the overall look of the home or office build which means you wouldn’t choose a bold statement of a door for a simple colonial home. Make sure to choose a style that suits the building but also expresses the right mood for what you prefer.

Next, consider if you’ve chosen a door that makes sense for the space. A strong front door with proper locking abilities is vital for your front door to your home or office building. It’s important to deter thieves with the door you choose. For an interior door, you want to make sure the door will function well for the room it leads to and that will be easy and efficient to use.

Speaking of efficient, look at the energy efficiency of your doors. You can affect your heating and cooling costs by choosing the right door. you’ll lose the majority of your hot and cold air through your windows and doors, so it’s important to select high-quality doors through the property.

The type of material you’ll be using

Now you should consider what type of material you are going to use. Once you’ve chosen the right door that makes sense, you’ll need to think about how the different materials will affect its ability to function well, its aesthetic, and its deterrence from both thieves and the elements.

A wooden door is a great, classic choice that will make a home or building look rich. They are expensive compared to other materials, but they look beautiful. They will require more maintenance though as the sunlight can warp the wood.

Another option is to go with steel if you need something strong and durable. You can actually paint these to match the home’s decor and you’ll save money on your energy bills. Lastly, consider fiberglass if you want something low maintenance and more affordable than wood. You’ll love how energy efficient they are, as well as durable.

How often it will be used

Are the doors you are looking to install going to be the main entry to the home or will it be an interior door that requires more privacy? Consider if you need it to look attractive to the outside world or simply the most functioning.

Is it going to be a beautiful door but also heavy to open and close regularly? Do you need a door that has a window on it to help you see outside more easily? Think about the use of the door before making your purchase since it can be easy to get caught up in either the beauty or the affordability of one without considering the function it will have.

Use these 3 tips of things to consider before installing any new doors at the home or office. Contact The Professional Locksmith in Chicago and we’ll help with the installation!