Master rekeying
If your business has recently undergone a security breach or a staff reshuffling, you may be wondering whether master rekeying is a wise next step. What is the benefit of rekeying versus changing out your locks? And, what differences can you expect between regular rekeying that you may have done in the past and master rekeying?
Here at Reliable Locksmith, we’ve worked with both small and large Minneapolis businesses to restore and upgrade their security. Here’s what we want business and property owners to know about commercial master rekeying!
Rekeying can save you money
One of the major incentives for rekeying in the event of a security breach is cost. More specifically, the cost of having your system rekeyed is substantially cheaper than investing in new locks for every door on your property. This is especially true for large-scale security systems, such as in the case of hotels, hospitals, shared office buildings, and educational settings, which may consist of hundreds of different locks.
That being said, rekeying isn’t appropriate for every kind of system. And, there are special considerations when thinking about master keying. So, let’s talk about rekeying in more detail.
Rekeying for settings that have a master key
Let’s say that your master key has gone missing, which can be a major security breach. You may be thinking that you’ll need to provide all new keys to your staff or tenants, which could potentially be a long, complicated—not to mention costly—process.
But, actually, the problem may not be as dire as you think. In most master key systems, each level of hierarchy can be rekeyed independently of the others. In other words, we can rekey your locks to accept a new master key or submaster key while the existing keys that you’ve supplied to lower management, staff, or renters will continue to work. To be sure, there will still be a process of manually rekeying each lock to accept the new master key. But, you may not have to cut new keys for the lower levels of security in the system.
Implementation of a master key system
A security breach in your business can be an opportunity to consider making upgrades that can make your operations safer and more convenient moving forward. One such change could be the implementation of a master key system while you rekey. Here are a few things that business owners should know about what this process entails:
- Master key systems require consistent lock models. Unfortunately, if your entry door lock is a different brand from your storage room, employee bathrooms, or individual offices, you may not be able to create the master system you want. That’s because master keys need to be calibrated to the same pin configuration. Different lock models are often calibrated to pin configurations that don’t align with other brands. In this case, you would need to make sure that all of your locks are compatible.
- Master systems also require excellent record keeping. If you haven’t noticed already, we locksmiths are pretty meticulous professionals. And that’s exactly what’s needed when implementing a master key system, either for a small or large business. Detailed record keeping about pin configurations and hierarchies is necessary to boost your security and make any changes in the future. So, when you are ready for a master system, be ready to sit down and talk to us about every single door lock on site, levels of access, and assignment of keys to individual staff members.
- A master system could make rekeying easier in the future. If you don’t currently have a hierarchical master key system, any time you have a security breach, you’ll need to rekey every lock on the property and replace all of the keys that are no longer functional. As we mentioned, with master rekeying, you’ll be able to rekey different levels of security separately, meaning fewer keys that need to be replaced.
What about interchangeable core locks?
Whenever we talk about lock rekeying, it’s useful to talk about interchangeable core locks, as well. This is a specific type of device that can be installed in commercial settings that makes rekeying even easier. That’s because the cylinder itself can be removed within seconds and replaced with a new one that is ready to go. In other words, there’s no need for us to go from lock to lock rekeying every individual device before moving onto the next one, which could leave your commercial space in a vulnerable position. Instead, you’ll be able to swap out the cylinders with a new one and restore your security much faster.
What is the cost of master rekeying?
While rekeying is the most budget-friendly option, exactly how much you will spend will depend on a variety of factors, including:
- The size of your business. Small businesses with fewer staff will likely have a less complex master key system and fewer locks, so it makes sense that they would pay less for rekeying.
- Which hierarchical level of your master key system has been compromised. Typically, a lost master key is a more involved rekeying job than one of the standard change keys. This is because all of the locks that the master key opened will need to be rekeyed, versus the more limited number of locks that could be opened by a key on a lower level of the hierarchy.
- Whether your locks are high security. High security locks will increase the cost of rekeying as they require a more complex key cutting process.
- The technology level of the lock. If your locks are integrated with a smart technology system, rekeying may require a few extra steps that will increase the price and complexity of the process.
- How quickly you need rekeying. Rekeying is often requested after a security breach, which might mean that your business needs to restore your security as quickly as possible. In order for the job to be prioritized, your locksmith may have a surcharge policy.
When is master rekeying not advisable?
In certain circumstances, master rekeying may not be the best choice for your business. Here are a few scenarios in which we would recommend going in a different direction for your security:
- Your existing locks are showing signs of wear and tear. Sure, rekeying will save you some money in the short-term, but this is only a practical option if your locks are in good condition. If not, you’ll end up paying for the rekeying now and lock replacement in the near future. For this reason, our locksmiths may recommend that you opt for the more expensive lock replacement option now to save you money overall.
- There are issues with your current master key system. When we hear that our clients are unhappy with their current master key system, we want to know why before doing a rekeying service. After all, this could be an opportunity to make the master key system more convenient for your business, perhaps by replacing certain locks within the system or reconsidering the hierarchy schematic to make more sense for your staff.
- Your business will soon go through a major change. Whether your business is going to expand significantly in the next few months or you’ll be drastically changing your operations, a master rekeying may not be the best choice at the moment. Instead, this may be a good opportunity to go beyond a standard rekeying service in order to implement a new master key system that will prepare your business for the changes to come.
Call Reliable Locksmith for master rekeying in Minneapolis
Our team of trained locksmiths can help you restore your security with master rekeying. No matter the size of the business or the complexity of your master key system, we can have your locks rekeyed to keep your operations running smoothly. And, if rekeying isn’t quite what you need, we’ll share our professional opinion about possible next steps to make sure that your business is safe from future security threats.
We service businesses in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding cities including Wayzata, Medina, White Bear Lake, and more. Call us to learn more about our master rekeying services!
Our Services
We provide a comprehensive range of locksmith services in Minneapolis. Serving Hennepin County, we can help you combat broken locks, install new locks, access homes and business premises when you’re locked out, and even provide replacement car keys on the spot.
We care for every one of our clients, and we’ll always do what we can to put you at ease. We’re a friendly team and enjoy our work – nothing makes us happier than solving your problems.
Plus, we provide cost-effective quality solutions. Our low prices will certainly be a pleasant surprise.