Supercharge your operations and expand your security

Lately, the line between the physical and digital space has gotten so thin that, at times, it appears to disappear entirely, writes Sonny Van Gno, Business Development Manager, Southco.

As more and more “things” are connected to the Internet, it can be tough to tell how many of them actually need to be (seriously, our toaster doesn’t really need Wi-Fi).

When it comes to security, the sheer volume of options can be overwhelming for those looking for practical and valuable additions to a system, and while you may not need to know exactly how long people are heating a bagel in the break room, knowing when and where doors and access panels are opened is a different story.

Admittedly, the idea of monitoring doors is nothing new. They may even be some of the first “things” added to the internet after computers.

But, while many have turned a blind eye to old technology considered “good enough”, the industry has advanced to the point where even smaller access points can be connected and monitored through existing security systems or through plug and play apps.

These improvements open up exciting new possibilities for monitoring, automation and remote access.

Let’s explore the expanding world of connected solutions and discover opportunities to build and expand your security through the Internet of Things (IoT).

The things you’ll connect

We’ve all seen a keypad or card reader that can tell a system when it’s accessed. That’s nothing new and it does the job well enough for room-level security. But what about everything inside the room?

If you’re in the industrial manufacturing or computing sector, chances are the contents of your rooms are worth more than the room itself.

These are situations when you may want someone to have access to a room, but need to ensure that a machine is not opened while in operation.

In these cases, the more information and control you have about when your equipment is accessed, the better.

That’s why Southco developed connected solutions which are capable of giving you precise information which can help improve your operational efficiency.

Adding digital to physical

Let’s start simple with the Universal Latch Sensor (ULS), an easy way to turn a physical latch into a digitally monitored IoT device.

The ULS is a magnetic sensor with an optional integrated LED that is mounted to the interior of a panel or door frame so it can tell when the cam (back metal part of a latch that secures the panel) is locked in place.

Endless monitoring options open up with this simple device, but here are just a few possibilities:

• Server Cabinets
• Maintenance Access Panels
• Secure Lockers

You can also add digital security and electronic actuation to existing systems by implementing a secondary “deadbolt” that is controlled electronically. These latches can be wired to existing systems or can be wirelessly controlled through Bluetooth.

Simpler than you may have thought, right? Well, the good news is that it gets even easier if you’re designing and building the monitored device from scratch.

In these cases, you can use a latch with built-in sensing and electronic actuation to both monitor and control your panels through your security system, creating a truly mechatronic system.

Mechatronic security

When the physical and digital worlds meet, you get mechatronics.

Mechatronic devices provide a way for people to physically interact with digital systems, and conversely, for digital systems to affect the physical world.

In an industrial setting, for example, this means latches that know when they are open or secure and communicate that information to a security system. It means handles that know when they are touched and also levers that know when they are turned.

With integrated sensing and electronic actuation, connected solutions turn the physical operating experience into digital data that can easily be tracked and optimised.

Mechatronic devices may sound bulky and a mess to install, but you may not even notice a difference from a normal latch at a glance. What look like normal locks, latches and pins can be packed full of connected technology.

Connecting it all together

Alright, we’ve talked about the “things” enough. Let’s get to what makes it all work together: the “Internet.” The beauty of connected solutions is that you have options for how to connect them.

These devices integrate seamlessly into traditional electronic security systems, thus providing you with detailed information in a familiar setting.

For those who are already security gurus, this is an easy way to take your security system from good to great.

But what if you’re just getting started? What if you don’t have an existing system to plug into? It’s even easier for you than for the people with existing systems.

The vast majority of these devices have wireless technology built into them and there are plug and play systems like the Keypanion App that you can download and use with any Southco Bluetooth devices for free.

The app also lets you monitor every latch connected to your account from your phone and share access to those devices with other users.

With it, you have a security system in the palm of your hand. It also functions as a wireless key to remotely unlock devices in Bluetooth range. If you want to get started in device-level digital security, using platforms like the Keypanion App is a great first step.

Building your IoT

Now that the Internet of Things is a bit less scary and you’ve learned about some of the things you can connect to it, where do you begin?

Designing and building equipment with connectivity in mind, or retrofitting existing equipment to connect to your security system, can give you the peace of mind that comes with device-level monitoring.

New technology is making it easier than ever to get connected, and while a Wi-Fi toaster might be overkill, the monitoring, automation and remote access possibilities that come with connected access solutions can supercharge your operations.