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Join us at the NAA 2018 Conference and Trade Show

HandyTrac Systems, a leading electronic key control company for multifamily, military and student housing, is pleased to announce its participation in NAA 2018, the largest multifamily trade show in the United States. This four-day event will be held June 13-16 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.

NAAHandyTrac’s knowledgeable team of professionals will be attending the show, including Executive VP, Larry Kratz, VP and Partner, Steve Alvarez, and National Sales Executives, Bill Pierce and Eric Overhage.

“Our annual attendance at the NAA Conference and Trade Show underscores our dedication to helping multifamily property owners and managers ensure resident safety and prevent premises liability,” said John Lie-Nielsen, Founder and CEO.

Throughout the show, HandyTrac will be offering comprehensive key control system demos, as well as games and prizes at booth #1423. Additionally, HandyTrac will be showcasing their latest electronic key control system, the Touch. The Touch combines biometric technology and a large touch screen display to offer the highest level of security, reporting, and flexibility.

About NAA 2018:

NAA is a paramount multi-housing industry event, featuring inspiring speakers, targeted education sessions, and a diverse product showcase. To learn more about this can’t miss event, click here.

About HandyTrac:

For over 20 years HandyTrac has been the low-cost leader in multifamily and military housing key control; managing keys for more than 3 million apartment homes throughout the country. Our cloud based systems offer instant access to archived reporting and provide the ability to manage your communities with a single login through your computer or smartphone. For more information, contact us today!

4 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Secure Key Control Solution

key control solutionIn any community, campus or facility, keys are typically your greatest point of vulnerability. The better you protect and monitor your keys, the safer your property becomes — and the best way to do that is by establishing some form of key control. That said, choosing a secure key control solution that’s right for the needs of your building or community can be a daunting task. To ease the burden, here are four important questions to ask when evaluating an electronic key control system.

1. Does this system provide a central location for key
check-out and check-in?

The best way to track keys is to store them in one centralized location where employees check them out and return them. Without this feature, keys can get misplaced or stolen simply because no one really knows where they’re supposed to be when not in use. A secure key control solution will include a locked box where keys are stored and checked out. In larger facilities, you might use multiple locations, but those locations should be networked together so you always know which keys are being kept in which box.

2. Does this system offer multi-step secured access?

The more security steps you place into the checkout process, the harder it is for thieves to find a vulnerability and steal keys. If, for example, an employee can simply check out a key by swiping his badge, all it takes for a thief to gain access is by stealing or copying the badge. But if that employee must swipe the badge and type in a code — or better yet, use a fingerprint identification — the risk of theft goes down exponentially. Always look for a system that incorporates multiple steps into the check-out/check-in process.

3. What other hack-proof features does this system offer?

Once an employee gains access to the system, what safeguards are in place to make sure that employee takes only the key assigned to him/her? Barcode tags can mask the identification of keys; so can randomizing the location of the key within the box. Look for these and other hack-proof features in your key control solution to keep employees honest.

4. Does this system provide instant reporting and remote access?

For maximum security, your key control system should be able to generate reports at any time as to where keys are located, who has them, when they have them and why. You should also be able to pull these reports at any time via secure Wi-Fi access. This way, you can quickly identify anomalies and track unusual patterns of behavior before something bad happens.

When you’re ready to choose a secure key control solution for your building, community or campus, HandyTrac is here to help with a variety of options, one of which is perfect for your needs. To learn more, contact us today.

How Does a Biometric Key Control System Work?

biometric-read-circleBarcoded employee badges can be used in tandem with a secure key control system, but for some, badges can be cumbersome — let alone lost or stolen. For those who want a more streamlined approach with heightened security, a biometric system can be the perfect solution; but how does a biometric key control system work? Let’s pull back the curtain and explore this technology a bit.

What Are Biometrics?

Biometrics are exactly what the name suggests: Bio=biology; Metrics=measurement. Biometrics deal with biological measurements—not merely regarding height/weight/body composition, but more specifically in identifying markers, like fingerprints or retinal patterns of the eye. When paired with technological applications, biometrics refers to using biological measurements as a form of identification. This technology is extremely secure because only you have your fingerprint, for example. Fingerprints are much more difficult to hijack and duplicate than barcodes.

Implementing Biometrics into a Key Control System

HandyTrac has integrated this important security technology into its biometric key control systems, effectively eliminating the need for employee badges. Rather, the system identifies users by their fingerprint, meaning that only authorized employees with recognized fingerprints can pull keys.

Can Employee Badges Still Be Used?

Certainly! A biometric system can be configured for multi-step access for added security. For example, you can set up access to certain restricted areas by a fingerprint and an employee badge for double verification.

Additional Benefits of a Biometric System

● Instant tracking and reporting. The computer creates an access log which can be instantly accessed by management simply by logging in to the system.

● Renders passwords irrelevant. A biometric system reads data in a completely different way, making systems almost impossible to hack because hackers can’t “guess” fingerprints the way they decipher passwords.

● User-friendly. While remarkably secure, a biometric key control system is also deceptively simple to use. (How difficult is it to place one’s fingerprint on the scanner?)

Biometric technology adds exponentially greater security to a key control system that is already extremely secure — and we’ve worked to make this technology more accessible and affordable than you think. Biometric access is included in Premium Touch model, and we’re happy to answer questions and provide all the details you need to make an informed decision about key control for your property, campus or housing community. To learn more, contact us today.

What Makes HandyTrac the Best Electronic Key Control Option?

electronic key controlA carefully managed electronic key control system is essential for the security of any property, whether it’s a multifamily community, campus, military housing, office, or factory. When you are able to track the location of your keys at any given time, you can protect your facility against key misuse and intruders. There are many ways to establish a secure key control system, and numerous options to help you accomplish this goal. So what makes HandyTrac the best electronic key control option?

Here are just a few of the features we feel make our system the best choice for your community or facility.

Security for a Wide Range of Budgets and Applications

From the Standard Touch system to our expanded Premium option, our electronic key control systems are designed to provide comprehensive, streamlined security, as well as accountability and reporting without a lot of extra effort on your part.

Multi-factor Authentication

With our system, employees must go through a layered identification process to open the box and pull a key—including noting which key they are taking and why. The process is easy for employees after the initial training period, but exceedingly difficult for bad guys to hack or bypass.

Anonymous Barcoding System

Gone are the days of marking your keys with the rooms they open — that just makes it easier for an intruder to find and use the key they need. With HandyTrac, each key comes with a barcode tag that is readable only by the system. That way, if a key is lost or dropped, someone can’t just pick it up and figure out which room or unit it opens. Key tags are easy to activate and replace, as well. This anonymous system also safeguards against breaches from the inside. Not only are the barcodes unreadable by humans, but the HandyTrac system also hangs these keys in random locations in the box, making it impossible for someone with access to the box to identify any specific key. The system only releases the key assigned to the employee at that particular time.

Simple Online Reporting and Auditing

Our computerized system keeps an instant log of all key activity, which you can access online anytime. Pull customized reports that give you only the information you’re looking for.

Unmatched Warranty and Technical Support

HandyTrac offers a complete, continuous warranty on our electronic key control systems, along with technical support access. We don’t just sell you a key control system; we partner with you to make sure it meets and exceeds your security expectations.

To learn more about the features that make HandyTrac the best electronic key control option for you, contact us today.

6 Common Security Flaws in Multifamily Properties

security flawsMultifamily buildings and communities come with their own unique set of security flaws. It is the responsibility of the management to do everything possible to ensure the safety of their residents. Let’s look at 6 of the most common security flaws found in today’s multifamily properties, and what management can do to improve safety.

1. Unrestricted Access to Grounds

One of the most obvious ways for bad guys to enter the property is simply to walk in, which can endanger residents. The simplest solution is to keep the main entrance to each building locked, providing access only to residents with keys or security codes. For apartment communities with outdoor entrances to units, take a look at the possibility of fencing in the property and setting up secured gated entrances at walkways and driveways.

2. Insufficient Locks on Units

Simple locks on the doors are usually easy to pick or to break through by force. For added security, consider installing an additional deadbolt on each unit entrance. Even better, consider installing single-sided deadbolt with no external key access, which residents can utilize while inside the unit.

3. Lack of CCTV Monitoring

Another security tool many multifamily properties lack is closed-circuit television monitoring across the property — or insufficient CCTV coverage. A CCTV system creates a video record of everyone entering, leaving and moving across the property, and the fewer “dead” zones, the better.

4. Insufficient Lighting of Public Areas

Criminals love dark corners. Give them no place to hide by making sure all parking lots and public walkways are well lit.

5. Failure to Protect Residents’ Personal Information

Management is responsible not just for the safety of residents and their property, but also their residents’ information. Always store personal identifiable information (e.g., social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, bank/credit card information) on secured, encrypted servers that are resistant to hackers — and make sure all paperwork is kept safely under lock and key.

6. Inefficient Key Control Management

Building and unit keys present one of the most critical risks to resident safety. If keys are misplaced or get into the wrong hands, it can lead to theft, violent crimes and potential lawsuits. Every management company should have a secure key control system that only releases keys to authorized personnel and tracks the use of keys throughout the community so any anomalies or irregularities can be quickly identified and dealt with before a key gets into the wrong hands.

HandyTrac specializes in providing foolproof, highly secure key control systems for multifamily properties, empowering management to keep their residents safe. To learn more about the products we offer, contact us today.

Enjoy the Highest Level of Key Control Security with HandyTrac Premium Touch

While every HandyTrac system is highly secure, for those facilities who need the pinnacle of key control security, we recommend the Premium Touch, our premier key control system. Perfect for large communities, campuses, and companies managing multiple properties, the Touch combines state-of-the-art biometrics with a large touch screen and enhanced instant reporting features to give property managers complete monitoring and control of key authorization and activity throughout the community or building.

Biometric Key Control

One of the key features of the Premium Touch is the biometric reader, which allows the system to identify employees by their fingerprint. Biometric technology is very difficult to hack, and property managers can instantly identify and track key traffic and related activities of any employee at any time with HandyTrac’s key management reports.

Advantages of the HandyTrac Premium Touch

biometric key controlAlong with our other key control systems, the Premium Touch offers such features as online reporting, customizable activity codes, enhanced auditing, building pull capabilities and so on. It also offers the same biometric security as our mid-range Biometric system. However, the Premium Touch offers a wide array of extra conveniences and enhancements not available on other systems. These include:

Large touchscreen display. This screen can display easy-to-read visual codes that virtually eliminate typing errors, making it easier than ever for employees to log in and pull keys securely and efficiently. The touchscreen also makes it easier to pull multiple keys when necessary.

One-touch building pull and work order reviews. Reviews and maintenance have never been made easier.

Wi-fi capability. Management can access the system remotely and securely.

Unit tagging and flagging. Assign unique messages to individual units so all employees know what’s going on with that unit.

Built-in door alarm. Instant alerts and deterrents for anyone who tries to break the box.

Customized restrictive access. Program the system to restrict certain employees from accessing certain keys. Integration with other systems. Management can review reports from multiple properties with a single login.

As with all our HandyTrac key control systems, the Premium Touch comes with our ironclad continuous warranty and ongoing technical support to ensure optimum performance. And despite being our top-of-the-line key control system, we’ve gone to great lengths to ensure the Premium Touch is surprisingly affordable.

To learn more about the enhanced key control security features of the Premium Touch, contact us today.

Key Management in the Age of Cybersecurity Threats

cybersecurityWith an increasing number of businesses integrating the internet into daily practices, it’s important that we all pay closer attention to the ongoing risk of cybersecurity threats. Modern key management systems are no exception. While the ability to pull reports instantly online via mobile devices makes our buildings and communities safer overall, the fact remains that any online connectivity comes with some risk of hacking. What can you do to keep your data and online activities safe in an age of ongoing cybersecurity threats?

Secure Your System

Regardless of how your company’s online network is configured, make sure it’s running on a secure system. Use firewalls and encrypting to secure your internet connections and your servers. If you use WiFi, make sure it’s hidden and protected by a strong password — and change the password frequently. Only grant network access to authorized personnel.

Require Strong Passwords for Employee Logins

Employees who log into the system should each have an individual login with a strong password that is difficult to guess. Employees should also be prompted to change passwords regularly.

Use Caution with Remote Access

If you log into your company’s network offsite using a smartphone or other mobile device, remember that you aren’t necessarily accessing the system using a secure server. Don’t log in using public WiFi, for example — or if you do, log in using a virtual private network (VPN) to hide from hackers.

Scan for Viruses, Spyware and Malware

You should have a strong antivirus, anti-spyware program in place to guard your system, and make sure it receives the latest updates to make sure newer viruses can be detected and eradicated from the system.

Run Updates on All Software

It’s a pain to keep up with software updates, but when developers send these to you, they’re usually dealing with newly discovered cybersecurity threats. Always keep operating systems and other software up to date.

Back Up Your System

You should be running full backups regularly of your entire system, from shared drives to individual computers. That way, if a hacker crashes your system, you won’t lose data and you can restore at least most of your functionality.

Use Multi-Step Logins Whenever Possible

You don’t want to spend all day logging in, but in truth, the more steps to the login process, the safer it is. With HandyTrac key control, for example, our systems are designed for employees accessing key boxes to take several steps to verify their identity. Some units even include biometric (fingerprint) identification which provides excellent security against intruders and hackers.

To learn more about our secure key control systems, contact HandyTrac today!

How to Properly Manage University Campus and Student Housing Keys

student housing key controlIn a perfect world, a college or university campus should be a safe space. It’s a place for hungry and curious minds to learn and live peacefully. The reality, however, is when you have large groups of people moving about in a large number of buildings, each with hundreds of rooms, this creates thousands of potential vulnerability points — access points for criminals to steal or otherwise do harm. How do you properly manage university campus keys in a way that minimizes risk and helps keep people, and their belongings, safe?

Restrict Key Access

When you think of every door as an access point, you realize that your campus keys are either your best tool for security or your greatest point of risk. How you manage those keys determines which is which. Keys, whether mechanical or electronic, should always be secured and issued to staff only as needed. Installing a key control system can help this process. This way, only authorized staff can access lock boxes by use of their IDs (or even fingerprints), and keys can be checked out as needed and returned when the staff is finished. For electronic key systems, you can take this a step further by programming the system to allow staff access only to their authorized areas on campus.

Track Your Keys

Every key that gets misplaced becomes a security liability, and with thousands of keys roaming around campus, they are remarkably easy to misplace. Key control systems not only can restrict access to authorized staff — they also create a documented audit trail so can track which keys are checked out to whom, and for how long. The system can also alert you of unusual patterns or behaviors. You’ll know immediately if a key goes missing, and you’ll know who had the key last.

Implement Robust Security Measures for Your Keys

On large campuses, even with strong vetting and background checks in place, sometimes bad guys slip through the cracks. While restricting keys to authorized campus staff, how do you protect against violations from within the ranks? Answer: You create additional security features in your key tracking system, create multi-step security protocols for people accessing keys, keep keys barcoded and placed in randomized positions within the box, and pull reports frequently so you can quickly detect suspicious activity.

If you’re serious about properly managing your campus keys, HandyTrac can provide a secure key control system perfect for your organization’s needs. To learn more, contact us today!

HandyTrac Online Customer Site – New Features

HandyTrac is pleased to announce a number of updates to the HandyTrac Online Customer Site!

These new features are a result of customer feedback, and our commitment to provide a seamless user experience for all property managers.


Employees page, redesigned

handytrac key control updates

The Active Employees page has been completely redesigned to make it easier to manage employees in the system. All active employees are now visible and can be edited at the same time. To make editing employees even easier for customers with Standard and Premium Touch systems, typing in a badge and PIN is no longer necessary as the system will automatically create this information when the employee name is entered.

Empty Hook Report

handytrac key control updates

The Empty Hook Report allows users to quickly see a list of the hooks in the system that should not have keys on them. This is helpful during key audits or when you need to quickly check to see if keys are being pulled and returned to their correct locations. It is also a quick way to see if there are any keys missing from the system.

Custom email reports

handytrac key control updates

Email reports allow you to create a completely custom report to be emailed to you daily. If you want to keep a close eye on certain activity codes or certain units, you can now have this information automatically emailed to you without needing to log in to the HandyTrac site. Multiple custom reports can be created for a variety of criteria.

Key Tag Search Report

handytrac key control updates

The Key Tag Search Report allows you to quickly search all of your transactions for a key tag number. If you have a key that will no longer scan in the system, you can search for that tag number and see if it ever was in the system, and if so, to what unit the key belonged and when it was edited out of the system.

Unit List Report

handytrac key control updates

The Unit List Report gives you a list of all of the units in the system without sensitive information such as tag numbers and hook locations. We recommend having this report near the HandyTrac system as a quick reference of unit names to make pulling a key quicker and less error prone for employees that do not often use the system and may be unfamiliar with the naming scheme of the units in the system.

Export key map to Excel

handytrac key control updates

The key map can now be easily exported to excel for offline viewing as well as smartphone access for emergency situations.

Resident Email Notifications

handytrac key control updates

For added peace of mind, property managers can now set resident email notifications. Once set, residents will receive a notification when their key is pulled or returned.


Thank you for your continued support of HandyTrac. If you have questions about the updates, or would like to submit feedback, please send us a message at service@handytrac.com.

4 Tips for Preventing Key Loss

key lossIn any large property, whether it be a factory, military base, school or multifamily community, the danger of lost keys is an ongoing concern. Unfortunately, key loss happens all the time, usually due to poor organization, human error or both. Every time it happens, your building becomes more vulnerable. When high security is required, locks must be changed whenever a key turns up missing — a costly prospect. Electronic card keys can mitigate this risk because they can be programmed to expire, but few management companies have the money to transition all doors and locks to card keys. So how can you prevent key loss, or at least make the risk more manageable? Here are four tips to help out:

1. Set up an established protocol

One of the best ways to keep keys from wandering off is to have an established system in place for managing them. If you and your staff always know where the keys are kept and how to check them in and out, the rate of key loss is reduced significantly, simply because you always know where the keys are supposed to be.

2. Implement a tracking system

Of course, having a key check-in/check-out system is only part of the solution here. The other piece is to have a tracking system in place — an auditing system by which you document who has which keys, for what purpose, when they checked them out, when the keys are due back, and when they actually get checked in. This way, you can quickly identify anomalies in the patterns, and if a key does go missing, you’ll always know who had it last and can trace it back to the point at which it was dropped.

3. Store keys securely

When keys are not in use, they should themselves be kept locked in a safe place. The worst type of key loss is the one in which keys are left out and “lifted” by someone who has no business with them. Keep keys safe, and restrict access so only authorized people can get to them.

4. Train your staff

Whatever protocol you set in place for key management, make sure your entire team is trained in how to access keys, how to check them out and in, and how to carry the keys when they have them. The more consistently the protocol is practiced, the easier it is to detect unusual behaviors — and of course, the fewer keys are lost due to oversight or negligence.

There’s only so much you can do to offset human error, and even with the best systems in place, you might still lose a key from time to time. However, these tips can go a long way toward preventing key loss or reducing the occurrences of it. For more information on effective key control, contact HandyTrac today.