Multi-tenant housing environments, whether they are condominiums, apartments, high rises or low income, must have security to protect the residents. But the types of security technologies available can make it confusing and tough to choose. Sometimes what you want and what you need is not the same thing. Developing a strategy to employ the right technology at the right time is key, as is understanding what a technology can – and can’t – do for your facility.
Think of security technology as a three-legged stool consisting of access control, video and life safety (fire alarms, strobes, etc.). But not all of these are created equal: life safety is required by code, while the other two are discretionary. As a result, choosing how and when to implement access and video is where misconceptions, unrealistic expectations and mistakes most often occur. One of the most common errors is to put in a stand-alone video system without first making sure your doors are secure and monitored by an access control system.