Beginning of School Year Highlights Particular Benefits of Smart Locks

  • By Matt Jones
  • September 08, 2022

With the beginning of the 2022–23 school year, residential lock manufacturer Kwikset recently outlined some of the benefits of a residential smart-lock system as relevant to back-to-school season.

“There are many convincing reasons why a smart lock is the best security option for parents during the school year—or really, any time of year,” said Erik Glassen, Senior Manager, Brand Marketing at Kwikset. “The remote capabilities of smart locks give parents the ability to use their smart phone or tablet to control their lock and track who’s coming or going. Plus, a smart lock can serve as the centerpiece of a complete home security system, connecting devices like locks, lights and cameras while giving parents greater peace of mind.”

According to a news release, both parents and students can benefit from the use of a smart lock throughout the school year. Within a single family, children may be arriving home at different times of the afternoon—a fifth-grader immediately after school, and a high-school sophomore after football practice, for example. Further, now that parents are returning to offices as the pandemic wanes, children may have to carry keys that could get lost or stolen. Smart locks let children use a simple user code (or even a different code for each member of the family) to unlock the door, saving the potential security breach of a key hidden under a doormat.

Second, parents can use Internet-enabled devices like smart phones to unlock doors remotely, giving them the power of access control even when they’re away from the house. Parents can unlock the door for their children and then lock it behind them to ensure maximum protection.

Finally, smart locks can send a wide variety of notifications to parents’ smart device of choice, notifying them of everything from motion at the door to its unlocking to live video feed of children making it inside safely. As children get older, parents can use a “time/date stamp” feature to keep track of when their children leave the house—and get back home, making breaking curfew one step harder.

“If security dealers do their homework about the seasonal benefits of smart locks,” said Glassen, “they can not only have a successful back-to-school season, but also potentially make smart locks a centerpiece of their home automation business all year long.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning and Campus Security and Life Safety. He can be reached at [email protected]

Featured

  • Electrified Latch Retraction Locks Key Benefits for Retrofits

    Building owners and facility managers increasingly rely on electrified hardware to enhance security while meeting accessibility standards. Among these technologies, electrified or motorized latch retraction locks are especially effective for retrofit projects where existing door and frame conditions complicate upgrades. Latch retraction capable locks combine security, accessibility and code compliance benefits, making them ideal for retrofitting fire-rated and non-rated openings in schools, healthcare facilities, commercial buildings and more. Read Now

  • How Cloud Security Solutions Are Transforming Campus Safety

    Campus administrators today face a challenging mandate: deliver stronger security across their facilities while working within tighter budget constraints. From school districts focused on student safety to hospitals protecting patients and staff, the question remains the same: how do you build security infrastructure that evolves with your needs without requiring massive capital investments? Read Now

  • Rethinking Campus Security From the Inside

    For decades, campus security strategies focused on keeping threats outside school walls. But since the tragedy at Columbine High School, data has shown that many attacks begin inside the building, often in classrooms and corridors. This shift has prompted schools to rethink security from the inside and place greater emphasis on interior elements such as classroom doors. This shift is evidenced by a new generation of classroom door systems engineered to delay inside intruders and an ASTM standard that raises the bar on how these systems must be designed to defend against attack. Read Now

  • AI in Security: Advancing Campus Safety and Considerations for Implementing

    Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to capture attention across every sector, and the physical security industry is no exception. Once seen as experimental, AI-enabled analytics now underpin how organizations monitor environments, detect threats, and make decisions. What was once futuristic is now a practical necessity for safety professionals managing growing volumes of data, tighter resources, and increasing expectations for faster, more accurate responses. Read Now

Most   Popular