Re: Physical Key Management

[Rachel Weaver <rweaver () MACALESTER EDU>]

Hi Jonathan!

We recently moved to a smart/card-access lockbox system. It’s been a little
rough to get going and was definitely expensive, but I think it will be
nice for us to have the logging. It also allows us to have some shared key
sets for staff who don’t need regular access to a campus master key, as
well as for the student employees in our Help Desk/Desktop Support area—we
had previously been loaning staff-assigned keys, which is obviously not
ideal.

Another option that you don’t mention is mechanical key traps—wall-mounted
traps for each master key that captures physical access key when it
releases the master. That’s how we used to handle our supply cabinet keys
in our computer labs, and it worked well. Might be a less expensive option
with similar function to the smart lockboxes.

Best,
Rachel

On Fri, Aug 16, 2019 at 9:20 AM Kimmitt, Jonathan <
jonathan-kimmitt () utulsa edu> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
>
>
>   I’m curious on what people have had success with for physical key
> management?
>
>
>
> Specifically the master & grandmaster keys that the IT department uses to
> get into buildings, offices,  and residential areas, so they may work on
> the network, computers, etc.?
>
>
>
> We have tried a few things in the past, and are looking for something new:
>
>
>
> -          Check out system at your Campus Security/Facilities
> department?  (Staff are extremely resistant to this)
>
> -          Physical key management lock box (that only allows each person
> only their assigned key)  (This can be very expensive)
>
> -          Regular lockbox (the hanging tag type, that anybody could take
> anything from the box)?   (Our current setup)
>
>
>
> Specifically, we have concerns on a couple of issues….
>
>
>
> 1.       Technicians/engineers taking keys home
>
> 2.       Technicians taking keys that are not assigned to them
>
> 3.       Technicians taking keys that have greater access than they are
> approved for
>
>
>
> Is this an issue at other institutions?  Has anybody found a good balance
> between security and convenience?
>
>
>
> -Jonathan
>
>
>
>
>
> ~
>
> Jonathan Kimmitt
>
> CISSP, PCIP, CEH, CIPM, GPEN, CIPT, CIPP/E
>
> Chief Information Security Officer
>
> Information Technology
>
> The University of Tulsa
>
> 918.631.2743
>
> jonathan-kimmitt () utulsa edu
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Rachel Weaver
Associate Director, Support Services
Macalester College ITS
651-696-6525
rweaver () macalester edu

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