Everyone knows mechanical security can’t do all this — at least, not without placing a huge admin burden on facility and security managers. Electronic access control can, but wired locks are prohibitively expensive to distribute so widely through a site. New wireless access control technologies can provide an answer. They make it all possible, as universities across Europe have discovered by choosing Aperio.

Replacing mechanical locks with Aperio battery-powered devices ensures all your locks integrate seamlessly with access control and security systems from over 100 different manufacturers. Aperio locks are wireless, easy to install and manage, and cost-effective to run. They are scalable and easily upgradable. Crucially, they add all the functionality university facilities managers need to stop unauthorised access — cost-efficiently and without an exponential increase in key management hassle, thereby providing effective ROI.

“With Aperio, we were able to quickly and easily install a complete online system,” says Magnus Svensson, Infrastructure Manager at Lund University in Sweden.

The security upgrade for Lund staff and students was practically invisible. Aperio locks work with the university’s existing Mifare smart cards, so there was no need for 42,000 students and around 7,500 staff to return their smart-cards for reprogramming, or even to visit update readers to reactivate their permissions. Every door or card is still managed centrally from a single administration interface.

“Aperio has proven to be very cost effective and is really appreciated by staff and students,” adds Magnus Svensson.

Aperio® wireless access control eliminates the security risk posed by a lost key. Rather than the expensive and laborious task of replacing a lock, administrators simply de-authorise a lost credential to reinstate the campus’ secure status. It takes a few seconds of system admin to issue or revoke any smart-card’s access rights. Reprogram an RFID card and you have a new key — instantly. Cut the number of physical keys and you save time and money on key management.

“We have been able to reduce the time we spend on user management and system administration radically,” confirms Lund’s Magnus Svensson.

Aperio wireless locks work as a new installation, or they can extend existing access control capability without the need for a total system overhaul. At an existing installation, site users will open both wired doors and new Aperio wireless doors with the same smart-card, employing standard high- and low-frequency RFID technologies like Iclass, Mifare Desfire and Legic. Laundry rooms, photocopy services, library loans... all can be incorporated on the same smart-card that opens an Aperio-secured door.

Aperio escutcheons and cylinders enable robust, keyless, trackable access to classrooms and conference rooms. The new Aperio handle (H100) packs the flexibility and affordability of Aperio into a slim, cleverly designed, battery-powered door handle — perfect for meeting rooms, staff rooms and offices. For sensitive doors — management offices, IT, science labs, or the main entrance — the Aperio security lock (L100) transmits door status and meets fire regulations (EN1125 / EN179). At a building entrance, it’s easy to combine the security lock with a panic bar. An Aperio server lock (KS100) secures server racks and cabinets, either onsite or in a co-located data centre, and brings physical server security into the same system as site doors.

“Providing integrated solutions at complex university sites, working closely with integrators... this is something we understand better than anyone,” says Mathias Weiß, Product Manager, Aperio at Assa Abloy EMEA.