What is smart lock?
A smart lock or digital lock is a mechanical and electronic locking device that can be opened wirelessly with authentication from a registered user.
Smart locks enable a homeowner to enter their home or grant access to others without needing a standard key in a smart home. Instead, the user wirelessly verifies and mechanically unlocks the door with a smartphone or a key fob.
Other usual digital lock opening functions also include biometrics such as fingerprint and face recognition; and the usual PIN, card, and mechanical key.
With these advanced features, they do bring automation and convenience to the people who own them.
If you’re looking out for digital locks, either for business use or your own use, consider going through these five things as they are the essentials of a good smart lock: Communication, Remote Management, Battery Life, Compatibility, and Security.
5 things to consider when buying a smart lock
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- Communication
A crucial component of digital lock systems is wireless communication; Bluetooth and Wi-Fi networks are frequently supported by smart locks. This enhances lock-to-system signal transfer by allowing them to transfer data directly to another smart device like a smartphone.
Consider checking the reliability of the digital lock wireless communication as it provides a better user experience for you. The smoother the connection, the easier for you to control the wireless ecosystem that may also consist of another smart device like alarms, etc.
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- Remote Management
An effective digital lock must have an easy-to-use management interface that enables users to lock and unlock doors remotely, set alerts, and modify passcodes. In high-security workplaces and other industrial settings, remote access is effective.
Being able to unlock a door fast in an emergency is one of the main benefits of remote connectivity, but you’ll also want low battery notifications, door-forced notifications, door open-too-long notifications, passage mode, and maybe integration with video surveillance if there are CCTV cameras or video doorbells nearby.
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- Battery Life
Smart locks require a power source and are commonly powered by batteries. So battery life must be taken into account.
The longer the battery life, the better. Locks that won’t open due to a dead battery pose a safety risk and cause a disruption in business.
A good digital lock should at least last on average, able to hold 6 to 8 months of extended use before needing to change the battery. This requirement doesn’t take into account the power usage as, the face recognition lock will use much power than smart without it.
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- Compatibility
For management and maintenance, these locks may need to be incorporated into an existing locking or access control system.
If you’re looking for a digital lock but don’t want to make a slight adjustment on your door, try looking for the one that can suit your current door better.
Most of the digital locks do need an adjustment on your door as it uses a different mortise. But several models may be manufactured to be compatible with the usual day-to-day door knob/lock.
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- Physical and Cyber Security
Different from traditional lock, smart lock needs to have two good security features, physical and cyber.
Some good physical safety features include steel bars in pin tumblers and cylinder locks resisting snapping, bumping, and breaking pick-resistance and manual override.
For cyber, it’s good to have digital locks that have constant firmware updates and support from their manufacturer. This will make sure if a crucial cyber problem occurs, the device is quick to adapt.
Are smart locks really safe?
As mentioned before, traditional locks usually need good physical security meanwhile digital locks need both good physical and cyber security.
For physical most of them offer the same if not better physical security than traditional locks as they are built to also prevent lockpicking and force opening.
Meanwhile, for cyber security, most of them usually are manufactured with licensed and standardized encrypted security in order to make sure they are not easily hijacked.
In most cases, you can be sure that a smart lock’s cyber security is reliable. Unless it is connected to an unsafe network where the culprit has found a way into your private Wi-Fi/network.
Where to get smart lock in Malaysia?
As of 2023, there are many smart lock distributors and suppliers available in Malaysia. Most states in Malaysia have their own smart lock installer business available there.
But if you seem can’t find it, here are some suggestions of companies that mostly center in the Klang Valley area but also serve few other states.
If you’re a homeowner who wants to install a digital lock for your door you may want to find a smart lock installer company such as Lockpro Technology, Drsmarthome, etc.
If you’re a business owner who wants to offer a digital lock installation service maybe you want to take a look into smart lock supplier companies such as VSH Technology, Keyson, Raizo, etc. Different from installers, most supplier companies offer their service all over Malaysia.
VSH Technology – Smart Lock Supplier in Selangor
Based in Selangor, VSH Technology is a security system supplier in Malaysia. We supply numerous security products to our customers all over Malaysia.
Among the products we supply is a smart door lock. There are two main smart locks we supply which are Vlock and ZKTeco. Both offer great smart lock features and reliability in ease of use.
To know more about the smart lock we supply, contact us now.digital
