Problems We Solve

Shared Physical Keys Create Access Risk When Employees Leave

The Challenge

Many businesses still rely on traditional metal keys to control access to offices, storerooms, and equipment. These keys get issued to employees, contractors, and vendors over the years, often without a complete record of who currently holds one. When an employee leaves, whether on good terms or not, there is no way to revoke a physical key the way an access card or code can be disabled. If the key is not returned, or a copy was made without authorization, the business has no practical way of knowing who can still get in after hours. The only real remedy is rekeying the affected locks, which is disruptive and frequently gets delayed or skipped.

Why This Happens

Key management tends to break down gradually rather than all at once. A small business might issue keys informally as staff are hired, with no central log of who has which key or how many copies exist. Locksmith visits to rekey a building cost time and money, so the task is often postponed after a routine departure and only prioritized after a termination involving conflict. Over years of turnover, the number of keys in circulation can exceed what anyone in the business could reasonably track. Without a system built for controlling and revoking access electronically, physical keys simply accumulate risk with every employee who comes and goes.

The Risk to Your Business

An unreturned or duplicated key means a former employee, or anyone they gave a copy to, may retain the ability to enter the building indefinitely. This creates exposure for theft, unauthorized access to sensitive areas, and liability if an incident occurs after hours involving someone who should no longer have access. Rekeying every affected lock after each departure is often too costly or time consuming to do consistently, so many businesses simply accept the risk and hope for the best. Over time, the gap between who is supposed to have access and who actually can get in tends to widen, particularly at businesses with higher staff turnover or multiple entry points.

How Cobham Tech Solves It

Cobham Tech replaces vulnerable physical key systems with electronic access control, using key fobs, cards, or mobile credentials that can be activated or revoked individually and instantly. When an employee leaves, their access is disabled in the system rather than requiring locks to be physically rekeyed. We design the access control layout around the facility's actual entry points and sensitive areas, so different credentials can be granted different levels of access. This approach eliminates the guesswork around who currently holds a working key and closes the access gap the moment someone leaves the company, rather than leaving it open until the next locksmith visit.

Related Cobham Tech Resources

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Answers to Common Questions

What areas does Cobham Tech serve?

We are headquartered in Pottersville, New Jersey and support businesses across New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. Most issues are handled remotely, and we provide on-site visits throughout our New Jersey service area.

How is managed IT priced?

Managed IT is usually billed as a flat monthly fee, priced per user or per device, so your cost is predictable. The right tier depends on your size, systems, and the level of support you need. We recommend a free assessment first so any quote reflects your actual environment.

Do you require a long-term contract?

We work with businesses on both ongoing managed IT and one-time projects. We will recommend the arrangement that fits your goals rather than lock you into something you do not need. The details are always agreed on before any work begins.

Do you work with small businesses?

Yes. Much of our work is with small and mid-sized businesses that do not have a full internal IT department. We scale our support to the size of your team and the systems you rely on.

What if we already have an IT person on staff?

We can work alongside your internal staff in a co-managed model, handling monitoring, security, and after-hours coverage while your person focuses on day-to-day needs. We can also take over fully if that is a better fit.

Can you help with HIPAA or other compliance requirements?

Yes. We support medical, dental, and other regulated businesses with the technology side of compliance, including access controls, encryption, backups, and documentation. Compliance is about how your systems are configured and maintained, and that is work we do every day.

Do you provide emergency or after-hours support?

Managed IT clients have around-the-clock system monitoring and access to after-hours emergency support. If something critical happens outside business hours, you have a way to reach us rather than waiting until morning.

What kinds of businesses do you work with?

We support professional services firms, medical and dental practices, legal and financial offices, retailers, logistics companies, and nonprofits, among others. The common thread is a business that depends on its technology working and cannot afford to manage it alone.

Can you handle both our technology and our physical security?

Yes. Alongside managed IT and cybersecurity, we install and support physical security systems including cameras and access control. Bringing both under one provider keeps your digital and physical protection working together.

How do we get started?

Start with a free assessment. We review your current setup, identify what needs attention, and give you a straight answer on how we can help, with no obligation and no sales pressure. Call us at +1 315 436 1036 or request an assessment through the contact form.