How Gate Codes Can Control Access in Gated Communities

The majority of urban residents would like to live in a gated community. It's because residents in gated communities are perceived as high-status and wealthy. Status is a plus, but a gated community will also provide you and your family privacy and security.

Modern gated communities guarantee entry control is preserved in several ways, but gate codes are the most popular. This entry method requires you to type in a code on a pin pad before penetrating the gated community. You can also use pin pads to control a gate at a private residence. However, more contemporary and suitable modes of secure access, like cellular access technology, will probably replace gate codes entirely in the future.

How To Manage Entry Codes

According to our experts on gatehouse solutions, every gated community may have a different method to permit access to and from its entry gate. Therefore, the communities that employ gate codes will have different methods of handling them. These codes, which allow a person or vehicle to enter the community, are essential. However, community managers need to be careful about sharing the entry codes too much.

One way to control entry codes is by supplying each community resident with a unique code that they use to enter the community. This approach is effective because it restricts sharing the code among locals. In addition, if an unauthorized individual gains access to the community, the code used can be determined quickly and the security breach fixed without impacting the neighborhood's other residents.

A problem with unique codes for each resident comes when one has regular guests around their house. Since a gate code is only provided to residents, you have to unlock the gate for each guest. Sharing the gate code with guests defeats the purpose of having unique entry codes and creates access vulnerability where unauthorized individuals can acquire access to the property. In addition, they may share the code further, which heightens the vulnerability even more. Of course, you might want to share your code anyway, but it may be against community policies. Other entry control methods might work better, like cellular access, where you can readily give and cancel access through your smartphone.

Another method involves sharing a single gate code with all community residents. The gate can be readily breached if everybody shares the same code, specifically in big gated communities. You'll hit a brick wall if you need to track access for any cause because everybody uses the same entry code. It'll be difficult to figure out where the breach came from. Having unique codes for every household is more suitable security-wise, but managing it can be challenging.

Are gate codes safe?

Employing gate codes for cellular entry control is supposed to make it more difficult for non-residents to acquire entry. However, most gated communities operate unmanned gates, which means unauthorized individuals can skillfully breach code-operated gates. Tailgating is one of the most ordinary ways to access gated communities. It's only one instance of breaching, but other types of criminality do happen.

When utilized correctly, entry codes greatly improve the security of a gated area. However, proper usage means that all the rules about sharing the gate code set by a property manager or owner are rigorously followed. Neglect around gate code management results in the code being in the wrong hands. In that case, you may as well not even own an electric gate.

We hope this helps you better understand how gate codes manage entry to a gated community. Contact us today to learn more about our gatehouse solutions. We want to keep your community safe!