Hidden threat in South African complexes

South African complexes or multi-person dwellings can install technologically advanced systems to improve access control and address what could be the weakest link in their security: fellow residents.

Large estates encompassing multiple kilometres of road often have high-tech security systems and multiple guards to protect the homes and lives of their residents.

Residents also enrol their biometric and vehicle details to gain quick, hassle-free access to the estate.

In addition, estates employ strict access control wherein a visitor’s driving licence card and licence disc are scanned, and their information is stored on a cloud database for reference.

This practice recently drew sharp criticism from the Information Regulator, which has argued that the data collected could be excessive for protection purposes.

Regardless, smaller multi-dwelling properties, such as apartment or townhouse complexes, may not be financially able to employ such extensive and costly systems.

Using such extreme measures may also be a waste of money considering the smaller number of visitors and other non-residents they need to accommodate.

However, complexes are also targets for criminals and can be particularly susceptible to malicious insider information.

Because residents live in closer proximity, it is easier to monitor each other’s movements and assess a particular resident’s security weaknesses.

Instead of risking breaking in themselves, this information can be communicated to external parties to carry out the burglary or robbery.

While real estate agents and owners must properly vet potential tenants to reduce the likelihood of such occurrences, these pre-checks are not fool-proof and it could happen that nefarious characters slip through the cracks.

In addition, certain residents may be more blasé about sound security principles. Such residents can put their neighbours’ security at risk by negligence in opening gates, for example.

The access issue

While physical security measures should be the first line of defence, they will be of little value when malicious and negligent residents can access the complex.

These days, the most basic form of security for a vehicle entry gate at complexes is a simple electric motor which locks down when it is closed.

To activate and open the gate, the motor can receive radiofrequency signals from authorised remotes linked using a specific sequence of presses with the gate motor in its unlocked position.

The inherent risk with a simple motor-remote system is that a resident’s remote can be stolen, lost or handed over to an outsider with insider information on specific homes.

Many complexes also have a separate point of access for pedestrians — typically a narrow gate or turnstile.

Pedestrian entry gates can also be fitted with electronic locks that open with a remote.

Previously these gates may have been unlocked using a physical key, which is even more susceptible to exploitation.

In addition to being stolen, lost, or handed over, physical keys can be duplicated easily and given to an outsider who is not supposed to have access to the complex.

Unless the complex also has a camera system, there is also no paper trail for what residents used the gate at a particular time.

Have a paper trail

One of the most efficient ways to counteract these possibilities is to implement an accountability or “blame” system.

Advanced smart gate motors, like those provided by the well-known South African firm Centurion Systems (Centsys), offer additional “connected” functionality to assist with this.

Firstly, they have the ability to link up with a mobile phone when in their unlocked state.

In addition to loading users’ remotes, authorised members of the corporate body can use the Centsys Pro app to link people’s numbers to the gate.

That gives them the ability to call the gate or use the Centsys Remote app to open it with a tap.

The big benefit of such a system is that it can keep track of what remote or cellphone number was used to trigger a gate opening.

This information can be backed up to the cloud for future reference and evidence-keeping.

Having residents use the particular gate motor’s mobile app to ping the gate may be preferable over both the remote and cellphone number options, particularly to reduce the risk of entry due to device theft.

The Centsys Remote app requires the user to enter a PIN or provide biometrics to open, providing an additional security barrier.

Negligent residents would also be more motivated to report their phone was stolen to the body corporate so that it can be removed from the system before criminals use it for unauthorised access.

Some complexes use electronic locks on these keypads with predefined or rotating codes assigned to particular units.

If these are connected to a system that can store their usage history, they can also act as a paper trail for access.

In addition to systems that can track what devices or users opened a gate at a particular time, those complexes with CCTV systems can augment them with AI-based analytics systems.

That could assist in flagging potential suspicious activity that would otherwise have gone unnoticed unless the cameras were monitored constantly.