TL;DR
Most property managers assume managed access control means calling Datawatch™ or Kastle™. Not so fast. Secom delivers fully managed access control for commercial properties and property management portfolios — credential management, 24/7 monitoring, cloud-based remote access, and AI-driven intelligence through Secom AWARE — on open, non-proprietary architecture that protects your investment and keeps costs competitive. You have more options than you think.
Managed access control needs? You don’t have to call Datawatch™ or Kastle™.
For years, these managed system giants have been synonymous with the service — to the point that many property managers are genuinely mystified when they find out other players are even in the game. After all, if you need to blow your nose, you reach for a Kleenex, right?
That’s a paper-thin premise, don’t you think?
The truth? Technology has opened the managed access control market to providers who can deliver the same fully managed experience as the household names, with greater flexibility, built-in intelligence, and better value. And Secom is leading the charge.
What Managed Access Control Actually Does
Many professionals understand access control at a surface level: it controls who gets into which doors, and when. What they may not realize is how much more a fully managed system can do — and how much the management layer changes the day-to-day experience of running a commercial property.
At its core, managed access control means the provider handles the administration of the system — so you don’t have to. In practice, that includes:
- Adding and removing cardholders as tenants move in and out, employees change, and contractors come and go
- Managing access schedules, permission levels, and credential databases across all spaces and entry points
- Generating access activity reports and maintaining audit trails for tenant disputes and incident investigations
- Monitoring for alarms, malfunctions, and unusual activity around the clock
- Troubleshooting and resolving technical issues — remotely or on-site
But modern managed access control goes further than credential administration. Connected to video surveillance and AI-driven behavioral analytics, it becomes a platform that understands patterns, surfaces anomalies, and gives property managers and their security teams a level of intelligence that a basic card reader system simply can’t provide.
That depth is where the provider conversation really begins — because not every managed access control provider delivers all of it.
The Assumed Default — and Why It Shouldn’t Be
Datawatch™ and Kastle™ have earned their market positions. The former brings nearly 40 years of commercial real estate access control experience and a client list that includes major property management firms across the country. Kastle™ built a robust managed security-as-a-service platform covering access control, visitor management, and video surveillance for commercial and multifamily properties nationwide.
Both are credible, established providers.
Neither is the only option.
The managed access control market has matured to the point where providers with deep security expertise can deliver the same — and in some cases better — managed experience, with capabilities the large platforms don’t offer and pricing structures that don’t assume you’re managing a portfolio of fifty Class A office towers.
Defaulting to the most familiar names in the room is the same logic that kept organizations buying IBM hardware long after more efficient alternatives existed. Familiarity isn’t a differentiator. Service, flexibility, and value are.
What Property Managers Actually Need from a Provider
The managed access control decision comes down to a few practical questions that brand recognition doesn’t answer:
- How quickly does the provider respond to credential changes — same day, next business day, or when they get around to it?
- Can the system scale across multiple properties through one interface and be managed remotely?
- What happens when something malfunctions at 10 p.m. on a Friday?
- Is the platform built to evolve — integrating new capabilities as technology changes — or will it need to be replaced in five years?
- Is the architecture open, or will switching providers someday mean replacing infrastructure?
At Secom, credential changes are handled by our dedicated team on your timeline. Our cloud-based systems support multi-property management remotely from any device. Our 24/7 monitoring means someone is always available. Our open architecture platform is built to grow with your operation — not lock you into a replacement cycle.
Moving Forward with Secom
If your property management security decisions have defaulted to Datawatch™ or Kastle™ by habit rather than by evaluation, it’s worth taking a closer look at what Secom brings to the table — and what you may be paying for that you don’t have to.
Secom provides fully managed access control for commercial properties, building owners, and property management portfolios across all 50 states and internationally. Our open architecture platform, dedicated account relationships, 24/7 monitoring, and Secom AWARE integration deliver a managed access control experience that outperforms the assumed defaults — at a price that reflects the real competition that now exists in this market.
Contact our team today to learn more — or schedule a free vulnerability site assessment to see where your current access control setup stands.
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FAQs
What is managed access control?
Managed access control is a service model in which a security provider handles the administration of an access control system on behalf of a property owner or manager. This includes adding and removing users, managing credentials and access schedules, maintaining databases, generating reports, and providing 24/7 monitoring and support — so property managers don’t have to manage the system themselves.
How is managed access control different from standard access control?
Standard access control provides the technology — hardware, software, and credentials — but the property manager or building owner is responsible for administration. Managed access control adds a full service layer: the provider handles day-to-day administration, monitoring, and support, removing the operational burden from in-house staff entirely.
Why does the provider matter in a managed access control system?
In a managed model, the provider relationship determines the quality of day-to-day service — how quickly credentials are updated, how responsive support is, whether the system can adapt to changing requirements, and whether the platform uses open or proprietary architecture. Choosing the wrong provider locks property managers into a dependency they often don’t recognize until service quality becomes a problem.
Does Secom’s managed access control work across multiple properties?
Yes. Secom’s cloud-based access control systems support multi-property management through a single interface — with remote credential management, access reporting, and monitoring across all connected locations. Our National Accounts division serves property portfolios ranging from individual buildings to large multi-site operations.