Access control

A door handle with an integrated keypad lets you open the door by entering a PIN on the handle. No conventional cylinder needs to be visible on the outside. You can set several codes, for example for residents and cleaning staff, and change them easily without replacing the cylinder or keys. For interior and connecting doors, this offers an elegant solution: secure keyless access in a streamlined design suited to European interior doors.

A smart cylinder replaces your conventional cylinder with an electronic version with a card reader. You open the door with a badge or card instead of a mechanical key. Access rights are configured centrally: you can programme, revoke or reuse badges without having to replace cylinders. This is particularly useful for apartments, offices and small businesses that need to manage multiple users and doors without installing a fully wired system.

ASSA ABLOY offers slim electronic security hardware with an integrated reader that can be combined with a SMARTair cylinder in the same door. A single badge can operate both the external door hardware and the cylinder, or be used on several doors within the same system. Combining security hardware, a multipoint lock and an electronic cylinder provides both burglary resistance and convenient badge-based management. It is ideal for front doors, apartment buildings and business premises with higher security requirements.

App-controlled smart locks, such as Nuki, Mul-T-Lock ENTR and Linus by ASSA ABLOY, let you unlock and lock your door using your smartphone via Bluetooth and, with a bridge, via Wi-Fi and the internet. You receive notifications when someone enters and can send digital keys to family members, guests or service providers and revoke them at any time. These solutions fit existing European profile cylinders, often integrate with smart-home and video door entry systems, and suit people who travel frequently or want to manage their home securely from a distance.

Larger buildings, owners’ associations and businesses can use networked access control with online wall readers and door controllers. The reader is installed beside the door and controls an electric strike, motorised lock or multipoint lock. Access rights are managed centrally in software: you decide which doors each user may access and at what times, with clear activity logs. Systems from brands such as SALTO, ASSA ABLOY, Paxton and DOM suit entrance doors, garages, gates and shared areas where many users and doors need to be managed together.

RFID systems use contactless cards and key fobs that you simply hold against a reader to open the door. Each card or tag is unique and can be created, blocked or replaced in seconds. This makes them particularly suitable for shared homes, offices, coworking spaces, professional practices and short-term rentals. Instead of making copies of keys, you manage access centrally through badges carried on a keyring or in a wallet.

Cloud-based access control is available for larger buildings or multiple sites. All doors, readers and users are managed centrally through a web portal or app: you configure zones, schedules and roles, see who enters where in real time and change permissions immediately. The system can connect to alarms, surveillance cameras and sometimes HR or visitor software, allowing access rights to follow staff arrivals and departures automatically. Brands widely used in Europe, such as SALTO, ASSA ABLOY, DOM and Paxton, combine online control with local intelligence so doors continue to operate securely during a temporary internet outage.

Biometric locks use unique characteristics, such as a fingerprint or facial recognition, to grant access. There is no key, card or code to remember: a touch or scan is enough. Recognition data is compared with profiles stored in the system, and many systems keep a log of access attempts. This is particularly useful for people who want a high level of security and fast, intuitive access without carrying an additional device.