So my boss says we need better security for the back office where the server room is and accounting stuff. Old lock is just a key, and like five people have copies? Which is bad if someone quits or loses it. Anyway, Steve (from IT, kinda paranoid) is pushing hard for one of those fingerprint lock things. Sounds cool, right? Sci-fi vibes. No keys! Until…
First problem: fingerprints. Mine are kinda messed up from all that rock climbing years ago. Scars. Also, Janice in HR got a bad burn last year cooking – her thumb print is a blob now. So immediately, we got two people who might not work with the fancy lock. Not great. Then there’s delivery guys needing access to the storage closet behind there? How do they sign in? Temp code? But codes can be shared or whatever. Security nightmare maybe. Or greasy fingers! Pizza Friday ends at 2 PM usually, but sometimes late. You try unlocking with saucy hands. The scanner just fails. Like constantly. Waste of time standing there wiping fingers on your pants.
Batteries. Ugh. Why does everything need batteries now? The fingerprint scanner door lock system especially. They say it lasts months, but what if it dies at 6 PM on a Friday? Who checks that? Poor Geoff would have to come fix it. Geoff lives 45 minutes away and hates weekends work. And the door is physically locked then? Or does it fail-open? Fail-open is worse, probably. Unlocked server room! Ahh! Fail-closed means nobody gets in until Geoff arrives. Lose-lose.
Installation looked messy. Watched a Youtube video. Needs wiring? Drilling into the metal frame? Our building manager is super picky about modifying doors. Says insurance requirements blah blah. Probably need to hire someone certified, which adds $$$$ Steve didn’t budget for. Oh, and humidity. Our AC broke for a week last July – the hallway was like a sauna. Saw online reviews that say high moisture messes with fingerprint scanners. Can we guarantee it works when we get that weird humid summer day?
So… is it worth it? Maybe for like, James Bond’s secret lair, but a regular office? It seems more secure on paper – unique fingerprints! But practically… lots of headache potential. Glitches, human error, environmental junk, battery drama. Maybe a simple keypad with codes you change often is actually easier? Or even swipe cards? Cards get lost too, sure. Honestly, might just stick with keys and keep better track of who has copies. Simpler. Probably. Now where did I put my keys again…