Locks

Locks are a physical security measure. They control who can reach a room, cabinet or device, so they can secure rooms, equipment and devices. Keeping a device behind a locked door also helps protect the data on it, because an unauthorised person cannot get to the device to take it or use it.

Manual locks

A manual lock uses a key or dial rather than electronics or an IT system. A padlock on a storage cupboard, or a dial lock on a cash box, makes theft more difficult by keeping the contents locked away. A thief must spend time breaking or picking the lock, which increases the chance of being noticed. For example, a youth theatre keeps its lighting controller in a locked cupboard, so a visitor cannot simply carry it away.

Door locks used with keys have drawbacks. A key might be duplicated, mislaid or taken by someone else, and a simple lock often leaves no record of who opened it and when. If a key goes missing or is taken, the lock may have to be replaced so the building stays protected. A door lock can also be bypassed or picked, so it slows down a determined intruder rather than stopping every one.

Electronic locks

An electronic lock checks an electronic credential, such as a keypad code, before it opens. It can be programmed to allow only authorised users or credentials, and access rights need careful management when they change. For example, a school keeps its server rack behind a keypad lock; the code is changed at the end of each term so only the current IT team can open it. The user must remember the code, and a code can be shared or guessed, so it should be changed if it is no longer private. Some electronic locks open with a card rather than a keypad code. The user must carry the card, and it can be damaged, lost, stolen or copied.