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Meet Rick Steger, Rick has been part of the access control and video surveillance industry for 30 years, working for both manufacturers as well as owning his own Manufacturer's Representative firm.  Most recently, he held a Regional Director position with ASSA ABLOY DSS. He brings a broad knowledge of all things access control - from software to electrified hardware. 

Rick will be focused on expanding the dealer network, aligning with our key technology partners, and increasing the Cansec presence in key vertical markets.  This focus on business development will further help Cansec to drive its new APP Based Access Control innovations through new and existing channels.

Rick can be reached at:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
T: (905) 820-2404 ext 233
M: (414) 510-7525
Direct: 414-338-8989

Meet Chrys Teo, Chrys is brand new to the world of access control, but is very excited to get started at Cansec and learn more about its role in the industry. Previous to joining Cansec, Chrys has held positions centred on customer service, internal and external communications, and social media management. 

Chrys will be focused on client relations, by providing support to our amazing sales team, and increasing Cansec’s online presence through social media platforms and online training.

Chryscan be reached at:
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T: (905) 820-2404 ext. 232
Direct: (226) 242-5269

Remember to help each other.

To our loyal Cansec customers,

As the impact of COVID-19 is felt across the world, we are reviewing all our operations with the objective of protecting our employees, clients and the general public with which we interact. We want to assure you that we continue to be committed to serving you with smooth and uninterrupted delivery of products and services.

Where required, we have implemented measures to mitigate risks to our staff, clients and the public and to maintain supply of this critical technology to our network of dealers and distributors.

Among other measures, we have:

It is projected that by 2022 there will be 80 billion IoT devices connected to the Internet.

This explosive growth projection is based on the exponential reduction in cost of the “things” as well as the cost of connecting them to the Internet.

However, this prediction overlooks one very important factor, the cost to support them.

If an IoT device sells to a consumer for $20, the manufacturer probably sold it to a wholesaler for $5. If they make millions, their cost might be $1.50. If the consumer needs support, who is going to provide it and who I going to pay for it? It will be the manufacturer.

Everyone understands the benefit of using access control to keep people out of sensitive areas where they don’t belong. But what about the risk posed by the people who are granted access to those areas? I would argue that they pose just as big a risk if not a bigger one. After all, they know where the high value goods are. If the goal is to protect critical infrastructure that would disrupt operation of the business if compromised, the folks you are letting in know exactly how to cause the maximum disruption.

If a disgruntled employee with access to this area knows they can come in overnight and do something nasty without being detected, they may be tempted to do so. However, if their access is audited with their credential ID number, date and time, they are far less likely to do anything that will get them fired and/or sent to jail.

While audit reports are rarely looked at when all is good, they are looked at scrupulously when things go wrong. Obviously, for this to be a deterrent, people need to know that access is being audited.

It has always been my opinion that 50% of an access control system’s benefit comes from keeping people out who don’t belong. The other 50% comes from keeping the trusted folks honest.

Operators of small to medium gyms often need to control physical access of their members using cards, fobs or smartphone credentials. Unlike regional or national chains, most are using basic gym management software which does not support access control panels. Historically, they have been required to use two separate systems: one for managing memberships and one for controlling access.

When you think of line of sight, you probably, and understandably, assume that if you could draw a straight line from one wireless device to the other with no obstructions, you have line of sight between the two devices. After all, Merriam-Webster defines line of sight as:

Integrator - "Hi. This is Bob with Tesla Security. I want to quote your ABC100 system for a project I am working on and I need to know how far the readers can be from the controllers."

Manufacturer - "Well that depends, Bob."

Integrator - "Of course it does. I understand. Assuming I use the cable that you recommend and run it correctly, what is the maximum distance?"

Manufacturer - "Well it could range from 30 feet to 300 feet. It depends on a lot of variable conditions at the site."

Integrator - "Exactly WHAT kind of conditions? The job is in Kimmirut in Nunavut and I am quoting the job from a set of floor plans."

Manufacturer - “Things such as the ambient RF noise and the thickness and construction of the interposing walls and floors must be considered.”

Integrator - "How the heck am I supposed to know ANY of those things without going to the site and spending DAYS doing a site survey? And what's more, the facility hasn’t even been built yet! I need you to give me the exact number of feet that the reader can be from the controller so I can submit my quote by noon today!"

Manufacturer - "I would love to do that Bob but I just can't. It depends. Is there anything else I can help you with today?"

Integrator - "Goodbye!"

If you are currently installing card access control systems and are looking for better profits and recurring revenue, you may want to consider becoming a  Cansec Cloud Lock Partner.

Cloud Lock is a true SaaS (Security as a Service) access control solution consisting of MAP1 access control panels connected to the Cloud Lock server which is hosted at an IBM data centre in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Since there is only one instance of the Cloud Lock software, every user always has the latest version. The system is managed via web browser from a desktop, tablet or smart phone.  The service is subscription based and very competitively priced. MAP1 (Modular Access Panel) controllers can be provisioned for 2 or 4 doors and can be upgraded easily in the field from 2 to 4 doors by simply purchasing an upgrade provisioning code. 

Cloud Lock Partner Benefits 

• Same profit on equipment and installation as conventional systems
• No software to install
• No static panel IPs to be assigned
• No firewall port forwarding to configure
• Cloud Lock Partners share in ongoing subscription fees.  As systems grow, your revenues grow whether add-ons are done by you or others
• MAP1 controllers can be provisioned for 2 or 4 readers - pay only for what you need
• Easier to sell than conventional client/server solutions
• Support your clients from anywhere via browser – no software required
• No sign-up stocking requirements
• No minimum annual sales volumes
• To retain your Cloud Lock Partner status all you need to do is sell one new subscription per year

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a Cloud Lock Partner, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line “Cloud Lock Partner”.  Please include your contact info as well as your company web site address.  On receipt we will email you the whole exciting story, including pricing.

Even though the people in famine ravaged areas are far away, their suffering is real and cannot be ignored.  Yesterday the federal government announded that they are matching all donations,  I decided today to donate $500 on behalf of Cansec and challenge all our suppliers and customers to help support this cause.

In the begining, not to sound biblical, access control manufacturers published specific card reader and carholder capacities.  Life was good.  Sixteen readers and 1,000 cardholders.  The competition would be compelled to better these capacities and would release a system which doubled or tripled the card reader and cardholder capacities.  The spec war which ensued saw these claimed capacities grow by leaps and bounds.  Until a marketing genius somewhere came up with the idea of claiming "unlimited" card reader and cardholder capacity.

I have been involved in the design of card access control systems for close to 40 years.  Being a very simple, old fashioned  person, I established capacities of new systems by testing them under real and simulated loads and capacities.  Sometimes we found that, although a system was theoretically capable of handling say, 512 card readers, with 65,000 cardholders each using their cards several times every hour with many operators all concurrently managing cardholders and running reports, performace suffered badly.  We either found a way to make it perform better or we rolled back the claimed capacities.

Now, most new access control systems are claiming to support an unlimited number of card readers and an unlimited number of cardholders.  I can't help but wonder how they are testing these new systems?

You have probably noticed the tag line "Cutting edge simplicity" on every piece of product literature we produce.  It is also on all Cansec business card and is a registered trade mark in North America.  Ongoing advances in technology make it possible to develop products with ever increasing functionality.  There is a huge temptation to keep adding anciliary functions to new products to fully exploit the capability of the latest technology.  The key word here is "anciliary".  We have all experienced the frustration of using a product where it's primary functions are burried under a smothering layer of anciliary functions which will likely never be used.  "Cutting edge simplicity" is not just a tag line at Cansec, it is the guiding principle behind everything we do. - Fred Dawber CSO (Chief Simplification Officer)

Which is best?  A two reader access control panel or a four reader access control panel?

Answer: YES

If you need two readers, a two reader controller is best.  If you need four readers, a four reader controlller is best.

The MAP1 Modular Access Panel provides a simple solution to this problem.  A standard MAP1 can be provisioned for two readers or four readers.  The MSRP when provisioned for two readers is $1,083  When provisioned for four readers the MSRP is $2,000.  You can even upgrade a two door MAP1 to a four door MAP1 in the field for MSRP $1,000 - no additional controller hardware required.  Simply load the new provisioning code into the MAP1 and you are done.

In addition to being provisioned for the number of readers supported, the MAP1 can be provisioned to work with Cansec's Cloud Lock subscription based service or Cansec's First Access software (a traditional client/server solution.

With the magic of provisioning, one size does fit all.

You know how some days everything goes great and other days nothing seems to be going your way. We all have bad days occasionally. Like perhaps you are installing one of Cansec’s controllers and you happen to drop the circuit board. The law of Selective Gravity dictates that it will fall on the corner and break.

Or maybe, in spite of your highly honed installation skills, a stray piece of wire shorts out a track or two on a circuit board resulting in its demise.

With everyone else’s product, that honest mistake will cost you. But now, with Cansec’s Oops Warranty, your day will be a bit brighter because we have your back. Just let us know that you are sending back a product under the Oops Warranty, give us an Oops PO for the replacement product and we will send you an advance replacement. We will even pick up the standard shipping costs. When we receive the broken product, we will issue a credit against the Oops PO.

The Oops Warranty only applies to Cansec manufactured products and is valid for 30 days from the date the product was shipped. It goes into effect August 1, 2015.

And don’t forget, Cansec manufactured products still carry an industry leading 5 year warranty.

One subject which ALWAYS comes up when discussing access control at schools is the issue of emergency lockdown. The image is of a big red button which, when pressed, will lock all or select controlled access doors.
 
Sounds simple doesn’t it? Turns out it is a big nasty can of worms.

INTRODUCTION

There is a rapidly growing emphasis on workplace safety being driven by regulatory bodies such as OSHA in the USA and the Canada Labour Code. In addition, the introduction of Bill C-45 in Canada established new legal duties for workplace health and safety, and imposes serious penalties for violations that result in injuries or death.

The unrestricted use of dangerous machinery on the shop floor constitutes a significant liability issue for employers as evidenced by a $190K fine paid by Walmart in August 2013 for, amongst other things, “unsafe trash compactor procedures”. Under the settlement, trash compactors must remain locked while not in use, and may not be operated except under the supervision of a trained manager or other trained, designated monitor.

Clearly, hanging a sign on a piece of dangerous shop floor equipment which says “To be used by authorized personnel only” is not adequate.

Access systems have been used for many years to manage physical access to restricted areas. However, they can also provide a cost effective means of insuring that dangerous machinery is only used by trained and authorized operators.