As a property manager or community association, you have to constantly be concerned with the safety of your tenants. Luckily, with all the advances in technology, control of community safety is becoming easier and easier.

We recently read an article on flcaj.com about the role of technology in community control and have summarized some of the major points.

Here are a few ways to use technology to make your community a safer place to live:

1. Common Area Access: Many common areas such as pools and clubhouses are controlled by lockable gates and doors, but this can pose some problems. The most common issue with these ares is that with keys, you can't control when someone has access to the area. Your pool may close at 9, but u
   nless you have someone keeping guard at all hours, anyone with a key can enter whenever they want. Another common problem with keys is that they are often easily duplicated, so people who dont even live in your association, whether they moved out or are a friend of a tenant, have the ability to get a copy and access the private area. A solution to these problems is a card access system that can be designed to best fit your needs. Card keys are easily tracked and can be assigned to specific homeowners. You can limit access with these cards so that they will only work during specific hours of the day and also easily deactivate them for residents who move out.
2. Vehicular Access Systems: One common way of allowing access to vehicles is through the use of keypad codes. Keypad codes are useful when vendors are involved, but the major problem with them is that they can easily be spread by word of mouth. Many communities do not change codes as often as they should and lack of maintenance can lead to headaches due to an unnecessary amount of system codes. Using gate cards and remotes to give to residents instead of a code is a great way to avoid these problems but make sure to keep the system up to date when people change vehicles, move out or lose their device.

3. Cameras: Many associations use cameras, but not all of them use them to their full extent. These days, camera footage can be accessed almost anywhere with an internet connection. It's important to make sure cameras are in plain view, or to place signs that state there is a security system, to deter any bad behavior. Place cameras in busy areas and those that attract vandals so you an see who is entering your neighborhood and can access footage of an area if it is vandalized. Keep the recording device in a safe area and if possible, buy a DVR with a large hard drive to accommodate any additional cameras you may wish to add in the future.

Technology can go a long way in helping you make your community more secure, but only if utilized properly. Keep up to date with the latest technology to make sure you stay ahead of the game and keep your residents safe. Do your research before implementing any systems or use a reliable company to either manage your security or help you choose a system that best fits your needs.

What technological device have you adopted that has made the biggest impact in your community?