Memphis Business Owners: Who Still Has a Key?

Here's something worth thinking about if you own or manage a business around Memphis.

When an employee leaves, what happens to their building access?

When an employee leaves, who still has a key?

You might collect their keys, but what about their alarm code, electronic door card, key fob, keypad PIN, or even access through a phone app?

It's one of those little things that's easy to overlook when you're busy running a business. In the last month alone I've worked with prospective clients from real estate brokerage, retail, medical clinics, and transportation/freight who all shared this same challenge—East Memphis offices, Germantown storefronts, and shops farther into Collierville and Cordova.

And it's one reason more businesses across Shelby County are moving toward electronic access control instead of relying entirely on traditional keys.

Cards, fobs, PINs, and phones — what counts as a key now

In 2026, a "key" is usually a credential at a door reader, not a piece of brass. Memphis commercial doors typically use:

• HID-style proximity or iCLASS cards — the badge most offices already clip on.
• Key fobs — same radio credential, smaller, common for back doors and warehouses.
• PIN keypads — a code at the reader; easy to share, so each person should have their own.
• Mobile credentials — unlock from a smartphone when the panel supports it.
• The door hardware behind it — reader, electric strike or maglock, and the panel that logs the event.

When somebody leaves, you remove that one credential in software. You do not rekey every cylinder on a Midtown shop, a Downtown storefront, or a Collierville clinic.

What electronic access control actually changes

Here's where it gets interesting.

With modern access control, you can give each employee their own credential, decide which doors they can use, and even limit access to certain days or hours. When somebody leaves the company, you can simply deactivate their access rather than worry about getting a key back or changing locks.

Your access control, burglar alarm, and security cameras can actually work together

There's another benefit that I think a lot of smaller business owners would appreciate.

With platforms like Alarm.com, Brivo, and a few others, compatible systems can be managed through one cloud-based website or smartphone app. Smaller Memphis shops often land on Alarm.com; multi-door commercial suites more often use Brivo. Both can run HID-style cards and fobs at the reader.

That means you can check whether your alarm is armed, see who's entering the building, manage employee permissions, and review camera footage associated with door activity—all from the same platform.

Some systems can even automatically disarm the burglar alarm when an authorized employee uses their access card, fob, or phone to enter in the morning.

Think about a medical office in East Memphis, a retail shop in Germantown or Collierville, a warehouse off Germantown Parkway in Cordova, a Midtown studio, a Downtown storefront, or a nail salon in Bartlett with employees coming and going through a back entrance. Arlington and Lakeland offices run the same after-hours problem—just fewer doors.

Having one place to manage all of that can make everyday operations a whole lot easier.

Of course, the equipment needs to be compatible and properly configured. But you don't necessarily need a large building or dozens of employees to benefit. This is the work we do at MemphiSecurity: design, install, and service commercial access control with alarms and cameras for Greater Memphis businesses—not a gadget catalog, a way to know who opened the door after hours.

If you'd like to understand how these systems work together, reach out and we can see if this could make sense for you.

This weekend around Memphis

And speaking of our local businesses, there's plenty happening around Memphis this weekend—whether you're already in Midtown or Downtown, or driving in from Germantown, Collierville, or Cordova.

Saturday, October 24, brings two great opportunities to get out and enjoy the city.

• The Broad Avenue Art Walk runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring more than 65 artists and vendors, live music, and neighborhood businesses.
• Downtown, the Día de Muertos Parade & Festival begins at 11 a.m. at Court Square, followed by a free cultural celebration at the Halloran Centre from noon to 3 p.m.

Both events are free and family-friendly.

Get out, enjoy some Memphis culture, and support the folks who make our local business community what it is.

Common questions about employee access in Memphis

What should I do when an employee leaves?

Collect physical keys if you still use them, then deactivate that person's alarm code, electronic door card or fob, PIN, and any phone-app access. Electronic access control lets you turn off one credential without changing locks for everyone else.

Can the alarm, cameras, and doors share one app?

On compatible platforms such as Alarm.com and Brivo, many systems can be managed from one cloud site or smartphone app. Equipment has to match and be set up correctly.

Card, fob, PIN, or phone — what's the difference?

They all identify a person at the door reader. HID-style cards and fobs are the usual Memphis commercial badge. A PIN is typed at the keypad. A phone credential lives on a smartphone. The reader and lock hardware still have to be installed correctly.

Is this only for large buildings?

No. A medical office in East Memphis, a retail shop in Germantown or Collierville, a Cordova warehouse, or a nail salon in Bartlett with staff using a back door can benefit from one place to manage who can enter, and when.

Locksmith or security company?

Mechanical keys are locksmith work. Readers, HID cards, alarm tie-in, and camera events are security-system work—the kind we install and service at MemphiSecurity across Greater Memphis and Shelby County.

Have a great weekend and enjoy this fantastic Fall weather!