Access Control and Security Systems
Access control and security systems manage who can enter buildings, units, bedrooms and amenities, using smart locks, key cards, mobile credentials, intercoms and gates. The category also covers cameras and monitoring for common areas and entries.
Guide updated Oct 29, 2026. Written for operators, with input welcome from people who do this work.
Why this matters
Student housing runs on bedroom-level locks, shared common areas and a full building of key or credential handoffs in a single week. Lost keys, guests and residents who move rooms mid-year are constant, so a system that is slow to re-key or reassign access becomes a security problem and a staffing drain.
When you need it
- Before move-in, when credentials for a full building need to be issued at once.
- When lost keys and re-keying costs keep adding up.
- After a security incident or a resident or parent complaint about safety.
- During a renovation or when existing hardware reaches the end of its service life.
Common challenges in student housing
- Bedroom-level locks add many more doors to manage than a conventional apartment.
- Residents moving rooms, guests and lost phones create constant access changes.
- Weak integration with property management software leaves access out of sync with leases.
- Battery replacement, network outages and hardware failures need a clear backup plan.
- Camera placement and footage retention raise privacy questions best reviewed with counsel and local rules.
What to look for
- Bedroom-level and unit-level access in one system, so each resident only opens their own room and shared spaces.
- Mobile or card credentials you can issue, change and revoke in bulk before move-in and after move-out.
- A clear integration with your property management software so access follows lease and room changes.
- Audit logs that show who entered which door and when, available to staff without a support ticket.
- A plan for lost phones, dead batteries and power or network outages, including how residents get in.
- Local installation and service coverage, with response times in writing for doors that will not lock.
- Total cost over time, including hardware, licensing, battery replacement and per-door or per-user fees.
How pricing usually works
- Hardware and installation are usually quoted per door or per project.
- Software is often a recurring license priced per door, per unit or per user.
- Monitoring, cloud video storage and service plans are commonly separate monthly charges.
- Replacement cards, fobs, batteries and service calls are often extra, so ask for a full cost over time.
How prices are usually structured, not what they cost. Actual prices vary by market, property and scope, so compare written proposals.
Questions to ask a supplier
- Can one system manage both bedroom and unit doors along with shared spaces?
- How do we issue, change and revoke credentials in bulk?
- How does your system integrate with our property management software?
- What happens when a resident's phone dies or the network goes down?
- Who services our doors locally, and what response times are in the contract?
- What are the total ongoing costs per door, including batteries and licensing?
Access Control and Security Systems suppliers 54
Pick your state in the filter to see companies that install and service in your market, plus nationwide providers. The "Mentions student housing" tag helps find companies with student work on their own site.
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Aiphone
Based in Redmond, WA · Mentions student housing
Makes video intercom and entry systems for multi-tenant apartment buildings, including remote unlocking, tenant directories and student housing applications.
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anywAIR
· Mentions student housing
Provides student housing and multifamily properties bulk internet, managed Wi-Fi, private resident networks and connectivity infrastructure.
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Boys Electrical Contractors
Serves FL · Mentions student housing
Installs electrical power, lighting, fire alarm and integrated technology systems for apartments and student housing.
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Brivo
Based in Bethesda, MD
Offers cloud access control, video and visitor management for apartment properties, syncing with property management systems for automatic credential changes.
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ButterflyMX
Serves IN · Mentions student housing
Makes video intercoms and cloud access control with a resident smartphone app for multifamily and student housing properties.
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Campus Technologies Inc.
Based in Philadelphia, PA · Mentions student housing
Designs, installs and manages wired and wireless internet networks and resident support for student housing communities.
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CBORD
Serves nationwide · Mentions student housing
Campus housing management and residence hall access control technology, including ResCenter housing software.
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Comelit USA
Serves nationwide
Video door-entry systems and intercoms for multi-apartment buildings, including apartment gateways and resident monitors.
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Design Electric, Inc.
Serves VA · Mentions student housing
Installs and renovates electrical power, lighting and generator systems for university student housing and apartment buildings.
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DOOR
Serves nationwide
Sells smart readers, intercoms, smart locks and a management platform integrated with property management software for multifamily operators.
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DoorKing
Based in Inglewood, CA · Mentions student housing
Manufactures telephone and video entry systems, gate operators and card readers, with solutions aimed at apartment complexes and college residence halls.
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dormakaba
Based in Indianapolis, IN
Maker of cloud-connected locks, readers, visitor management and the Lyazon access platform for multifamily buildings and apartment communities.
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Eagle Eye Networks
Based in Austin, TX
Provides cloud video surveillance used in apartment communities, with integrations alongside access control and intercom platforms.
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ECAM
Based in Addison, TX
Offers live remote video monitoring and talk-down speakers for multifamily communities, with property-specific protocols and police dispatch.
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Encore Electric, Inc.
Serves CO · Mentions student housing
Renovates student housing electrical distribution, emergency power and life-safety systems and services multifamily properties.
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Exact Electric
Serves WA · Mentions student housing
Installs electrical, fire alarm, access control and structured cabling systems for multifamily apartments and student housing.
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Extreme1 Electric
Serves TX · Mentions student housing
Designs, installs and maintains electrical and low-voltage systems for multifamily apartments and student housing.
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Flock Safety
Serves nationwide
Camera-based security and license plate recognition solutions for apartment and residential communities.
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Gate Sentry
Based in Southlake, TX
Provides visitor management and phone-based entry software for staffed and unmanned gates, including multifamily communities.
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Gatewise
Based in Houston, TX
Provides cloud-based gate and door access control with a resident app and property management software integrations for multifamily communities.
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GoKeyless
Based in Miamisburg, OH · Mentions student housing
Sells smart locks, access control hardware and intercoms with programming and training services for apartments and student housing.
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Great Valley Lockshop
Based in Malvern, PA · Mentions student housing
Locksmith and security contractor that installed card-access and smartphone-enabled locks in off-campus university housing in Pennsylvania.
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Hirsch Electric LLC
· Mentions student housing
Provides electrical new construction, renovations, lighting, telecommunications wiring and fire alarms for student housing and apartments.
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Huston Electric
Serves IN
Designs and installs power, lighting, security and fire-alarm systems for purpose-built student apartment communities.
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iApartments
Based in Tampa, FL
Provides smart locks, smart access control and self-guided tour tools with a manager dashboard and resident app for apartments.
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IES Residential, Inc.
Serves nationwide · Mentions student housing
Installs electrical, alarm and communications systems for apartments, condominiums and student housing construction.
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Johnson's Modern Electric Company, Inc.
· Mentions student housing
Constructs electrical and fire-alarm systems for student housing, dormitories and multifamily apartment projects.
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Kastle Systems
Based in Falls Church, VA
Provides managed access control, video security and a resident app for apartment buildings, with property management software integrations.
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KEYper Systems
Serves nationwide
Business-to-business electronic and mechanical key-control systems, including secure cabinets and audit trails for property management and multifamily facilities.
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KeyTrak
Serves nationwide · Mentions student housing
Electronic key and fob management, package tracking and work-order systems for multifamily and off-campus student housing communities.
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Latch
Based in New York, NY
Sells smart locks, door readers and a management platform with a resident app for apartment and mixed-use communities.
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LiftMaster
Serves nationwide
myQ Community cloud access controls for multifamily entrances, gates, residents and guest management.
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Merit Electric
Serves NV · Mentions student housing
Installs electrical, low-voltage and fire-alarm systems for multifamily apartments, university dormitories and privately owned student housing.
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Morse Watchmans
Serves nationwide · Mentions student housing
Electronic key control cabinets and KeyWatcher key management software for multifamily property management, campuses and residential buildings.
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myQ (Chamberlain Group)
Based in Oak Brook, IL · Mentions student housing
Sells connected access control, smart video intercoms and a community app for apartment and student housing properties.
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Nimbio
Based in Las Vegas, NV
Sells a cellular controller that adds smartphone access to existing apartment gates, call boxes and entry systems.
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OneQuext
Serves nationwide · Mentions student housing
Unified smart community platform combining multifamily access control, smart thermostats, leak alerts, managed internet and leasing technology.
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Over-All Electric LLC
Serves CO
Installs electrical systems, fire alarms and low-voltage cabling for new multifamily apartment buildings.
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ProdataKey (PDK)
Based in South Jordan, UT
Makes cloud access control with a Units feature that groups apartments and automates move-in and move-out access.
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Proxess
Serves nationwide · Mentions student housing
Electronic commercial access-control locks, mobile credentials, audits and remote programming.
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RemoteLock
Based in Denver, CO
Provides cloud access control for multifamily unit doors, common areas and gates with property management integrations and a resident app.
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Rently
Serves nationwide
Provides multifamily apartment communities self-guided tours, tour scheduling, identity verification and property wayfinding.
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RezApp
Serves nationwide
Electronic key control cabinets for multifamily communities with individual key tracking, installation, training and warranty.
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Rhombus
Based in Sacramento, CA
Sells cloud-managed cameras, access control and video intercoms with one console for multifamily property portfolios.
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Safe and Sound Security
Based in San Jose, CA
Installs gate access control, intercoms and cameras for apartment complexes and multi-tenant buildings, mainly in California.
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Salto Systems
Serves nationwide
Homelok residential electronic access control for multifamily properties, including mobile credentials and property access management.
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SmartRent
Serves nationwide · Mentions student housing
Sells smart-home and access control hardware and software for apartments, including digital credentials and automated move-ins for student housing.
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Swiftlane
Based in San Francisco, CA
Offers video intercoms, face and mobile credential readers, and a cloud dashboard for access control in multifamily buildings.
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Synergy Fiber
Serves nationwide · Mentions student housing
Designs, installs and manages Wi-Fi, network cabling and connected building systems for student housing and multifamily operators.
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Tour24
Serves nationwide
Provides apartment operators self-guided property tours with mobile access and tour scheduling.
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Verkada
Based in San Mateo, CA
Offers cloud cameras, license plate recognition, door access and visitor management for multifamily property portfolios.
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Zentra (Allegion)
Based in Carmel, IN
Allegion's multifamily access platform that manages Schlage locks and readers for resident units, common areas and amenity spaces.
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