by Brianna Crandall — April 29, 2019 — Southco, a globally recognized provider of engineered access hardware solutions, recently introduced its Modular H3-EM Electronic Locking Swinghandle, which offers secure access and real-time data monitoring for data center servers, industrial enclosures, secure storage, and medical equipment cabinets — with no cuts or perforations needed. The Security Industry Association (SIA) named the electronic handle as the 2019 winner of the SIA New Product Showcase Award in the Network Support Solutions category at last month’s ISC West converged security trade show in Las Vegas.
Modular H3-EM Electronic Locking Swinghandle offers secure access and real-time data monitoring for data center servers, secure storage, medical equipment — with no cuts or perforations. Image courtesy Southco
In regards to the data center server application, Southco notes that as more personal information is being created and stored in data centers around the world, the risks and costs of data breaches continue to rise. Government and industry regulations are constantly evolving, requiring increased physical security not only at the building level, but also on the server cabinet doors. According to the company, available cabinet locking solutions typically require a unique cutout in the cabinet door that makes installing into existing cabinets very challenging, and in many cases prohibitive. These solutions also reportedly lack sensing capability to provide adequate data monitoring of real-time conditions.
Southco’s Modular H3-EM Electronic Locking Swinghandle consists of an efficient, microprocessor-controlled handle module along with a selection of single-factor and dual-factor authentication access control reader modules. Options include PIN (personal identification number) pad or multi-frequency RFID (radio-frequency identification, or wireless) card reader as well dual-factor authentication options of PIN pad/RFID and Fingerprint/RFID.
Utilizing a standard Wiegand output, the H3-EM Swinghandle can easily integrate into third-party Physical Access Control Systems (PACS), says Southco. Integrated sensors and LEDs (light-emitting diodes) provide feedback for real-time status monitoring of the electronic lock, handle and access control reader, while its flexible assembly allows for easy installation into most existing cabinets without cutting or drilling.
Mike Fahy, commercial product manager, Electronic Access Solutions, Southco, remarked:
The cabinet locking solutions available on the market today have limited options for user authentication and don’t offer an upgrade path when security requirements change. Southco’s Modular H3-EM Electronic Locking Swinghandle enables various single and multifactor access control reader modules to meet different security requirements, and provides real-time data monitoring of electronic lock status, handle status and the access control reader module itself.
For more information about the H3-EM — Electronic Locking Swinghandle options available, visit the Southco website.
