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Digital safes aren’t a gimmick; they provide real value, convenience, and high-end security. These safes, unlike traditional models, provide users with a better interface to access the safe and even provide reports on breach attempts.
Safes have come a long way from the simple lock and key system. Today, you will find several types of high-security safes that provide a range of smart features such as alarm integration, remote access, and logging.
However, that doesn’t mean that traditional safes are going extinct! Both safes have room in the modern world, and choosing between them requires careful consideration of your needs and expectations.
Read on to find out all about mechanical vs digital safes and how they stack up to each other:
MECHANICAL SAFES VS. DIGITAL SAFES
Security safes have been around for centuries. Older safes were made of wood and were secured with a locking mechanism that resembled pin-tumbler locks found in modern safes.
These safes provided a convenient way to store valuables and keep them from theft. It’s hard to imagine, but safe designs have remained more or less the same. It’s only that the materials used to construct the safes have changed.
That’s right, you will still find simple tumbler lock-based safes in today’s security market. They still exist because they simply work! They do not need much maintenance, and if you get a good quality safe from a reputable supplier, you can be sure to get years or decades worth of use out of it.
However, modern technology has allowed for a whole new range of safes. Digital safes are no slouch, and they work just as well, if not better, than traditional, mechanical safes.
Safes with electronic locks and biometric authentication were introduced to enhance both security and convenience. They are equipped with enhanced capabilities to cater to the advanced security needs of the modern user.
Digital safes offer benefits such as remote monitoring, real-time alarms, and smartphone integration.
They can also be connected to other smart devices in a smart home for a more interconnected experience and comprehensive security.
In recent years, digital safes have become increasingly popular because they provide all the benefits of traditional safes plus features that add convenience.
Let’s go over the pros and cons of both:
Mechanical Safes (Dial / Key Locks)
Mechanical safes are the ones that you may have already seen. They are simple in design and provide reliable security.
These safes provide long-term reliability and have mechanical locks that have been used for decades in high-security applications.
They do not require batteries, they do not have electronics or software, and they are not power dependent.
Mechanical safes are extremely low-maintenance since they have very few components that can fail.
This makes them suitable for businesses storing cash, documents, valuables, or items accessed infrequently.
Furthermore, since they are not electronic, you do not have to worry about hackers. They have no keypads, circuit boards, or software-related issues that can affect modern digital safes.
However, there are also a few known trade-offs of these safes.
The biggest trade-off is that they are slower to access. Mechanical safes are large, clunky pieces of metal. They require users to carefully enter a combination manually. If you go with a key and lock system, then your access entirely depends on your possession of the key.
If you lose your key, you are likely going to be locked out until a replacement can be made.
This makes them less convenient, and even if you were to reset the safe, you would require specialist assistance.
All these things translate to a poor user experience, especially if the safe is to be accessed by multiple users.
For example, in the office setting, these traditional safes are not ideal when several employees need individual access at different times.
Digital / Electronic Safes (Keypad, Biometric, Smart Locks)
Digital safes are all the rage due to their added convenience and security. These safes have a whole list of benefits.
The biggest benefit being that they are incredibly fast to access. Keypad safes, for example, are designed to only require a quick PIN entry, which makes them suitable for frequent use.
These safes also provide better access management and enable multiple users to access the safe using separate codes. By using separate codes, you can know exactly who used the safe and when they accessed it.
Of course, since these safes use PIN identification, they can also be reset easily. This can come in handy when employees leave or when you want to change access permissions.
Higher-end models take it up a notch by providing even more features. Things like logging, time delays, user tracking, and biometric access add to the overall security of the safe.
This also helps users establish audit trails that can help them identify security threats easily.
Apart from fast access times, time delay and user tracking are perhaps one of the primary benefits of digital safes. You can set the interface to only be accessible during certain times. You can also set conditions where users can only access the safe after a specific amount of time has passed.
Since the safe is accessed using individual codes and is protected by time delays, you can know exactly who accessed the safe and track their interactions with the safe, making them indispensable in the office and home setting.
There is a catch, though!
Since these safes use electronics, they are power-dependent. They require batteries that need replacing. Quality safes usually provide warnings and emergency options in the event of power failures, but they still are dependent on power to work properly.
Being electronic, there is also a risk of failure. While rare, these systems can develop faults in the keypad, circuit boards, and locking mechanism. This makes these safes also dependent on routine inspections and maintenance.
The biggest downside of digital safes is that the market is full of cheap models that may look reliable but can be highly misleading.
A modern keypad does not automatically translate to better security since the safe’s body, its structure, materials, locking bolts, and certifications all need to be based on industry standards for the safe to be reliable.
Here is a breakdown of both digital and mechanical safes:
| Mechanical safe | Digital safe | |
| Long-term reliability | Excellent | Good, but only with reputable systems |
| Speed of access | Slower | Faster/Instant |
| Batteries required | Not required | Always required |
| Multiple users | Limited and slow access | Quick and easy access with tracking |
| Code changes | Difficult | Easy |
| Maintenance | Rarely requires maintenance | Requires occasional maintenance and inspection |
| Best for | Home/small offices | Home, Businesses, Places that require high-end security |
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SAFE
Don’t know which safe to get? Here’s a handy guide to help you:
We recommend that you go with mechanical safes when:
- The safe is only opened occasionally
- Long-term reliability and safety are the priority
- Few people require access
- Security is a bigger factor than quick access and convenience
On the other hand, you can choose a digital safe when:
- Staff members need access at different times
- The safe is opened frequently by different people
- Codes need regular updating
- Speed and accountability matter
- There is a need for logging and auditing
For commercial use, a certified safe with a high-quality electronic lock offers the best balance of security and convenience for most users.
However, the type of safe is only half of the story; the other half is choosing the right security grade and installation, not just the type of lock on the safe.
INSTALLATION OF DIGITAL AND TRADITIONAL SAFES
Typically, you may think that purchasing the safe is the only step needed to secure your belongings. However, it is the first step in a series of tasks that you must complete to completely secure your possessions.
Here is how a typical safe installation goes:
Choosing a Certified Safe
If you are going for safe shopping yourself and have no prior experience in security technologies, then we recommend that you leave the procurement to the professionals.
Reputable companies like Calder Security provide multiple solutions under one roof. They can not only help you secure a compliant and standardised safe that is certified for various environments, but they can also properly install it.
A reputable company can help you pick the right safe for your needs by consulting with you. They can figure out your expectations from the safe and the layout of your home/business.
They can then determine the best safe for your individual needs without you having to go through the trial-and-error process.
Installing the Safe
Safe installation may seem easy, but it requires a professional touch. Even simple standing safes require careful placement by professionals.
Companies like Calder Security use industry-standard practices to install safes in a way that enhances security. They survey the premises to find the right spot for the safe, where it is not entirely visible to everyone but easily accessible.
For wall-mounted or integrated safes, professionals will fit the safe within the structure of the premises. This requires a lot of knowledge and experience because messing up a dimension or not bolting the safe correctly can cause problems in the future.
If you are going with digital safes, then a security consultant will personally configure the safe to your needs and generate the access codes needed. They can also help configure the software, update firmware, and diagnose issues during the installation phase.
After Sales
Safes rarely require attention. Even in the case of digital safes, you don’t need to revisit the mechanics of the safe.
Both safes require minimal maintenance. However, in the case of digital safes, you may require the safe to be inspected occasionally for battery issues.
This is where after-sales support comes in. When you have a certified safe installed by a professional company like Calder Security, you get peace of mind like no other.
After-sales support staff take care of all the maintenance activities. They will call you instead of you asking for them during planned inspections.
Compared to cheaper safes, this service is a godsend. Most self-installations of cheaper safes don’t offer this benefit, and if a problem does arise, you will have to deal with it yourself and remain locked out of the safe until the issue is resolved.
SMART SAFES
Smart safes are a sub-category of digital safes. These safes take security up a notch by integrating with the alarm system in your home or office.
Smart safes are designed to plug right into the security ecosystem in the premises and even offer connectivity with smart home security systems and voice assistants.
When integrated with burglar alarms, these safes can trigger the alarm when movement is detected near the safe.
If the safe is still accessed, a signal can be sent out to the Access Control System in the premises to lock the burglars inside.
Smart safes provide a better audit trail because they log who accessed the safe at different times during the day. They do this by relying on biometric or code-based authentication.
This log can then be sent over the internet, directly to your phone, where you can be notified of access to the safe.
Some safes even have a built-in camera inside the chamber, which enhances accountability. This way, you can know who is accessing the safe and their interactions with the valuables inside.
However, these safes are technically vulnerable to digital threats such as hackers. This is why you should always go with certified safes.
Uncertified safes use legacy connectivity protocols that may have several vulnerabilities. Thankfully, newer and standardised smart safes use advanced security protocols, firewall protection, and end-to-end encryption to ensure that the safe is accessed by only authorised people.
We recommend that you only procure smart safes from reputable companies like Calder Security, which can not only help you pick the right digital safe for your needs but also install and configure the safe to provide maximum reliability and convenience.
CONTACT CALDER SECURITY
We, at Calder Security, are members of the Master Locksmith Association (MLA) and are familiar with a wide range of safes, cash boxes, and strong boxes. Our SSAIB-approved contractors can help you assess your security needs and recommend a suitable safe perfect for your requirements.
We offer professional safe installation services to not only prevent theft and fire damage but also ensure that the safe is secured in place properly, cannot be removed, and is not in danger of falling or damaging anything.
We also offer safe opening services since misplacing the keys, forgetting the code, or failure of the safe itself can all lead to the contents of the safe being inaccessible. By design, of course, safes are very difficult to access in these circumstances, and you need a professional safe engineer to do it for you. Our Calder specialists can open most safes and restore them to full working order afterward.
When you need to relocate or remove your safe entirely, you can count on us to carry out the job with ease. In addition to that, our professional safe repair and maintenance services ensure that your safes are always in optimal health, providing you with the best security.
Contact us here or call us at 0800 612 9799 to talk to our security professionals for more information on mechanical and digital safes, and how to choose the right one for your security needs.
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