How we help
Upgrade to high-security hardware selected for your door and key-control needs. Compare cylinder options, authorized key duplication and the fit of the complete lock.
Common situations
- Ground-floor apartment door facing the street
- Keys being copied without permission
- Previous lock picked or bumped open
- Co-op board requiring restricted keys
What the service includes
- 01The door, frame and existing locks are checked to decide between a new cylinder in your current lock or a complete high-security lock.
- 02The options (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy and others) and how their key control works are explained, so you choose the right level.
- 03The cylinder or lock is installed, with a hardened cylinder guard or reinforced strike where the door needs it.
- 04Key control is set up: a key card or registration, the number of keys you get, and who is authorized to order more.
- 05The lock is tested with every key, and the bolt is confirmed to throw fully into a reinforced strike.
Typical time: 30-90 minutes on site
Options
- Medeco
- Angled key cuts rotate chisel-tipped pins plus a sidebar; strong key control, used in residential and commercial buildings.
- Mul-T-Lock
- Telescopic pin-in-pin stacks; popular on steel apartment doors in mortise and rim formats.
- Abloy Protect2
- Rotating discs with no springs; very high pick resistance.
- Complete high-security deadbolt
- For houses where the existing deadbolt is weak, a full lock with a reinforced strike.
High-security hardware
Compatibility and limits
- No lock is pick-proof; high-security cylinders make attacks far slower and harder.
- A strong cylinder does not help a weak door or frame.
- Extra keys require the key card or registration and an authorized dealer.
- Some co-ops require cylinders on a specific building keyway.
What makes a lock high-security?
Read the answer
A high-security lock adds layers that standard pin-tumbler locks do not have. Medeco uses angled cuts on the key that rotate chisel-tipped pins into the correct position, plus a sidebar that only drops when every pin is both lifted and rotated correctly. Mul-T-Lock uses telescopic pin-in-pin stacks that must each be lifted to two different shear lines. Abloy Protect2 uses rotating discs with no springs at all, which makes it highly resistant to picking.
These cylinders also include hardened steel inserts and anti-drill pins to slow down drilling, and many are tested to UL 437, a standard for resistance to picking, drilling and forcing. Ask to see the rating on any lock sold as high-security.
The other half is key control. High-security keys use patented or restricted blanks, so copies can only be made by an authorized dealer on the registered owner's request. That keeps your key list under your control.
Common questions
Can high-security keys be copied?
Only by an authorized dealer for the registered key holder, usually with a key card. Standard hardware stores cannot cut most restricted high-security keys.
Are high-security locks pick-proof?
No lock is completely pick-proof. Brands like Medeco, Mul-T-Lock and Abloy are designed to make picking, bumping and drilling far harder and slower than on standard locks, which is what deters most attacks.
Can a high-security cylinder match my building's master key system?
Sometimes. It depends on the system and who controls it, so check with your managing agent about which cylinders and keyways are approved.
How many keys come with a new high-security cylinder?
It varies by brand and package, often two or three keys. Extra keys are cut by an authorized dealer for an additional fee.
What is a UL 437 rating?
UL 437 is a test standard for key locks that measures resistance to picking, drilling and forced entry. A lock listed to it has passed those attack tests.
What if I lose my high-security key card?
Contact the dealer who installed the lock. Proving ownership without the card may take extra steps, which is part of the system's security.
Are high-security locks worth the cost?
Read the answer
They are worth it if key control matters (many past tenants, contractors, or staff with keys), if you live on a ground floor or in a building with frequent package traffic, or if your current lock has already been tampered with.
They are not a substitute for a solid door and frame. A thin hollow-core door with a weak frame will fail before the lock does. Start by checking the door and strike, then upgrade the cylinder.
Keep the key card or registration in a safe place. Without it, ordering extra keys can be difficult, because that is exactly the point of a restricted system.