Abloy UK realises access control regime for North of England water supplier

The water supplier serves 5.7 million individuals plus 140,000 businesses and has used Abloy mechanical locks across its estate for decades. Its infrastructure includes high-risk sites such as service reservoirs, which are typically located at elevated geographical points, as well as water treatment works, sample taps and pumping kiosks. Each of these sites play an important role in delivering clean and safe water for homes and businesses alike.

Given that it’s a highly regulated industry, the water sector must meet strict security requirements set by bodies such as the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the National Protective Security Authority.

Security concerns

One of the biggest security concerns for the water company is ensuring that only authorised personnel can access critical sites in parallel with the need to prevent any unauthorised key copying.

Although offering robust protection, traditional mechanical keys eventually pose a risk if those keys are lost or stolen. High-security key systems should use international patents to protect key blanks from uncontrolled copying and distribution, as replacing locks across such a vast network would be costly and operationally disruptive.

PROTEC2 CLIQ provides the ideal solution by integrating a patented mechanical system with an electronic access control platform. This ensures that even the mechanical element of the key is protected against copying, while enabling precise and real-time control over who can access each site.

Cyber security also presents an increasing risk, with concerns that individuals could attempt to manipulate the water supply by accessing control systems through physical entry points. If someone were to gain unauthorised access to a site, they could interfere with operations by tampering with valves, altering chemical dosing or otherwise disrupting supplies.

PROTEC2 CLIQ mitigates this risk by requiring multi-factor authentication as both the physical key and electronic authorisation are needed to gain entry. The system also provides a full audit trail, allowing the water company to monitor and track every access attempt in real-time, in turn further strengthening security.

Financial and reputational risks associated with a security breaches are another core concern. Failure to protect critical assets could result in heavy fines, operational shutdowns and loss of public trust. In an industry where service continuity is crucial, any disruption to water supply would require the company to provide alternative water sources, creating logistical and financial strain.

PROTEC2 CLIQ addresses this issue by offering a highly secure yet flexible access control system that not only protects infrastructure, but also improves operational efficiency, reducing the costs associated with lost keys and unnecessary site visits.

Maintaining compliance

Steve Wintle, head of critical infrastructure at Abloy UK, said: “Security risks in the water industry are constantly evolving, from physical threats through to cyber risks that could have devastating consequences for both operations and public safety. By implementing PROTEC2 CLIQ, this major water supplier now has a future-proof solution that protects its critical infrastructure, while also improving operational efficiency.”

Wintle added: “The combination of patented mechanical security with electronic access control ensures that every key is fully protected, access can be managed remotely and compliance with industry regulations is maintained.”

A spokesperson from the water supplier commented: “Working with Abloy UK in delivering this enhanced access management system has ensured that we have complete control of what areas colleagues can access. We also have full managerial oversight of the entire system, making it far easier for any counter-compromise action to be carried out if required.”

*Further information is available online at www.abloy.com