Selecting the correct access control platform is the most important first step when considering a system upgrade for your community. There are dozens of platforms available, each offering different features, pricing models, and user experiences. When working with a community association, I typically start by asking the following questions.

In this series we will showcase moments in history where decisions led to unintended consequences. Even though this series does not focus on security related items, it reveals that even the most well intentioned people can lead a community astray. Key Security Services understand the unique needs of community associations and businesses in southwest Florida and can help guide your property towards solutions that work and avoid your association being the next Great Moment in U

It’s a common concern in Florida communities: a camera goes up near the pool or clubhouse, and residents start asking—Is that legal? Can they record me on my porch or even through my windows? When it comes to community association cameras, especially those placed near homes, the line between security and privacy can feel blurry.

Join us for a great conversation with Ruth Ann Powell of Key Security Systems, where we dive into the world of community security, technology, and how associations can better protect themselves. Ruth Ann shares her journey from a career in nutrition to managing HR and marketing in her family’s second-generation security company—covering everything from locksmithing to advanced electronic access, surveillance cameras, license plate readers, and gate systems.

When a Southwest Florida community decided it was time to invest in a camera system, they quickly discovered that knowing you need security is one thing — figuring out what system actually works for you is another. The board requested quotes from three well-known providers and got back three wildly different proposals.

For one community association in Southwest Florida, late-night vandalism had become a costly and frustrating routine. Their pool deck, fitness center, and clubhouse were being misused after hours — furniture tossed in the pool, equipment damaged, and common areas left trashed. The worst part? They had cameras. And those cameras even captured the events. But they still couldn’t figure out who did it.

In a growing gated community in Southwest Florida, one issue kept hitting home — literally. Their vehicle gates were constantly being struck by careless drivers, and the costs to repair them were mounting fast. After one too many repairs, the board approved a project to install surveillance cameras, hoping to finally catch the culprits.

A prominent Southwest Florida community association needed a better way to secure its shared amenities — including the pool, bathrooms, and fitness center. Their old system relied on standard keys, which were easy to lose, difficult to track, and could be easily duplicated at stores like Walmart and Lowe’s. Looking for a smarter, safer solution, they turned to Key Security Services , trusted experts in community security for over 17 years. The team proposed a complete upgrade