Updated October 2026
A lock with an audit trail is a lock that writes down every time someone opens it, or tries to. Each entry records which key was used, which lock it touched, the date and time, and whether access was granted or denied. A mechanical lock can’t do this. Anyone with a copy of the key gets in, and nothing records it.
CyberLock records that history with no wiring and no battery at the door. A CyberLock cylinder stores up to 6,500 events in the lock itself, and every CyberKey keeps its own record of up to 12,000 more. That gives you two independent copies of the same history, even at a remote site where running wire doesn’t make sense.
What a CyberLock cylinder actually stores
Every CyberLock cylinder has a small circuit board with a processor and memory. It holds four things:
- Encrypted access codes, so only keys from your system work with the lock
- The lock’s own unique serial number
- The audit trail of events at that lock
- A list of lost keys the lock should refuse
There’s no keyway, so the cylinder can’t be picked. It’s built to the same dimensions as the mechanical cylinder it replaces, so it fits the doors, padlocks, cabinets, safes and enclosures you already own. CyberLock makes over 450 cylinder designs. Because the key powers the lock, the same cylinder works on a remote gate, pump station, tower site or roadside cabinet where running wire or power doesn’t make sense.
What happens in the half second the key touches the lock
The CyberKey supplies power to the cylinder. The two swap IDs. The key checks that it’s allowed into that lock, and that it’s within the hours on its schedule.
If everything matches, the lock opens and an “Authorized to open” event is written into both the lock and the key. If the key isn’t allowed at that time, it beeps an alarm and writes a denied event into its own memory. The lock also checks the key against its lost key list. A key on that list is refused, the denial goes into both audit trails, and the key can be shut off from every other lock in the system at the same moment.
So a failed attempt gets recorded too. That matters more than people expect. A denied event at 2 a.m. on a door someone had no business trying is often the first sign of a problem.
How much history a lock and a key can hold
Here’s what the system holds:
| Device | What it stores |
|---|---|
| CyberLock cylinder | Up to 6,500 audit events and a list of up to 500 lost keys to refuse |
| CyberKey | Up to 12,000 audit events |
A key can be set to keep only its most recent events or to stop working once its memory is full. That second setting forces people to dock their keys and hand over their history before they can keep working. Keys also hold on to their audit trail if power is interrupted.
Communication between lock and key is protected with AES-256 encryption.
How the audit trail gets to you
The history travels with the key. When a user docks a CyberKey or connects it, the key uploads every event it collected to CyberAudit-Web and picks up any permission changes at the same time. That happens at a communicator, such as a wall-mounted Station Authorizer or a key vault.
Keys can also pull the full audit trail out of a lock. That’s useful for a remote gate or cabinet nobody visits often.
One thing to know going in: CyberLocks don’t report live. Events are captured the moment they happen, and they reach the software when the key is docked.
Where an audit trail lock earns its keep
Utilities use it on remote substations, pump stations and tower sites with no power at the gate. Transit agencies and DOTs put it on traffic and signal cabinets along the road. Data centers use it on rack doors, and labs on freezers and chemical storage. In every case the question is the same: who was in there, and when?
If you’re weighing CyberLock against wired card readers, our cost comparison walks through the numbers. If you want to see it on your own doors first, ask us about our free pilot program.
Common questions
Does the lock need a battery or wiring? No. The CyberLock cylinder is powered by the battery in the key, which is why it works at remote sites with no power.
Can someone copy a CyberKey? No. Each key is electronically unique and programmed with its own permissions.
What happens when a key is lost? You add it to the lost key list. Every lock that learns the list will refuse it and record the attempt. No rekeying, no new cylinders.
Does a denied attempt show up in the report? Yes. It’s written into the key, and into the lock whenever the lock refuses a key.