Access Control for Utilities – Electricity, Water, Heat, and Gas
Battery-free, offline access control for critical infrastructure. Perfect for substations, pump stations, and off-grid locations with iLOQ and SnapKey.
Utility companies in electricity, water, heat, and gas work with critical infrastructure spread across large geographic areas. Many access points are without power, without internet, and often difficult to access.
SnapKey combined with iLOQ S5 makes it possible to manage access centrally, offline, and without batteries.
Challenges in the Utility Sector
❌ Thousands of locations: substations, pump stations, transformer stations ❌ Off-grid requirements: no power or network ❌ Complex key management: many technicians, both internal and external ❌ Operating costs: replacement of keys, mechanical locks, and access systems ❌ Compliance: requirements for traceability, logging, and documentation (NIS2 and CER)
SnapKey + iLOQ: The Complete Solution
Battery-free
iLOQ S5 locks are powered by smartphone NFC. No batteries. No maintenance.
Works Fully Offline
The lock validates the key locally. Access works without mobile connection.
Central Key Management
Manage all users and permissions in SnapKey Cloud. Sync happens when the phone is online.
QR + PIN Access
Technicians can scan the QR code on the cabinet and open with a personal PIN — ideal for ad-hoc access.
How Battery-free Technology Works
iLOQ S5 process:
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Technician holds smartphone to the lock └ NFC delivers power directly to the lock
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Lock activates without battery
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Cryptographic validation: ├ The key on the phone is digitally signed ├ The lock validates the signature offline └ Revocation lists are cached in the lock
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Decision: ├ Valid → Open └ Invalid → Reject
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Logging: └ Events are stored in the lock
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Synchronization: └ Logs upload to SnapKey Cloud when phone is online
Offline validity: Can be unlimited (with reduced security level) Lifespan: 20+ years Environment: -40°C to +85°C (IP68)
Use Cases in the Utility Sector
Electricity Supply – Transformer Stations
Challenges:
- Locations without power or internet
- Traceability and control requirements
- Many external technicians
SnapKey + iLOQ:
- Digital key on technician's phone
- Access even in fully offline environments
- Logs stored in lock and synced later
Water Supply – Pump Stations
Typical scenario:
- 100+ locations
- Many technicians with different responsibilities
- Mechanical keys are impractical and insecure
SnapKey:
- One digital key per technician
- Access only to relevant locations
- Instant revocation via SnapKey Cloud
- QR + PIN for ad-hoc access
District Heating – Substations
Traditional approach:
- Code boxes with shared codes
- No traceability
- Codes rarely changed
SnapKey:
- Unique QR code on each cabinet
- Personal PIN for technicians and externals
- Full traceability: who opened what and when
- Automatic expiration on temporary access
Offline/Online Hybrid Model
SnapKey is optimized for environments with low or no connectivity:
- Offline access: iLOQ handles validation locally
- Revocation lists: stored locally in lock, updated on sync
- Logs: stored in lock, uploaded via technician's phone
- Keys: can be valid indefinitely in offline mode if needed (lower security level)
NIS2 & CER Compliance
SnapKey supports the central requirements from NIS2 and CER:
| Requirement | SnapKey Supports |
|---|---|
| Traceability | Yes – full audit trail |
| Access documentation | Yes – detailed logs |
| Time-limited access | Yes |
| Offline access | Yes |
| Central administration | Yes |
| Revocation | Yes – instant via SnapKey Cloud |
| Audit reports | Yes – automatic generation |
FAQ
Does it really work without batteries?
Yes! iLOQ S5 generates power via the phone's NFC chip when held against the lock.
What if the phone is offline?
No problem – the lock validates the key locally without internet.
What if the phone runs out of power?
Many smartphones can still deliver NFC power even after 0%. Alternatively, QR + PIN can be used.
How do you ensure keys aren't misused?
All keys are digitally signed, and the lock validates the signature offline. Revocation lists ensure revoked keys don't work.
Contact Us
Is your utility company ready to modernize access control — without batteries and without insecure mechanical keys?
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