At a certain fairly early point this stuff has to become impractical compared to electronic keys (contactless smart card, or even a mag swipe like in hotels, where the door code gets changed after the guest checks out). I wonder why this high end mechanical stuff even exists in this day and age.
> I wonder why this high end mechanical stuff even exists in this day and age.
* Mechanical bypass for electronic locks, to deal with battery failures, damaged readers etc
* Anything that needs a padlock - for some reason, most electronic padlocks are trash.
* Things that need cheap moderate security - vending machines, confidential-waste-for-shredding bins.
* Things that need the simplicity of classic keys, or that need to be controlled by someone different to the door access system. Safety lock-out systems, lift shaft / roof access.
* Things that are already behind electronic locks, but need an extra layer of security - e.g. the safe in the ambassador's office.
Because anything electronic has a higher maintenance upkeep on the lock side. A good quality mechanical lock can work for decades even in bad conditions, and power outages have no effect at all.
Because you are thinking about a single door. Cost of implementing and maintaining non-copiable RFID is much higher. My workplace uses Medeco M3, I have 7+ keys for the various areas I have access to, I can be given a key for a specific area for the time I need to do something over there, etc. Some areas behind electronic access as well but it is rudimentary and it did cost us an insane amount of money to just install that an a few doors because we have to use union shops that abuse us (took them weeks to do, four people showing up to find out they were missing a plate so they came back a week after and found out another part was missing etc for 3 months, no kidding...)
Because an electrical lock has a wider attack surface. Instead of attacking the key itself, you can try to disrupt the electronics to cause the lock to open itself, which is sometimes easier, even a lot easier.
