ProdataKey + Kohost: The Future of Integrated School Security
- ProdataKey
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Schools today must balance two important priorities: creating a welcoming environment for students and staff while maintaining strong security measures. Many schools rely on multiple platforms to manage access control, building systems, maintenance issues, and emergency responses—often resulting in fragmented information and inefficient workflows.
This is where the integration between ProdataKey (PDK) and Kohost becomes powerful. By combining ProdataKey’s cloud-based access control with Kohost’s unified building and campus management platform, schools gain a streamlined way to manage security and facility operations from a single interface. Instead of switching between multiple systems, administrators can monitor and control key functions across their campuses in one place, improving both efficiency and safety.
What is Kohost?
Kohost is a Smart Campus platform that connects facility systems—cameras, access control, alarms, lighting, thermostats, smart boards, and more—into a single unified control system, all layered over an SOS Emergency Portal and Concierge Ticketing System. It's the backbone of facilities for any campus, enabling automations, centralized monitoring, and streamlined operations all from one place.
"Safety is at the core of everything we build around. When you integrate access control with the rest of your campus systems, you're not just controlling access, you're creating a connected safety layer. Any door event—an unauthorized entry, a forced door, a door held open—can notify staff, lock down zones, or kick off an emergency response automatically,"
says Ethan Fridman, President of Business Development at Kohost. "That same connected logic is what drives energy efficiency too. Arm the alarm, and the system turns off lights, sets back thermostats, and powers down smart boards. That prolongs the lifespan of all your hardware, defers capital expenses, and drives energy consumption down—we're seeing around 30% reductions across many of our campuses. These are some of the ways we've made safety and security accessible and front and center for campuses. And honestly, Kohost pays for itself. Between the deferred CapEx and the energy savings, the numbers speak for themselves."
Kohost also offers a Facilities Concierge service—vendor management, contract negotiation, preventative maintenance, and long-term capital planning—essentially a facilities department, without the payroll.
Reliable School Security with PDK and Kohost
Kohost’s intuitive platform has been specially designed for the management of schools. Similarly, schools and campuses are one of the largest industries secured by ProdataKey today. “Access control is one of the most important things when it comes to school security—that’s why we love PDK,” Ethan explains. With ProdataKey’s cloud-based access control integrated into the Kohost platform, administrators gain the ability to manage doors, credentials, and permissions remotely. This flexibility is especially valuable for school districts responsible for multiple campuses or buildings.
“You can’t always be at every campus you’re in charge of—so having management in the cloud is so important. You get cost savings, efficiency, time savings, everything!” Ethan says. Cloud-based access control also provides real-time visibility into what is happening across a campus. Administrators can quickly check door statuses, review activity, and ensure security policies are being followed without physically inspecting every building.
For both manufacturers, simplifying building management and security is the key to improving the overall educational experience. "Here's what we tell school administrators," says Ethan, "stop worrying about the building. Focus on your teachers, your students, your parents—we've got the rest." By reducing the burden of facility monitoring and maintenance, school leaders and staff can spend more time supporting students and educators.
Creating Advanced Campus Lockdowns
One of the most important aspects of school safety is the ability to respond quickly and effectively during emergencies. Integrated systems like Kohost and ProdataKey make it possible to coordinate building responses instantly, ensuring that safety procedures can be carried out with minimal delay.
Ethan describes how the system can support emergency evacuations:
“Say there’s a fire: somebody can trip the fire alarm from our SOS panel and automatically turn on all the lights, open all the doors, and display evacuation plans on the TV.”
In addition to evacuation scenarios, schools must also be prepared for situations that require immediate lockdown. Even small oversights, like doors being left open, can create vulnerabilities in a campus environment. These capabilities allow schools to respond dynamically to different types of emergencies, ensuring that the right actions are taken at the right time.
The Power of Integrated Campus Management
The partnership between ProdataKey and Kohost represents a forward-thinking approach to campus safety and building management. By integrating access control with a unified smart building platform, schools gain better visibility, stronger security, and more efficient facility operations.
Most importantly, this integration allows school administrators to shift their focus away from the complexities of building management and back toward their core mission: supporting students, teachers, and families. With the right technology in place, schools can create safer, smarter campuses where learning can thrive.
About ProdataKey:
ProdataKey (PDK) is a leading innovator of networked cloud-based access control products and services. The company’s PDK.io cloud platform allows for complete system management and control through any web-connected device, anywhere, anytime. PDK delivers an unparalleled user experience as well as the highest levels of security, safety, and data privacy. For more information, visit prodatakey.com.
About Kohost
Kohost is a Smart Campus platform that connects facility systems—cameras, access control, alarms, lighting, thermostats, smart boards, and more—into a single unified control system, all layered over an SOS Emergency Portal and Concierge Ticketing System. It's the backbone of facilities for any campus, enabling automations, centralized monitoring, and streamlined operations all from one place. For more information, visit kohost.io.
