Electronic Access Control System (eZKS)

The University uses an electronic access control system, which means that access to a number of buildings or areas is granted using electronic key cards. 

Card loss

If a user loses their electronic key card, the loss must be reported immediately to the following hotline. You will need your URZ (University Computer Centre) username to block the card:

+49 3834 420 CARD

+49 3834 420 2273

Alternatively, the loss can be reported in the ticket system.

Basic information about the system

The most important points of the university's eZKS are explained below.

Why is the key card personalised?

The key cards are personalised keys. Data protection experts recommend that such key cards be personalised with identification features. At the university, we limit these features to the name, photo and username at the URZ. Contrary to popular belief, this increases security rather than reducing it. Regardless of what is printed on the card, the cardholder must report its loss immediately.

What is stored on the card?

In principle, no personal data is stored on the card. Each key card has a unique identification number. However, this number is only linked to the user data in the eZKS central system. In addition, the actual access rights and validity are stored on the card. Each key card is used to transmit technical information from doors to the central system (e.g. battery status). Information about blocked cards is also distributed this way throughout the eZKS.

What are online and offline doors?

The university's eZKS has so-called online and offline locks. For example, a lock can be a door or a gate. Some locks are directly connected to the data network (online), while others have no such connection (offline). Online locks are able to check in real time with the central server whether the card is valid and has access authorisation, and can update the key card accordingly. This is usually the case with the external doors of the buildings, the barrier systems and other special update points (see list of update points). Offline locks can only rely on the information on the key card. Therefore, the validity of a key card is limited to 7 days. After that, the card must be renewed via an online lock. This is done automatically.

What data is collected about users in the eZKS?

A detailed list can be found in the corresponding process description. The eZKS essentially stores the following data about users: name, username at the URZ, organisation, validity date of the user account. In addition, log data is collected that includes when and where a key card is used (i.e. which door a user opens) and whether the required technical card updates were successful or failed. The data is used for administrative purposes only. No user profiles are created.

What happens when your employment contract expires?

For legal (labour law) and security reasons, you will only be granted access to university buildings until the end of your employment contract, i.e. you will no longer have access from the following day onwards. This does not affect the validity of your user account at the URZ. We would like to point out that you are obliged to return your electronic key card (= staff ID card) at the end of your employment contract.

Update points

Place Where
Barriers Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Straße, Felix-Hausdorff-Straße
C_DAT Main entrance, foyer
Institute of Physics Rear entrance (by the coffee machine)
Institute of Biochemistry Entrance door to building C, foyer
C_FunGene Front entrance (door opener)
Jahnstraße 17a Transverse building, entrance Geology
URZ Main entrance
Place Where  
Barriers Domstraße 14, university courtyard, Rubenowstraße 3, Wollweberstraße 1  
Domstraße 9a Front entrance (door opener)  
Domstraße 20a Back entrance  
Main building Entrance 2, ground floor, courtyard side  
Main building Entrance 3, ground floor, street side  
Rubenowstraße 4 Front entrance  
Place Where  
Barriers Carpark, courtyard, Loefflerstraße  
Friedrich-Loeffler-Straße 70 Foyer  
Ernst-Lohmeyer-Platz 1 Staff entrance door  
Ernst-Lohmeyer-Platz 1 Right entrance door next to the lift entrance door  
Ernst-Lohmeyer-Platz 1 Entrance door opposite Ernst-Lohmeyer-Platz 3  
Ernst-Lohmeyer-Platz 3 Foyer  
Ernst-Lohmeyer-Platz 3 Staff entrance  
Departmental Library, Ernst-Lohmeyer-Platz 4 Staff entrance  
Lecture hall building, Ernst-Lohmeyer-Platz 6 Foyer  
Lecture hall building, Ernst-Lohmeyer-Platz 6 Staff entrance  
Place Where  
Soldmannstraße 14 Side entrance, automatic door (door opener)  
Soldmannstraße 15 Main entrance, outside door  
Soldmannstraße 15 Taxidermy, outside door  
Soldmannstraße 23 New building, ground floor  
Soldmannstraße 23 Old building  
Loitzer Straße 26 Entrance door, zoological collection  
Loitzer Straße 26 Lecture hall building, outside door  
Place Where  
Makarenkostraße 49/50 (lecture hall Kiste) Exterior door to the lecture hall  
Mehringstraße 47 Entrance door  
Baderstraße 6/7 Entrance door  
Bahnhofstraße 2/3 Ground floor, entrance door  
Bahnhofstraße 46 Main entrance  
Bahnhofstraße 50 Entrance door  
Bahnhofstraße 51 Stairs  
Rudolf-Petershagen-Allee 1 Main entrance  
Hans-Fallada-Straße 11 Entrance to sports hall  
Steinbeckerstraße 15 Main entrance  
Walther-Rathenau-Straße 47 Main entrance  

LED information on online and offline doors

Doors have an LED that gives you information about the actions being performed while in use.

  • Green: Access granted
  • Blue: Your key card is being updated (only for online doors with update function)
  • Red: Access denied

A lock may not respond to your key card at all, i.e. no LED lights up. This is usually due to too many errors being registered in too short a period of time, which leads to your key card being temporarily deactivated. If this situation persists after approximately 1 to 2 hours, please have your key card checked by the central key issuing office.