What should an MCST check before buying a condo security system in Singapore? Make sure the system solves your estate’s actual problems; that visitor management, access control, licence plate recognition and CCTV work together; that it can reuse your existing equipment; that it handles personal data properly under the PDPA; that residents, guards and the managing agent can use it easily; and that the vendor offers local support, clear pricing and fair contract terms. Use the checklist below to compare vendors side by side.
Condo security has moved from guards and logbooks to connected systems: resident apps, QR visitor passes, LPR cameras, smart door stations and video platforms. That brings real benefits, but also more ways to buy the wrong thing. A clear checklist protects the council’s decision and residents’ money.
1. Start with your problems
Before talking to vendors, write down the three to five problems you want to solve, with evidence. Common ones in Singapore condos include:
- Long queues at the main gate at peak times.
- Unverified visitors and tailgating.
- Unauthorised parking in residents’ lots.
- Contractor access that does not end when renovations finish.
- Parcel theft and slow investigations.
- Old intercoms or barriers that keep breaking down.
- PDPA concerns about logbooks and NRIC collection.
Every feature a vendor proposes should map to one of these problems.
2. The core components
Components of a modern condo security system
| Component |
What it does |
Example brands |
| Visitor management system |
Resident invitations, QR passes, guardhouse view, digital records |
myCondo |
| Access control and door stations |
Residents and visitors open gates and lobbies by face, QR, card, PIN or Bluetooth |
Akuvox, Hikvision |
| Licence plate recognition (LPR) |
Reads plates and opens barriers for residents and registered guests |
Dahua Technology, Hikvision |
| Barrier gates and auto gates |
Physical vehicle control at entrances |
Various |
| CCTV and video management |
Recording, live view and investigation |
Milestone, Hikvision, Dahua Technology |
| Resident and management apps |
Mobile app for residents, web app for the managing agent and MCST |
myCondo |
3. The buyer’s checklist
Fit for purpose
- Does each proposed item solve a problem on your list?
- Has the vendor visited the site and walked every entrance?
- Is there a phased option if the budget is limited?
Integration
- Do visitor management, access control, LPR and CCTV share data, or are they separate systems?
- When a resident invites a guest, does the QR pass work at the door station and the plate at the barrier automatically?
- Can an access event be matched to CCTV footage quickly?
- Which existing equipment can be reused? Get this in writing after a site survey.
Hardware quality
- Are door stations and cameras rated for outdoor use? Look for IP66 or IP67 weather ratings and IK10 vandal resistance for exposed locations.
- For LPR, what recognition rate does the manufacturer quote, and how does the camera perform at night and in rain?
- Are spare parts and warranty support available locally?
As examples of specifications to compare: the Akuvox X915S door station offers face recognition with anti-spoofing, QR, PIN, Bluetooth and RFID, stores up to 20,000 faces and is rated IP66 and IK10. The Dahua ITC413-PW4D access ANPR camera has a 4MP sensor, built-in barrier relays and allowlists of up to 110,000 plates, with a quoted recognition rate of 96% or higher for approaching and departing vehicles. Hikvision DeepinView ANPR cameras are IP67 and IK10 rated with vehicle type and colour detection. Milestone XProtect is an open-platform video management software supporting more than 16,500 devices.
Ease of use
- Can residents invite visitors in under a minute?
- Is there an option for residents who do not use apps?
- Can guards learn the guardhouse screen in a short training session?
- Can the managing agent pull reports without vendor help?
PDPA and data protection
- What personal data does the system collect, and can it avoid full NRIC numbers?
- Where is data stored, and who can access it?
- Can retention periods be set and enforced automatically?
- If face recognition is included, how are consent, alternatives and template storage handled?
- Will the vendor sign data protection terms in the contract?
Support and reliability
- Is there a local support team, and what are the response times?
- What happens if the internet or power fails? Is there a fallback?
- How are software updates delivered, and are they included?
- Who trains guards and residents, and is ongoing training available when guards change?
Cost and contract
- Is the quotation itemised into hardware, installation, software and maintenance?
- What are the recurring costs over three to five years?
- What is the contract length, and what are the exit terms?
- Who owns the data, and how is it returned if the contract ends?
- Are there penalties for missed installation milestones?
4. Red flags
- A quote without a site visit.
- Proposals to replace everything when much of your equipment still works.
- Separate systems that do not talk to each other.
- No clear answer on data storage and PDPA.
- No local support, or support only by email.
- Long lock-in contracts with no exit clause.
5. Compare vendors side by side
Simple vendor comparison scorecard
| Criteria |
Weight |
Questions |
| Solves our problems |
25% |
Does each item map to a documented problem? |
| Integration |
20% |
Do visitor, access, LPR and CCTV work as one? |
| Ease of use |
15% |
Residents, guards and managing agent |
| PDPA and data |
15% |
Collection, storage, retention, consent |
| Support |
15% |
Local team, response times, training |
| Total cost |
10% |
Three to five-year cost, contract terms |
Adjust the weights to your estate’s priorities, but agree them before seeing the quotes.
6. Pilot before you commit
Where possible, pilot the system at one entrance or block. Measure queue times, resident adoption and guard feedback. A short pilot reduces risk and gives the council evidence to present at the AGM.
Why MCSTs choose myCondo
myCondo is a Singapore platform that brings visitor management, resident and management apps and hardware integration together. We partner with Dahua Technology, Hikvision, Akuvox, Milestone and more, survey your site to reuse what you already have, and provide local setup, training and after-sales support.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a condo security upgrade take?
It depends on scope. Software-only visitor management is quicker; adding LPR, door stations and cabling takes longer. Ask for a timeline after the site survey.
Should we buy hardware and software from one vendor?
Not necessarily, but one party should be responsible for making everything work together.
Can we reuse our CCTV?
Often, yes. Open platforms and established brands are easier to integrate.
How many quotations should we get?
Follow your estate’s procurement rules. Many MCSTs seek at least three for significant works.
What about residents who don’t use smartphones?
Choose a system that keeps a guard-assisted route for registration and approval.
Get a site survey and itemised options
Our team will survey your estate and give you itemised options to compare, with no obligation.
WhatsApp or call: +65 8812 3888
Email: [email protected]
Address: 8 Ubi Road 2, #07-13 Zervex, Singapore 408538
Related reading: How to Write a Condo Security Upgrade Proposal and How to Audit Your Condo’s Access Points
