Access Control

Choosing the Right Lock Integration with Acre Access Control

When every door has a different role to play, your access control shouldn’t force a one-size-fits-all solution.

That’s why Acre Access Control offers seamless integration with two trusted wireless lock families - Allegion ENGAGE™ AD/NDE and ASSA ABLOY IN120/IN220 - designed to meet a range of infrastructure needs, site types, and deployment scales.

Whether you're expanding a legacy system or planning an enterprise-wide rollout, you can move forward with confidence knowing you're choosing the integration path that fits your environment today - and grows with you tomorrow.

Allegion ENGAGE™ AD and NDE Wireless Locks

Acre Access Control connects with Allegion’s Engage AD and NDE series locks via two flexible paths, allowing organizations to tailor their deployment based on infrastructure and budget.

RS-485 via Mercury Controllers (RSI Protocol)

  • Locks communicate through the ENGAGE™ Communication Device to Mercury controllers
  • Real-time decisions are made at the controller
  • Leverages existing RS-485 cabling and Mercury PACS
  • Best for: Enterprise environments with standardized hardware

Direct IP via ENGAGE Gateway

  • Locks connect to the ENGAGE Gateway and communicate with AAC via modern API
  • No RS-485 wiring required
  • Fast, cost-effective installs
  • Best for: Remote sites, smaller facilities, or retrofit projects

Shared features include:

  • Real-time access decisions
  • Support for mobile and card credentials
  • Centralized event logging (unlocks, forced entries, low battery alerts)
  • Integration into AAC’s cloud-native platform

ASSA ABLOY IN120/IN220 IP Locks

For organizations ready to go fully IP-native, AAC integrates directly with ASSA ABLOY IN120 (Wi-Fi) and IN220 (PoE) locks via the Door Service Router (DSR) - eliminating the need for additional controllers.

How it works

  • Locks are provisioned using the Lock Configuration Tool (LCT)
  • The DSR acts as a secure bridge between locks and AAC
  • AAC manages credentials, schedules, and rules - locks send real-time events back to the platform

Deployment Options

  • IN120: Uses existing Wi-Fi infrastructure
  • IN220: Receives data and power over a single PoE connection
  • Scale up to 2,048 locks per DSR (and multiple DSRs per site)

Key benefits include:

  • Local intelligence at the lock-up to 10,000 users and 10,000 event records
  • Real-time health monitoring and centralized oversight in AAC
  • Flexible configurations for healthcare, education, commercial real estate, and municipal deployments
  • AAC backs the hardware you choose - with ASSA ABLOY as a key partner in our ecosystem. Monitor and manage entry and exit confidently with these secure, scalable lock options.

Quick Comparison

Feature Allegion RS-485 Allegion Direct IP ASSA ABLOY IN120/220
Connectivity RS-485 via Mercury IP via Gateway Direct IP via DSR
Hardware Required Mercury + ENGAGE Comm. ENGAGE Gateway DSR (software-based)
Infrastructure Needed RS-485 wiring IP only Wi-Fi or PoE
Real-time Decisions At controller In AAC At lock (edge-based)
Ideal For Large campuses Retrofits & remote Enterprise IP rollouts
Offline Functionality Controller-dependent Gateway caching Full lock autonomy


Choosing Your Path Forward

No matter your starting point, both integrations make it easier to expand secure access across more doors - without increasing complexity. Whether it’s a large university with existing panels or a modern facility adopting IP-native architecture, Acre makes it simple to scale your security intelligently.

Because securing your spaces shouldn't mean slowing your progress.

Have questions about which integration path is right for your environment?
Our team is here to help you build a system that fits today - and evolves for tomorrow.

Let's Talk Locks