MyWatchtower is cloud software for gated community access control. It runs staffed gates with Mission Control and unstaffed gates with a self-service kiosk, on one dashboard. Residents issue guest passes from a mobile app. Each entry is time-stamped and kept in a record your community can search.
License plate recognition and credentials process entries under your community's configured rules. Each entry record has a photo and a timestamp.
Each entry is logged with the resident, the visitor, the vehicle and the time. The record is ready when your board asks for it.
Compatible with Brivo and HID gate controllers you may already have installed.
Run a guard booth, a self-service kiosk, or both from the same cloud dashboard and audit trail.
Most communities have more than one type of entrance: vehicle gates, pedestrian gates and amenity doors. A gated community access control system has three layers. Hardware operates each entrance. Software holds the rules and the records. People or a kiosk process each visitor.
| Layer | What it does | With MyWatchtower |
|---|---|---|
| Gate hardware | A controller opens the gate at each entrance. | Compatible Brivo or HID gate controllers. |
| Credentials | Identify residents and their vehicles. | QR codes, PINs, proximity cards, fobs, mobile passes and registered license plates. |
| Visitor passes | Let a guest or vendor enter for a set time. | Residents issue guest passes from the mobile app. A PIN can be single-use, time-limited or recurring. |
| Cameras | Add a plate or a photo to the record. | License plate recognition cameras read plates. The kiosk camera takes a photo for the entry record. |
| Software | Holds the rules, the users and the records. | MyWatchtower, in the cloud. |
| People or kiosk | Process each visitor at the entrance. | Your gate staff with Mission Control, or a self-service kiosk. |
| Records | Show who entered, when and how. | A time-stamped entry record and an audit trail. |
At a staffed gate, your gate staff use Mission Control. They process each visitor and record the visitor, the vehicle, the resident or unit, the reason for access and the time.
At an unstaffed gate, visitors use a self-service touchscreen kiosk. A visitor enters a PIN, scans a QR code, or searches the directory and calls the resident. The resident authorizes access with one key press on the phone. The kiosk connects by cellular, WiFi or Ethernet, with cellular failover, and has up to 4 hours of battery backup.
A community can use one mode or both. Both modes use the same cloud dashboard and the same audit trail. The Live Agent is an optional service with additional fees: a live person, working remotely, processes visitor-initiated entries under your community's rules.
Residents use the mobile app for iOS and Android. They issue guest passes, approve access and receive a notification when a visitor arrives.
Guests arrive with a QR code or a PIN. At a staffed gate, your gate staff see the pre-approved visitor list in Mission Control.
Vendors and contractors can have recurring credentials with expiration dates and zone restrictions.
License plate recognition reads the plates of registered vehicles. Those vehicles enter without a manual lookup and without a stop at the kiosk.
MyWatchtower is compatible with Brivo and HID gate controllers you may already have installed. The kiosk also works with compatible Brivo or HID gate controllers.
Each entry record holds the resident, the visitor, the vehicle and the time. At the kiosk, the camera attaches a photo to the time-stamped entry record.
MyWatchtower also keeps a tamper-evident audit trail. It records gate activations, credential changes, user logins, visitor processing, license plate reads, PIN entries and QR scans, each with a timestamp.
MyWatchtower is 100% cloud-based. There are no local servers to install or maintain. The platform has automatic backups and continuous updates. You can use it from any device with an internet connection.
Ask each vendor the same five questions. The buyer's guide explains each one.
MyWatchtower delivers a complete, unified system — not a patchwork of integrations.
Streamline guest entry with pre-registration, real-time arrival alerts, and digital entry logs.
Frictionless entry with intelligent cameras that automatically recognize pre-registered vehicles.
Issue RFID, QR codes, PINs, proximity cards, fobs, and mobile passes with granular access control.
Full-featured iOS and Android app to manage operations from anywhere.
Create, track, and resolve incidents with a full lifecycle management system.
100% cloud-based. No local servers, automatic backups, and continuous updates.
Run a staffed gatehouse with Mission Control, a self-service kiosk at the entry lane, or both at different gates. MyWatchtower fits the way your community runs today.
Mission Control Suite
Your gate staff process each visitor from Mission Control: one screen for arrivals, pre-approved visitors, vehicle details, and entry notes.
Self-Service Kiosk
Now AvailableA weather-ready touchscreen kiosk at the entry lane processes visitor entry around the clock, with no on-site staff required.
Shared by both modes
Choose one mode, or run both across different access points. Every entry goes to the same cloud dashboard and the same audit trail.
Partnered with the best in access control hardware and cloud infrastructure.
Third-party article · FCAP - Florida Community Association Journal
A prestigious gated community in Naples, Florida, faced ongoing issues with its existing access control system.
Third-party article
This article explores various communities that have successfully integrated License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology into their gate access systems.
Guides, comparisons, and resources to help you evaluate MyWatchtower.
What to look for in an access control system, from the hardware to the entry records.
ReadHow gate access control works in an HOA, from the entrance to the software.
ReadHow residents pre-register guests and how each visit goes into the entry log.
ReadOne dashboard for every community you manage, with rules and roles for each site.
ReadSee MyWatchtower with our team. Bring your gate layout and your questions.