Multifamily Security Systems in Chicago & Northern Illinois
Make building access easier to manage. Give your team better answers.
Residents, deliveries, visitors, and maintenance teams all need access—but not to every part of the property. Umbrella helps apartment communities, condominium associations, and property managers plan access control, intercoms, cameras, and alarms around daily building operations.
If your current system is difficult to use, unreliable, or ready for an upgrade, we’ll help you review what can stay and what needs to change.
Start with the places causing problems
Entrances and resident credentials
Plan how residents and staff enter the building, how credentials are removed, and how temporary access is handled. Review the door hardware as well as the software.
Visitors and deliveries
Help residents or staff identify callers before granting access. Review intercom placement, call routing, delivery procedures, and the needs of residents who may not use a smartphone.
Garages and parking areas
Review entry points, lighting, camera views, and gate operation. If license-plate capture is needed, assess the approach, vehicle speed, and lighting before selecting equipment.
Package rooms and shared amenities
Use permissions and useful camera views around package storage, fitness rooms, pools, and other shared spaces. Match access schedules to the property’s rules.
Incident review
Make it easier for authorized staff to find and export relevant video. Define who can view recordings, which areas need coverage, and how long recordings should be retained.
After-hours alerts
Review intrusion alerts, doors held open, and monitoring options where appropriate. Agree on who receives alerts and how events are escalated.
Experience your board can review
Glen Astor Condominiums
Glen Ellyn, IL
Nantucket Cove
Schaumburg, IL
The Elaine
Northbrook, IL
Lakewood Prairie
Joliet, IL
Riverwalk Condo Association
Des Plaines, IL
Library Towers
Chicago, IL
The Quin Apartments
Schaumburg, IL
Rob Roy Country Club Village
Prospect Heights, IL
What customers say
"We had a great experience with Umbrella Security for our security setup. Tom & Zach are fantastic to work with. They are professional, knowledgeable, and responsive.
The installation process was smooth and efficient, with minimal disruption to our daily operations. My team and association truly loves the system they have provided making everyone feel safe and know buildings are secured.
I highly recommend Umbrella Security to anyone looking for reliable security solutions. Thank you Tom & Zach!"
"I met Umbrella Security at the HOA Condo Association Cooperator Expo in Chicago, looking for multifamily security systems and asked them to conduct a security system walkthrough & after a bid process hired them. Thank You Umbrella, Our security system has been a great value to our condo owners and we love the mobile access technology"
"We asked Umbrella Technologies to come up with a cost effective solution to our Condo's Intercom, Access Control and Surveillance needs. We appreciated their timely proposal and solution - and their installation and support have been superb. I feel like we have a true integrated solution to provides owners piece of mind at a price point we could afford."
"I manage a 650-unit condominium community in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. While researching a touchless access control system, I was introduced to Umbrella Security. Their initial presentation was clear and compelling, and after thorough due diligence, our Board approved the installation of the access control system and video monitoring equipment.
The installation exceeded expectations—execution was smooth, the equipment functions exactly as presented, and the system is easy to set up and operate. There were no surprises or delays. We anticipated potential challenges during the homeowner rollout, but experienced very few issues, most of which were minor and related to configuring access schedules for shared amenities. We have received no complaints, even from our most skeptical residents.
I confidently and without reservation recommend the access control system and Umbrella Security."
A clearer plan for management and the board
A useful proposal should explain the problem, the recommended work, what equipment can remain, and how the transition affects residents. It should also identify recurring costs, administration responsibilities, training, and support expectations.
Bring the property’s priorities and any board questions to the survey. We’ll use them to guide the scope and discuss the next steps.
Plan the transition before installation
Review the property.
Walk the entrances, garages, shared spaces, and current equipment with management.
Agree on access and coverage.
Define resident and staff permissions, visitor entry, camera views, and any monitoring requirements.
Prepare for the change.
Discuss installation access, credential distribution, resident communication, and the sequence for switching systems.
Test and train.
Check the agreed functions and train the people responsible for administration and service requests.
Questions property managers ask
Can residents keep their existing credentials?
That depends on the credential technology, readers, and proposed platform. We check compatibility before recommending a transition plan.
Can you replace an intercom without replacing everything else?
Sometimes. The existing wiring, door release, network connection, and access-control integration need to be reviewed first.
Do residents have to use a smartphone?
Discuss that requirement before selecting a system. Depending on the design, access options may include cards, fobs, or other supported credentials alongside mobile access.
Can we phase the work?
We can discuss a staged scope, such as starting with the main entrance or garage. The design needs to account for compatibility and how old and new equipment will operate during the transition.
What should we provide before a survey?
The property address, approximate building and entrance counts, current system information, and the problems management or residents are reporting. Photos or floor plans can help if available.
Compare your next step
Let’s review your property
Tell us what is difficult to manage today and what your board or ownership team wants to improve. We’ll discuss the existing system and the next step toward a site survey.
Book a consultation with a Chicagoland multifamily security specialist.
We specialize in custom-designed physical security systems for multifamily and mixed-use properties, combining advanced analytics, responsive local service, and end-to-end support—from system design through long-term management.