As a US-based smart lock supplier specializing in what’s commonly referred to as “US Standard” smart locks—designed to meet the strict, widely adopted ANSI/BHMA security and installation specifications for residential and light-commercial locking systems across the U.S.—I get asked this question at least three times a week: “Do your smart locks support multi-factor authentication (MFA)?” US Standard Smart Lock
It makes total sense why this is such a common question. For the average homeowner or small business owner in the U.S., the shift from traditional key locks to smart locks has been a game-changer. No more fumbling around for keys when you’re juggling groceries, no more worrying about someone copying your keys after a random house showing, and the ability to grant access to pet sitters, cleaners, or part-time staff remotely is huge. But with that convenience comes a very real concern: cybersecurity. If a smart lock is connected to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, what’s stopping someone from hacking into it the same way they might get into an email or bank account? That’s where MFA comes in, and it’s become a non-negotiable feature for many of our customers.
Let’s start by breaking down what MFA actually means in the context of smart locks, because there’s a lot of confusion here. When people talk about MFA for phones or online accounts, it’s usually something like typing in a password, then entering a code sent to your text or an app, or scanning your fingerprint. For smart locks, MFA works the same core way: it requires two or more independent forms of verification before a user can unlock the device or make changes to the lock’s settings (like adding a new user or updating the Wi-Fi connection). It’s not just a “nice-to-have” add-on anymore—it’s a core security requirement for anyone who’s serious about protecting their home or business, especially as smart home breaches make headlines more often than they used to.
Now, going back to our products: as a US Standard smart lock supplier, all of our models are built with MFA support, but it’s important to clarify that not all MFA is created equal, and it’s not just one single setting. Let’s walk through how MFA works across our different product lines, because we have models for every need: from entry-level residential locks for single-family homes to heavy-duty light-commercial locks for small cafes, doctor’s offices, and retail shops.
First, our entry-level US Standard smart lock for homes—let’s call it the Model 100 (we keep naming simple for our customers)—has MFA built into its mobile app integration. Here’s how that works: when you set up the lock, you create a primary PIN or a fingerprint (that’s your first factor, “something you know or have”). But to unlock the lock remotely, or to make any changes to the user list (like deleting a past tenant’s access or adding a new house cleaner), you have to go through a second step. That second step can be a push notification to your phone that you have to approve, or a one-time passcode (OTP) sent via SMS or the lock’s dedicated app. Wait, I know what some of you are thinking: “SMS is not very secure, right?” You’re not wrong, and that’s why our app-based second factor is always the recommended option, and we prioritize promoting that to all our customers during setup. We make it really clear in our setup tutorials and customer support guides that SMS is a fallback, not a primary MFA method, because it’s less vulnerable to SIM swapping attacks.
Moving up to our mid-tier residential and small-business model, the Model 200, which is designed for people who want a bit more control over their security settings. This is where MFA gets even more robust. For starters, the Model 200 supports what’s called “hardware-based MFA” for admin access. That means if you’re trying to make any changes to the lock’s core settings—like resetting the Wi-Fi connection, updating the firmware, or adding an admin user—you can’t do that with just your phone code or fingerprint. You need a physical key fob (a small, credit-card-sized device that pairs with the lock via Bluetooth) in addition to your primary verification. That’s a really big deal for small business owners who might have part-time managers who need to adjust access but shouldn’t have full control over all settings. Also, the Model 200 supports biometric MFA for additional user types: when setting up a new user, you can require that they both scan their fingerprint (first factor) and approve a request sent to their own personal phone (second factor) before their access is active. That prevents someone from adding a fake user to the lock remotely, which is a common vulnerability in cheaper smart locks that don’t have MFA.
Then we have our heavy-duty light-commercial Model 300 line, which is certified to meet the highest ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 standards for commercial use. For this line, MFA is not just an add-on—it’s a core requirement. We worked with a lot of small business owners when designing this line, and one of the biggest pain points they shared was that their old smart locks could be accessed by anyone who got a hold of their primary PIN, so they wanted extra layers. The Model 300 supports multiple MFA methods tailored to commercial use: you can use a physical access card (first factor), a PIN (second factor), or even facial recognition (third factor, if the lock has a built-in camera) for multi-step verification. Also, for all admin actions on the Model 300, every change is logged in a secure cloud portal, and you need to approve each log entry with MFA. That’s crucial for businesses that need to keep track of who accessed the lock and when, especially for places like clinics that need to maintain visitor logs for compliance.
But here’s something we always make sure our customers understand: MFA only works if it’s set up correctly. A lot of people buy a smart lock, skip the extra security steps during setup, and then wonder why it’s not as secure as they hoped. I remember a customer who bought our Model 100 last year, set it up with just a PIN, and was confused when we asked if he’d enabled MFA. He said, “I don’t need that—my house is safe in a quiet neighborhood.” But a month later, someone was able to hack into his lock by intercepting the Wi-Fi signal, because he’d left his primary access wide open. When he reached out to our support team, we walked him through enabling MFA in 5 minutes, and he told us later that it made him feel way more at ease. That’s why our customer success team is trained to walk every new customer through MFA setup, and we send follow-up emails with reminders a week after installation to make sure it’s all set up properly.
Now, let’s address some common myths about MFA and smart locks, because we hear these all the time and they’re important to clear up. First myth: “MFA for smart locks is too complicated for regular people.” That’s not true—we designed our MFA setup to be as simple as possible. The app walks you through each step with on-screen prompts, and our customer support team is available 7 days a week to help if anyone gets stuck. Second myth: “MFA drains the lock’s battery fast.” Again, not with our products. The MFA verification process only activates when you’re making a change to the lock or unlocking it remotely—for local unlocks (like using a fingerprint or PIN right at the door), the MFA is optional, so it doesn’t affect battery life. Our locks last up to a year on a single set of AA batteries, even with MFA enabled, so that’s not a concern. Third myth: “All US Standard smart locks support MFA, but only for admin access.” No, actually, for all our models, regular users can enable MFA for their own access too. For example, if you have a teen who uses the Model 100 to get home from school, you can let them set up their own fingerprint, and they can enable MFA on their account so only they can unlock it, even if someone gets a hold of their phone.
Another point that’s worth mentioning is compliance. A lot of our customers are small businesses that need to meet certain security standards—like HIPAA for medical clinics, or PCI DSS for small retail shops that process credit cards. MFA is a core requirement for both of those standards, and all our US Standard smart locks are fully compliant with MFA requirements for HIPAA and PCI DSS. That’s a big selling point for businesses that have to pass audits, because they don’t have to switch their smart lock system to meet compliance rules—our locks work right out of the box.
Now, I want to be transparent and say that no security feature is 100% perfect, and MFA is no exception. For example, if someone’s phone is stolen and they haven’t set up a screen lock on it, a thief could approve an MFA request. That’s why we always recommend enabling screen locks on all devices paired with the lock, and also setting up a backup method for MFA—like a physical key, in case your phone dies or gets lost. We include a mechanical backup key with every single one of our smart locks, even though most people don’t use them, just for peace of mind.
At the end of the day, when you’re choosing a smart lock, MFA isn’t just a feature—it’s the line between convenience and real security. As a US Standard smart lock supplier, we built our entire product line around meeting the unique needs of U.S. customers, which means following ANSI/BHMA standards, prioritizing usability, and making sure security features like MFA are accessible to everyone, not just tech experts.
If you’re a homeowner looking to upgrade your front door lock, or a small business owner wanting to secure your storefront, and you’re tired of worrying about unauthorized access, we’re here to help. Our team can walk you through the different MFA options across our product lines, help you pick the right lock for your needs, and support you through setup to make sure everything is secure from day one. We don’t do pushy sales—we do honest, reliable smart lock solutions that fit US homes and businesses.
Smart Lock References:
ANSI/BHMA A156.10:2020, Standard for Mechanical and Electronic Locks for Pedestrian Doors
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-63B: Digital Identity Guidelines
PCI Security Standards Council: Multi-Factor Authentication Requirements for Payment Card Environments
HIPAA Security Rule: Access Control Standards for Covered Entities
Guangdong Ap Tenon Sci. & Tech. Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Ap Tenon Sci. & Tech. Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional us standard smart lock manufacturers and suppliers in China. With abundant experience, we warmly welcome you to wholesale advanced us standard smart lock made in China here from our factory. Also, OEM service is available.
Address: No.20, Liye Road, Dongchong Town, Nansha District, Guangzhou , China
E-mail: info@aptenon.com
WebSite: https://www.tenondoorlock.com/
