Managing security across hundreds of fast-casual locations and corporate offices presents an operational challenge for multi-unit operators. Cloud access control is a cloud-managed security infrastructure that allows administrators to grant, revoke, and monitor physical entry permissions remotely across multiple locations in real time. Deploying modern cloud access control for restaurants empowers your leadership team to replace outdated door locks, eliminate physical fobs, and streamline third-party vendor management.
Noodles & Company, a national fast-casual brand overseeing hundreds of restaurant locations from its Restaurant Support Center in Broomfield, Colorado, faced significant access control challenges. Partnering with Envysion and adopting Avigilon Cloud Access Control enabled them to modernize corporate security, replace physical keycards, and build a scalable foundation for restaurant-level operations.
To explore how tailored surveillance and access solutions protect your store locations, visit our restaurant security solutions page.
The Hidden Friction of Legacy Access Systems
Outdated physical access hardware creates friction for IT, Loss Prevention, and Operations teams. Before upgrading, the Loss Prevention and IT teams at Noodles & Company struggled with door access hardware that was difficult to manage and hard to service.
Legacy Hardware Issues ──> High Fob Maintenance Costs ──> Inefficient After-Hours Vendor Access
Physical keycards and fobs require manual issuance, tracking, and constant replacement when lost. Managing entry for late-night service providers, such as HVAC technicians, test kitchen staff, cleaning crews, and landlords, required physical keys or on-site staff presence during off-hours.
“We were looking for a new system for our Restaurant Support Center because the one we were using was just outdated and wasn’t user-friendly… We had issues getting service for it.”
– Ryan Tollefson, Risk Management & Loss Prevention Leader, Noodles & Company
The Solution: Cloud-Based, Mobile-First Access
To eliminate these operational bottlenecks, Noodles & Company collaborated with Envysion to deploy Avigilon Cloud Access Control, a solution developed by Motorola Solutions. Mobile credentials are digital access keys stored on a user’s smartphone that replace physical fobs or plastic keycards for secure door entry. Switching to mobile credentials allowed staff to unlock doors seamlessly with their mobile devices, reserving physical fobs strictly for rare backup cases.
| Feature | Legacy Access Control Systems | Avigilon Cloud Access Control |
| Credential Type | Physical fobs and plastic keycards | Smartphone mobile credentials |
| Vendor Entry | Manual key handoffs: requires staff on-site | Scheduled access windows: remote unlocking via app |
| User Administration | Manual card entry and disconnected logs | Active Directory sync for automated onboarding |
| Visual Verification | Unverified physical entry | Integrated doorbell cameras and smart intercoms |
| System Maintenance | On-premise hardware repairs: limited support | Cloud-managed platform with unified support |
Key Implementation Highlights
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Smart Intercoms and Doorbell Cameras: Main entryways were equipped with integrated camera and intercom hardware. Staff can visually verify visitors and buzz in delivery drivers directly from their workstations or smartphones.
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Customizable Schedules: Management created automated, temporary access windows for contractors such as hood cleaners and night janitorial teams without issuing master keys or full 24/7 credentials.
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Active Directory Integration: IT administrative oversight syncs access privileges directly with corporate onboarding and offboarding workflows.
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Securing Sensitive Areas: Interior spaces, including IT server rooms and secure storage areas, are unified under the same cloud portal.
Solving After-Hours Vendor Access Management
Vendor Access Management is the systematic process of granting scheduled, time-bound, and verifiable physical entry to third-party contractors without requiring on-site staff presence. In restaurant and corporate operations, sending managers on-site during off-hours to unlock doors consumes time and increases labor overhead.
Deploying cloud access control for restaurants gives administrators total visibility and remote operational control through a single mobile application.
Vendor Arrives at Entry ──> Video Intercom Verification ──> Remote Door Unlock via App ──> Secure & Logged Entry
“If somebody’s there and I know they’re there, I can let them in from my phone so I wouldn’t have to be there… Having the landlord or vendors get in without us having to meet them there saves us time.”
– Ryan Tollefson, Risk Management & Loss Prevention Leader, Noodles & Company
Unifying Cloud Access Control with Video Management
A comprehensive physical security strategy requires both access control and video surveillance. A cloud video management system (VMS) is a cloud-based platform that aggregates, stores, and analyzes surveillance footage from multiple locations for remote investigation and operational visibility.
While Avigilon Cloud Access Control handles real-time door permissions and live entry video feeds, the Loss Prevention team links this data with the Envysion Cloud Video Management System for historical footage review. When an access event occurs, LP investigators cross-reference video footage through our Loss Prevention Solutions to verify who entered a room, when they entered, and what occurred during their visit.
Scaling Keyless Security to the Restaurant Level
Following success at the Restaurant Support Center, Noodles & Company is evaluating Avigilon Cloud Access Control to solve one of the restaurant industry’s persistent challenges: store-level vendor management. Managing night-drop food deliveries, facility maintenance, and sanitation teams across hundreds of units normally requires physical keys, which are frequently lost and costly to re-key.
Noodles & Company is evaluating keyless vendor management in a live test-restaurant environment. Implementing cloud access control for restaurants across store locations delivers three major outcomes:
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Enhanced Vendor Oversight: Full digital audit trails track exactly when service technicians arrive and leave.
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Lower Operational Costs: Eliminates physical key creation, lock re-keying fees, and unnecessary emergency call-outs.
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Tighter Store Security: Protects inventory, safes, and POS equipment without giving third parties unmonitored master keys.
“Envysion is great about keeping us apprised of new products and things coming down the pike… We really are excited about that level of integration and scalability.”
– Ryan Tollefson, Risk Management & Loss Prevention Leader, Noodles & Company
Elevate Your Physical Security Infrastructure
Upgrading to cloud-managed access control eliminates physical key headaches, reduces hardware expenses, and empowers your team to manage multi-location operations from anywhere. Discover how integrated cloud video and modern access control protect your team, operations, and bottom line.