Arming station PINs

 

Last modified: Tuesday February 24, 2026.

We are improving the arming station authentication process over several software updates. Check the release notes and this documentation for updates.

The PIN used in an arming station is either a PIN credential set for a user in Alta Access, or a zone PIN. To configure the authentication method, see Arm and disarm settings

  • If an arming station controls multiple zones, some using zone PINs and some using Alta Access credentials, entered PINs are validated against zone PINs before Alta Access PINs.
  • If an arming station controls multiple zones that have different zone PINs, only the zones associated with the PIN used for authentication are visible.
  • If an arming station controls multiple zones and a user authenticates with Alta Access credentials, all zones associated with the arming station are visible. However, see the following warning about matching PINs.

To configure Alta Access credentials, see Add Protect user credentials

To set and use a zone PIN, see Zone PINs.

Set different numbers for zone PINs and Access PINs

Do not use the same number for Zone PINs and Alta Access PINs.

Zone PINs are authenticated before Alta Access PIN credentials. If an Access credential PIN matches a zone PIN, only zones with that zone PIN can be armed or disarmed.

Example: You associate four zones to an arming station and set 1234 as the zone PIN for two zones. A user with the access PIN 1111 can log in and arm/disarm all four zones. A user with the access PIN 1234, can only arm/disarm the two zones with the matching zone PIN.