A method for enabling provision of temporary access to an area controlled by hardware (100, 900) and a network-connected endpoint device in communication therewith, the network-connected endpoint device being in communication with a transceiver, the method including the steps of: enrolling an access partner in an account for the endpoint device, the account maintained at an access server; receiving, from the access partner at the access server, requests for temporary access to the area, a request including a unique identifier of a wireless access device associated with the access partner, the wireless access device having a private key stored thereon; transmitting the unique identifier from the access server to the network-connected endpoint device to activate the requests with the network-connected endpoint device, the network-connected endpoint device authenticating the wireless access device by: the transceiver sending authentication data to the wireless access device over a wireless communication channel; the wireless access device encrypting the authentication data with the private key; the wireless access device communicating an identifier and the encrypted authentication data to the transceiver over the wireless communication channel; comparing the identifier to the unique identifier received from the access server; and attempting to decrypt the encrypted authentication data with a public key corresponding to the private key; and in the event the identifier matches the unique identifier received from the access server, and in the event of a successful decryption of the encrypted authentication data, the network-connected endpoint device communicating with the hardware (100, 900) to provide temporary access to the area. enrolling an access partner in an account for the endpoint device, the account maintained at an access server; receiving, from the access partner at the access server, requests for temporary access to the area, a request including a unique identifier of a wireless access device associated with the access partner, the wireless access device having a private key stored thereon; transmitting the unique identifier from the access server to the network-connected endpoint device to activate the requests with the network-connected endpoint device, the network-connected endpoint device authenticating the wireless access device by: the transceiver sending authentication data to the wireless access device over a wireless communication channel; the wireless access device encrypting the authentication data with the private key; the wireless access device communicating an identifier and the encrypted authentication data to the transceiver over the wireless communication channel; comparing the identifier to the unique identifier received from the access server; and attempting to decrypt the encrypted authentication data with a public key corresponding to the private key; and in the event the identifier matches the unique identifier received from the access server, and in the event of a successful decryption of the encrypted authentication data, the network-connected endpoint device communicating with the hardware (100, 900) to provide temporary access to the area.