A fuel dispenser , comprising: a housing having a base module with fuel dispensing components disposed therein, and an electronics module with electronics for controlling the fuel dispensing components; a first door coupled to the housing and associated with a first locking mechanism configured to lock and unlock the first door to control access to components within the housing ; a first door alarm sensor configured to sense when the first door is opened and closed; an alarm/lock controller disposed in the housing and coupled to the first locking mechanism and the first door alarm sensor , the alarm/lock controller being configured to control the first locking mechanism and the first door alarm sensor ; and a reader operatively coupled to the alarm/lock controller and configured to receive a first input, characterized by a communication module (112; 316) coupled to the reader and configured to wirelessly communicate with a network cloud, the communication module being configured to receive the first input from the reader , to transmit the first input received to the network cloud to authenticate the first input, the communication module being configured to send a deactivation signal to the alarm/lock controller and the alarm/lock controller (114; 306) being configured to unlock the first locking mechanism (106; 308) and to deactivate the first door alarm sensor (107; 302) for the first door if the authentication of the first input is successful, and a fuel controller coupled to the fuel dispensing components in the base module and connected to the alarm/lock controller , wherein the alarm/lock controller (114; 306) is configured to instruct the fuel controller to disallow use of the fuel dispensing components when the first locking mechanism is unlocked and when the first door alarm sensor is de-activated. a housing having a base module with fuel dispensing components disposed therein, and an electronics module with electronics for controlling the fuel dispensing components; a first door coupled to the housing and associated with a first locking mechanism configured to lock and unlock the first door to control access to components within the housing ; a first door alarm sensor configured to sense when the first door is opened and closed; an alarm/lock controller disposed in the housing and coupled to the first locking mechanism and the first door alarm sensor , the alarm/lock controller being configured to control the first locking mechanism and the first door alarm sensor ; and a reader operatively coupled to the alarm/lock controller and configured to receive a first input, characterized by a communication module (112; 316) coupled to the reader and configured to wirelessly communicate with a network cloud, the communication module being configured to receive the first input from the reader , to transmit the first input received to the network cloud to authenticate the first input, the communication module being configured to send a deactivation signal to the alarm/lock controller and the alarm/lock controller (114; 306) being configured to unlock the first locking mechanism (106; 308) and to deactivate the first door alarm sensor (107; 302) for the first door if the authentication of the first input is successful, and a fuel controller coupled to the fuel dispensing components in the base module and connected to the alarm/lock controller , wherein the alarm/lock controller (114; 306) is configured to instruct the fuel controller to disallow use of the fuel dispensing components when the first locking mechanism is unlocked and when the first door alarm sensor is de-activated. <EOS>