Businesses are frequent targets of criminal activity. From vandalism and threats to the personal safety of your staff members to theft of high-value assets, criminals can do a lot of damage to your company if you’re not careful. The greater the worth of the assets you keep on your business property, the more attractive the prize for would-be criminals and, as such, the extra protection your business might need. Here, we’re going to look at some of the security measures you might want to invest in, the benefits they offer, and why it’s important.
Invest In Secure Doors And Windows
First things first, you can help prevent any unwanted access to your property by investing in a strong physical barrier. This might mean reinforced security doors, laminated glass windows, window security films, and commercial-grade locks that are designed to be tamper-proof. It’s worth noting that with the right tools and patience, the right person can get into practically any door or window, so they should not be your only line of safety, but they can definitely be enough to keep would-be intruders busy enough to let your other security systems do their work, or to deter those who are aware of the greater risk that might come with having spend so much time breaking into the property.
Act Immediately With Alarm Systems And Sensors
Preventing access is an important part of securing your business, but just as crucial is that you’re able to act when you detect potentially criminal behavior. Alarm systems can be just as important for detecting unauthorized entry as they are for fire or flooding, kicking into action and alerting anyone nearby when they perceive a threat. Your alarm systems can also be monitored by security professionals, which allows them to trigger an immediate response from either security staff or emergency services. Alarms can even be integrated with CCTV and other security systems, so make sure that all of your equipment works together to provide the most comprehensive protection for your premises and assets.
Restrict And Track With Access Controls
If you’re investing in highly secure doors, you still want your own staff and others with the right authorization to be able to enter your premises. To that end, modern access control systems can help you ensure that the right people can get in, but they also allow you to control precisely who gets in and when. These access systems can be powered by keycards, fobs, biometric scanners, or mobile credentials, and many of them will let you assign different levels of authorization to different visitors. What’s more, they may store data on who accesses the area and when, which, in turn, lets you narrow your search if there are any suspicions of malicious access.
Monitor In Real-Time With A CCTV System
One of the most popular security systems for the modern business, CCTV systems can play a vital role in safeguarding high-value assets and preventing loss across the board. Even small businesses such as stores can benefit from CCTV as it allows not just live monitoring but access to recorded evidence, as well. Many of the higher-quality cameras even allow for night vision and motion detection. When placed in the right critical areas, such as entrances, storage rooms, server spaces, and parking lots, they can give you a much more comprehensive picture of the situation in the event of a suspected crime. Some cameras are even starting to integrate facial recognition and object tracking analytics to be able to better spot criminal activity and bad actors.
Maintain Control With A Professional Security Team
When the potential risk to your business is great enough, there are few things more effective than having the right people on the ground. Not only can security officers act with a level of insight and training that technology can easily miss, but they’re also able to operate on their own judgment to respond to alarms, manage access points, and identify suspicious behavior in real time. With a team of Verintegra private security guards, you can also ensure that you’re able to post up a deterrent to criminals. If would-be thieves see your premises and assets closely guarded by professionals, the risk is going to be too high for most of them to want to continue.
Cybersecurity Counts, Too
The rate of cybercrime has been skyrocketing over the past years, as, in some cases, the worth of digital assets held by businesses can match or even exceed the worth of the materials and equipment they have. To that end, cybersecurity threats such as phishing scams, ransomware, data breaches, and more should be taken just as seriously. Working with a cybersecurity team to put in place the right firewalls, encrypted data transmission, multi-factor authentication for access points, and network segmentation all helps to protect the sensitive information that exists in your systems. Businesses with valuable data and digital systems they rely on should also make use of penetration testing to be able to identify and then work on their weaknesses.
Create Strong Internal Protocols
The right equipment and help can go a long way to secure your business, but it has to work alongside trained staff who are instructed to follow clear protocols when necessary. As such, you should work with your team and security advisors to create a range of protocols covering everything from how you manage visitors to how you handle keys. Data protection practices are especially relevant for businesses that have valuable digital assets to protect, as well. You should also conduct emergency drills so that employees can know how to respond to threats, be it a break-in, a cyberattack, or something else. Keep your systems up to date with periodic risk assessments, and you can make sure that you’re as protected as you can be.
Which security measures work best for you is going to differ on a business-by-business and even location-by-location basis. However, now that we’ve outlined a range of the options available, it’s worth taking the time to explore which will best suit your needs.
