Powerful Ways to Upgrade Your Commercial Security
Unfortunately, crime is a reality. As business owners, we must be on guard and vigilant about security for our office, commercial property, and employees.
If you are a business owner there are surely a lot of things that you must manage. Don’t overlook security. Here is a checklist of the main measures that you need to address to keep your company safe.
1. Build a Company Culture of Security
Human is always the most crucial element in any situation.
An effectively secured business should have clear company policies in writing. Security measures should address emergency procedures, visitor restrictions, and safety codes. They should also cover how employees should treat company property and their keys to the commercial building – if they are allowed to loan them to others or make copies.
Managers should follow a routine for locking doors around the property, closing gates and setting the alarm. Review the expectations regarding locking up with employees. Go over the company’s security policies and emergency procedures with your entire staff and with new hires.
2. Properly Secure Doors and Entry Points
High-quality locks are advantageous for businesses because it’s a relatively low-cost security measure.
All doors and points of entry should be locked, even during regular business hours, when they’re not being used. Windows are no exception. They should be secured from the inside when the office is closed or when a space is not being used.
3. Upgrade to an Access Control System
Keyless entry systems reduce the number of keys available and make it easy to track entry into the building throughout the day. Access control makes it easy to change user permissions immediately.
That means that new hires can enter the building using the proximity or biometric reader and employees that leave the company have their entry permission cancelled immediately.
4. Install Security Cameras
Adding security cameras will allow you, as the business owner, to see who is accessing the building. When installed on the interior and exterior of the building, the video feed will provide evidence of a crime, if necessary, but also act as a deterrent.
Cameras can be placed at key locations on the premises: entry points, loading docks, the parking lot or garage, restricted areas, and storage facilities. It’s important that you post signs clearly stating that security cameras are present.
5. Protect Valuables
Have staff keep their items like wallets, purses, and keys, in a locked room or cabinet rather than leaving them unsupervised. If your business accepts cash payments, be sure to make frequent bank deposits during regular business hours. This will limit the amount of money in the cash registers at any given time.
When you close up for the day, have your staff get into the habit of putting particularly valuable items away, out of sight. It would also help to deter possible thieves to close the blinds and window treatments. Extra cash and important documents should be stored in a secure, fireproof combination safe.
6. Enforce Network Security
Commercial security is not just about protecting tangible assets. In business, information is an intangible asset that also needs to pay the utmost attention. The loss, misplaced or leaked of it can cause horrendous damage to a business.
As a business owner, it is important that you inform the employees about expectations and policies regarding electronic communication, computer usage, and handling information. This should include running regular system updates and using anti-virus software. The WiFi network should be protected with a strong password.
If you would like to offer customers access to free WiFi, provide them with a separate network. This is way safer for you.
7. Maintain the Property
Routine property maintenance will help protect your commercial building. Install extra lighting and replace broken light bulbs outside/ inside of the building.
Work to keep bushes and landscaping well-trimmed. Fencing and gates with secure locks should be installed around the property to help protect company cars and equipment. Lastly, damaged doors, locks, and windows must be repaired as soon as possible to avoid them being used for easy access into the office.
8. Hire Commercial Security Services
Security patrol staff can help keep an eye on your commercial property after regular business hours, on the weekends and during holidays.
These trained professionals monitor the facility and look for signs of problems when your regular staff is away. Many service providers allow you to dictate how often they control the property and provide real-time reports and GPS tracking.
9. Add a Security System
Security systems are a solid way to protect commercial buildings from vandalism and prevent theft during the hours when activity is closed.
Though it is not cheap, think of it as an investment. Installing an alarm system may also help reduce insurance costs and qualify for a tax deduction on business tax returns.
10. Provide Ample Lighting
Exterior lighting works as an effective crime deterrent. A well-lit property around the building and parking lot also makes your employees feel safe during the dark evening hours.
Floodlights and motion detectors can also help illuminate any blind spots and decrease the risk of nighttime break-ins. Ensure that there is plenty of lighting near the main doors for any employees that may need to enter or exit after dark.
11. Screen and Accompany All Guests
Uninvited or unannounced guests shouldn’t be able to enter and wander throughout your office at will. Having a receptionist who collects information from all visitors to your building works to keep track of who enters the building and for what reason. Any guests should then be escorted to the individual they came to see and then to the door when they’re ready to leave. They should never be left alone to wander the office.
Some companies enforce this type of policy through an ID badge system. This involves supplying all employees and faculty members with identity badges that have their full names and pictures. Then, any visitors to the workplace are asked to wear a guest badge while in the building.
12. Manage Incoming and Outgoing Employees
Many companies have made background checks a standard part of their hiring process. This can provide a greater sense of security when working with new staff. You should also request proper documentation and references for any other service providers who will have access to the office building, such as cleaning crews.
The business owner should establish a set procedure for how to handle security when employees leave. Here are some of the measures that should be accounted for in the exit policy:
- Exit Interview – Arrange a meeting with a representative from human resources and the employee’s immediate supervisor to ensure a smooth transition for the departing worker and to finalize any remaining terms.
- Retrieve Equipment – IT should collect any company property including computer equipment, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, etc.
- Deactivate Credit Cards – If the employee exiting had a company credit card, make sure you call the provider and cancel his/her account.
- Deactivate Account or Forward E-mail – Make sure that the employee’s e-mail is deactivated or forwarded to his/her replacement or superior.
- Reset Passwords – Ensure that passwords are changed on any accounts that the employee had access.
- Collect Key or Access Card – Have the employee return his/her key or access card. If your company has an access control system, entry permissions should also be updated to deny access to staff that has left the company.
Increase Security at Your Business
Hiring a commercial security system installer like Trilect is a great way to secure your business. Trust an expert to help you increase security at your place of business, whether it’s an office, store or warehouse. The skilled locksmiths at Trilect offer a range of services for commercial buildings, from CCTV, and access control to monitoring services.
Contact our team today at (09) 271 2493 or request a free quote using our easy online form
