Technology and security integration can protect your business

You’re not welcome here. That’s the unintentional statement a business can make if it takes the wrong approach to security systems for a corporate office or commercial building. The objective, of course, is to keep people and the property safe. The downside is that some security systems end up turning a business into something akin to Fort Knox. You run the risk of losing business because customers who should pay you a visit just don’t want to put up with the hassle. Effective security systems weigh the need for safety with maintaining a welcoming environment for clients, customers, and employees. Here are five steps toward striking that balance with technology and security integration:

 

 1. Let technology help you focus on the objective

 As Security Technology evolves, new approaches to design and implementation evolve as well. Unfortunately, many systems are reactively installed piecemeal, instead of being viewed as a single integrated platform, with many additional features and benefits. The strength of these systems are enhanced when integration is built into the design.

For example, surveillance systems are typically necessary in any security effort. An integrated approach would look at how your cameras interface with other security measures, such as visitor management systems and access control. For example, on-site or remote staff can visually identify individuals and allow or deny them entry to the building via surveillance, obviating or augmenting the use of costly on-site personnel.

 

 2. Let technology increase diligence

Surveillance systems will capture far more information than most dedicated security professionals can monitor. The answer isn’t always to hire more on-site security monitors. With remote monitoring services, a dedicated offsite team can also augment your on-site staff by watching feeds 24/7. In addition, a video analytics software solution can complement surveillance efforts.

This doesn’t push human intervention out of the way. It’s technology that enhances security vigilance by using algorithms to detect suspicious activity. Once a potential threat is identified, the software alerts staff (remote or on-premises) to focus their attention. This integration requires no major hardware upgrades. It’s software that’s programmed to scan and detect abandoned objects, piggybacking, intrusion detection, loitering, perimeter protection, theft, vandalism, and unauthorized entry.

 

 3. Let technology track and control access

A business typically has multiple access levels. There are those which allow interaction with the public, as well as the ones that are strictly for employees. It’s not practical to make this a strictly human-run responsibility. And, there’s certainly not a “one-size-fits-all” solution.

This is where technology steps in to customize access so it can be robust yet flexible. Traditional locks and keys are cumbersome and prone to creating vulnerabilities when keys are lost. Electronic entries, turnstiles, and magnetic locks can be managed remotely, allowing near instantaneous access changes if the need arises. A single card system can also grant varying and adaptable levels of access to cardholders across multiple buildings or areas within a building.

 

4. Let technology make a business welcoming

There is a choice when it’s necessary to log and track visitors. You can make it time-consuming and do it yourself—which means having people and resources devoted to a task that fluctuates. Or, you can enlist the help of technology to integrate visitor management systems into your ongoing building security and safety efforts.

Quickly generate visitor badges with digital imaging. Instantly update door access control systems to configure visitor movement throughout the building. Parts of this process may already be possible with what a business has on hand, but it only becomes practical to automate when the pieces are integrated.

 

 5. Let technology be the bridge

Ad hoc elements of building security can function beautifully by themselves, but they won’t reach their true potential unless they work in concert. And effective integration is not just about building effective security, it’s also about the convenience of control. If you’re able to remotely reconfigure a biometric reader to change access level to a room, shouldn’t you be able to control the lighting and environmental systems for that room as well?

Security integration can create exponential security benefits and increase the return on your investment. Look for a single vendor who can accomplish this for you—from the cabling and remote monitoring services to data storage. By effectively leveraging technology, your business can have greater peace of mind without making security intrusive for visitors and employees.

 

For a full appraisal of the unique needs of your business by a qualified security integrator, get in touch with POM Technologies at (212) 688-2767, email at info@pom-tec.com, or complete this contact form.