Next-Level Security Precautions for Your Business

More ways to protect people and valuable goods against theft

The material costs of a break-in are simple enough (if painful) to quantify. FBI statistics released last year reveal that over one-and-a-half million instances of burglary and theft in the preceding year meant an estimated $3.6 billion in property losses. That’s an average loss per burglary of $2,316.

Property damage pales beside the possibility that your staff might one day be the victims of physical attacks by intruders. Ultimately, how much you’ve lost in dollars and cents may be fully covered by insurance but there’s still no policy to adequately compensate for acts of violence.

There are some strong steps you can take to be prepared for any potential threats, however. Assuming you lock your doors and windows and have an alarm installed, here are additional ways to increase security, from the oldest trick in the book to the latest in IP technology.

Access control

In the modern security field, effective access control is like your front door key times one thousand. It’s one of the most tried and true security measures and at its core, one of the most basic. Executed correctly, access control puts only trusted personnel in the clear to enter certain locations and use the equipment necessary to do their jobs. Modern access control is built on identification rather than simply having a key. Who someone is and what reason they have to be on your premises has to be firmly established, documented, and digitally stored. Identity itself a valuable commodity, so it’s vital that an individual be securely authenticated during any interaction with your business. Authentication as a practice is as strong as it is deep: the more levels that must be satisfied through multi-factor authentication, the more effective your security will be.

Do your employees have an ID card to swipe? If so, you’ve got a one-step authentication system. How about an ID and a password? That’s two factors that are stronger than one. Authentication can scale upward depending upon the sensitivity of what’s at risk, to include fingerprints, voice prints, facial recognition, and other biometric elements.

Remote monitoring of surveillance feeds

Having a feeling of workplace safety while you’re on site is great. The same goes for when your premises are closed. Remote monitoring allows offsite surveillance professionals to watch your possessions and property at any time utilizing up-to-date IP technology. A remote monitoring team can keep a close check on who is entering and leaving the building while securing doors, verifying visitor IDs, archiving footage, and alerting business owners and law enforcement to any suspicious activity. Remote personnel can also warn off intruders from miles away using speakers.

Other than the obvious benefits of enhanced security, successful remote monitoring can help a business manage a security with greater efficiency and with less of a need for additional manpower. A remote monitoring team is both cost-efficient and effective. When coupled with modern security analytics software, which uses algorithms to detect suspicious movements and activity, remote monitoring teams can quickly focus attention on areas with signs of trouble.

Common sense can beat the common criminal

The solutions we’ve highlighted are meant to improve your existing security. But you should also implement common-sense steps, including:

• If the interior of your premises is visible from the outside, store valuables and property away from view as much as possible (especially at night). This is a low-tech but effective deterrent to criminals.

• Install a few signs alerting the public that your premises are monitored and protected by a security system.

• Consider motion-activated lighting to discourage intruders.

• Don’t forget you have a roof. Is there a skylight or door up there that needs to be secured?

• Did you lock the digital door? Your computer system is a way in for criminals too. Invest in malware and virus protection software combined with a strong system of passwords or encryption to protect digital assets.

Be sure your security strategy is uniquely yours

Ultimately, even the best security advice isn’t fail safe. And there’s no “one-size-fits-all” solution that can replace having your site fully appraised by professionals. An inspection by a security integrator provides a full overview of your unique requirements and ensures custom safeguards that will work for you.

In addition, crime never takes a vacation. Once you have solid security in place, don’t neglect regular reassessments of your strategy and deterrents. The kind of people intent on breaking and entering aren’t easily discouraged from getting their hands on what’s yours. Be sure to test every aspect of your security operation regularly.

Since 2002, Peace of Mind Technologies has delivered over 2,000 security solutions across many industries in the greater New York Metropolitan area. We’re specialists who work with your team to provide comprehensive, site-specific security from implementation to post-installation support. To discuss your needs with an expert, call us at (212) 688-2767, email us at info@pom-tec.com, or complete our contact form for a free consultation.