It’s no secret a security system is a reliable solution to protect businesses and employees. However, your strategy shouldn’t stop there. Whether it’s advertising your security system to deter intruders or enhancing your window security with stops, there are easy and cost-effective ways you can complement your current business security tactics.
1. Maintain Landscaping
A well-maintained landscape can reduce the likelihood of an attack. Less foliage means less hiding places for an intruder. Consider trimming trees and bushes to keep plants from blocking windows and doors.
Plant shrubbery can even defend your business. Abrasive foliage with thorns will work as a barrier to secure entry points. Defensive plants, shrubs and trees include:
- Blue Spruce
- Common Holly
- Creeping Juniper
- Giant Rhubarb
- Golden Bamboo
2. Position Strategic Lighting
Like maintaining your landscape, lighting your business’s perimeter will illuminate potential criminal hiding places and deter intruder attempts. Strategically place lights:
- Above entrances and exits.
- Along main walkways.
- In parking lots.
- Near common operational areas, such as dumpsters and service docks.
3. Install Window Stops
Another easy way to complement your security system is by installing window stops. Made out of wood or metal strips, window stops are mounted on the side of the pane, above the bottom half of the window. When activated, they prevent the window from opening past a set height and come in handy if you ever forget to lock up.
4. Advertise Warning Signs
If you have a security system in place, place signs around your business’s perimeter to show you have a system installed. Alarms.org claims, “the presence of an alarm system is enough to make a potential burglar reconsider.” Take advantage of the signs your service provider offers to promote your security system.
5. Conceal Valuables
If an intruder manages to get inside your business, you’ll want to ensure your valuables are hidden. Invest in a safe or install locks on drawers and offices to protect customer information, employee records, cash and other important assets. It’ll take a criminal longer to find valuables if they are hidden or locked away.
6. Restrict Access
In addition to physical valuables, also secure digital assets. Customer, employee, bank, client and business data is often stored on digital computing devices. Restricting access is a simple, yet effective, strategy to enhance your cyber security.
To lower the risk of an attack and prevent unreliable employees from sharing (or even accessing) sensitive business information, incorporate a separate network for trustworthy employees, set a private password, and regularly update login credentials.
7. Implement a Security Policy
Security policies provide employees with a comprehensive understanding of internal procedures. Effective business security policies cover:
- Cyber security. Require employees install anti-virus software, train them to spot threats like fraudulent emails or malicious apps, and ensure they use a virtual protected network (VPN) when working remotely.
- Visiting procedures. Restrict access to your business with access control solutions and a visitor policy.
- Emergency action plans. In the event of a natural disaster or on-site threat, draw out response plans, escape routes and communication channels.
- Password practices. Whether it’s access to certain areas in your business or your network, ensure employees are following set practices.
These steps are meant to enhance your current business security tactics. They should in no way be your only solution. Use this advice to complement your security systems and equipment to keep your business secure.
