Business owners may think their security needs are met once they install a video camera or alarm system. While this equipment is a good starting point, you must continuously gauge your business’s security strength to keep assets and employees safe.
Learn whether your business’s security is up to par by asking yourself some important questions.
Determine Security Strength: What to Ask
If you haven’t measured your business security’s effectiveness lately, use the questions below to help determine if yours is up to par:
- How many entrances does my building have, and is each one secure? You may have security measures in place for the main entrance to your building, but what about other entry points? Are they secured with a monitored alarm or special access controls for employees to get in and out?
Use alarms that provide access to a monitoring center for the best security, and consider keycards or biometric scanners to ensure no unauthorized visitors are granted access to your building’s restricted areas. - Are my video cameras in optimal positions? Simply having a video camera near your building’s entrance isn’t enough. Ensure all doors and windows are being monitored with video to record any intruders. Additionally, utilize cameras indoors near important merchandise or to keep employee break rooms safe.
To bring your video monitoring to the next level, install a security system that gives you access to video feeds from anywhere using your smart phone or tablet. - Have I considered securing against natural disasters? Theft is only one threat against businesses. Also plan for security against natural disasters, such as floods and fires. The best security systems allow you to bundle environmental emergency alarms, such as water sensors and smoke alarms, with the rest of your monitored security.
Choose your environmental emergency alarms based on your business’s geographical region. If you’re located somewhere with harsh winters, for example, a low temperature indicator can prevent burst water pipes. - My physical security is accounted for, but what about cyber security? One of the biggest mistakes a business owner can make in today’s technological landscape is to neglect cyber security. Hacking is a major threat and can be avoided by securing vulnerable points of access, such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices and wireless networks.
Choose a network security vendor that will make specialized recommendations based on your unique needs; for example, whether you need a second network for secure data. Additionally, have an audit performed annually to stay up to date on the latest technology security needs.
Once you’ve answered these questions, you’ll be on your way to an airtight business security setup.
