There’s no denying that businesses can be big targets for theft. The size, type and location of your business will determine exactly how tempting it will be to criminals and how likely you are to be targeted, but the bottom line is that any business with a premises needs to understand the security threats they face. For example, a recent report from the Home Office found that:

• In the transportation and storage sector there were 2,755 crime incidents per 1,000 premises.
• Vandalism, theft and burglary were the most common types of crime in the agricultural sector.
• The construction sector sees 910 crime incidents per 1,000 premises, likely due to the attractive high value assets they store on site.

So whatever business you run, wherever your site is, you need to put some thought into your physical security, and make sure you get the right solutions in place. If you’re not sure where to start, here are our top 5 ways you could improve your business security.

Have an Overseer

Security is one of those things that definitely doesn’t benefit from a lot of people being involved. Having lots of people in charge of your security can actually make the whole system less secure, not to mention cause a lot of confusion. So we recommend appointing one person to oversee all of your security needs. This should be a trustworthy, longstanding employee who can handle the ‘project management’ of security. This person doesn’t need to be an expert in security, but they should be able to:

• Track and monitor who has access to security information.
• Be the point of contact for service providers, like security systems installers.
• Be responsible for ensuring the security systems are maintained.
• Be responsible for updating keyholder information.
• Be the site owner’s point of contact for security information.

Put a Maintenance Plan in Place

It’s not enough just to have a security system in place – it also needs regular maintenance to ensure it’s all running properly. Even if you aren’t using a contractor to care for your systems, making sure the hardware is regularly serviced and maintained, and that any software is updated or installed as and when needed. Regular maintenance will help you to avoid false alarms, as well as reducing costly repairs or replacements of your systems before their time.

Contract a Professional

If you’re just setting up, your security system is a bit old, or you’re just not sure if it’s up to scratch, then it’s time to bring in a professional. A professional security company can assess your site from multiple different angles, and provide you with suggestions to either improve your security, or install the right security measures for your premises and needs. They can also provide ongoing maintenance and monitoring of that system, so you can be sure it’s all set and running smoothly. Security professionals are experts in their field, and they can pass this knowledge on and keep your business safe, without costing you a fortune. They can also make sure your systems are kept up to date, false alarms are quickly addressed, and issues are dealt with before they compromise your business’s security.

Regularly Review Your Technology

Technology in the security industry is always advancing and developing, which means you should be regularly reviewing what you have in place to make sure it’s still suitable. New issues are often being solved, and so new technologies can be made available to make your business even safer. Of course, there is also likely to be an expense involved in upgrading your equipment, so you also need to review how cost-effective these upgrades would be, and whether the benefits outweigh the cost. If you’re not sure about this, a security professional can be of huge help here as well.

Actually Look at Your CCTV Footage

Many businesses just store and then destroy their CCTV footage if there isn’t an incident, often without even looking at it. But your CCTV footage can be a valuable resource in improving the security of your premises. Check what footage your remote monitoring station receives, what angles it sees, and if there have been any attempts to scope your premises by criminals. This helps you see any weak spots, can show you the level of detail you can obtain on any intruders, and makes sure your cameras are in the right position (or helps you see if they need to be moved). So make sure you regularly review your footage as part of your security efforts.

Consider Seasonal Changes

Finally, keep an eye on things as the seasons go by. A change in seasons also mean a change in the security requirements of your site. Things like a change in daylight hours, weather conditions and more can impact the effectiveness of your CCTV and intruder alarms, and will change the approach potential intruders take. For example, in winter you will need to double check how effective your security lighting is, while in summer you will want to clear any foliage and be aware of the summer holidays, where you might be shorter of staff but busier than ever – creating a security weak spot.

At Securifix, we pride ourselves on providing high quality security solutions and advice to business owners across the country. If you would like to book your free security review, or just want some advice, just get in touch with the team today, and we would be happy to help.