There are a lot of things that can cause harm to small and medium sized businesses. Some of them – like the economy or inflation rate – are completely outside of your control. But others, like stock or money theft, are. Theft by employees is one of the most damaging things for a smaller business, and it’s something most will underestimate. Research shows that employee theft accounts for a significant portion of business losses – sometimes more than shoplifting or external theft. And while larger businesses may be able to weather it, for SMEs even a small amount of loss can disrupt cash flow, dent profits and erode trust in the workplace. To protect yourself against it, you need a good first line of defence. But what does that look like?

Have Eyes Where You Can’t Be

It’s difficult for you to keep an eye on everything at once – unless you have CCTV installed. CCTV is the foundation of pretty much any physical security plan, and the bonus is that it’s expected in most workplaces. If you’re clever about where you install them, they act as both a deterrent for thieves and a source of evidence in case something should happen.

To get the most out of your CCTV systems, you should:

• Make sure cameras are covering high-risk areas. This includes cash drawers, stock rooms, loading bays and entry/exit points. The exact positioning will vary from business to business, so make sure you’ve worked out what yours are.
• Use a mix of cameras. You want some visible cameras to deter opportunists and show that you’re protecting your business. You also want some hidden ones (also known as ‘covert’) to catch anyone who thinks they’ve avoided the cameras. Just remember that you need to have some signage visible to let people know there is CCTV present – it’s the law. It’s also a good idea to let your staff know so that you’re being fully transparent.
• Opt for a system that stores footage in the cloud, rather than on physical media. This is much better for you since you don’t have to dedicate space to storing the equipment for it all, and it reduces the risk of someone tampering with the footage if they realise they’ve been caught out.
• Choose high-quality, high-definition cameras with night vision so that you have 24/7 coverage. After all, crimes happen in the daytime and at night.

Deter After Hours Snooping

While most employee thefts happen during work hours, after-hours access by a disgruntled staff member (or ex-staff) is a very real risk. Intruder alarms are a great defence to keep unwanted people out of your building when it’s closed. And since 24/7 security guards are expensive, they’re a way of protecting your premises even when no one’s around without breaking the bank. You can even opt for smart alarm systems that notify you instantly when they’re activated via your mobile phone, or directly contact the police, depending on how you set them up. The best systems can be integrated with motion sensors, glass-break detectors and door/window contacts. This means that if a window is broken, a door kicked in or even movement in the building, you’ll know about it. We would also advise you to get a backup battery and GSM modules installed if you can, which will keep the system active if there’s a power cut.

Know What’s Happening, Wherever You Are

This is where the magic happens. If you’ve never heard of remote monitoring before, it essentially combines CCTV, alarm systems and analytics to let you keep an eye on your business from anywhere. Remote monitoring can be accessed from your smartphone or computer, so you’re never out of touch with your premises and can check in whenever you need to. Remote monitoring systems can also issue real-time alerts if suspicious activity is detected, provide you with on-demand video playback as well as live feeds, and can integrate with access control systems to give you clear audit trails. This kind of system is especially useful for multi-site businesses, or SMEs where the owner can’t be on-site every day, but want the security that their employees aren’t misbehaving.

Who, When, Where

A strong access control system is what lets you know who’s coming, who’s going and when. It also allows you to restrict access to certain areas, so that only people with the right authorisations can enter These limit the opportunities for employee theft, as well as creating a clear audit trail of who was where and when. You have a few options for doing this, including keycard or fob access, biometrics (fingerprints or facial recognition), or even through secure mobile apps. It’s the perfect tool for SMEs who might have areas that not everyone should access – like stock rooms or financial records.

Investing in physical security doesn’t just protect your assets—it also signals to employees that your business takes integrity seriously. For SMEs, the right mix of CCTV, alarms, remote monitoring, and access control can act as both deterrent and detective, reducing risk and boosting peace of mind.

The good news? Many of these solutions are now affordable, scalable, and easier to install than ever before. If you’d like some advice, or a free security review, just get in touch with the Securifix team today.