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When you think about protecting your business, you probably think of digital threats or insurance — especially the digitial world, in light of all of the ongoing (and high-profile) data leaks. But when was the last time you thought about your office’s physical security? Access control, locks (and who all has keys!), and even security systems are all a big piece of keeping your company and your people safe. (Our fully remote clients luck out here, but not everyone is so fortunate.)
We’re going to do a quick dive to give you some food for thought (as you can probably guess, it’s way too big of a topic to put here — it’s become an entire field of study).
Protecting your company’s Assets: Securing your actual, physical business
We’re doing this one first because this one is the easiest to talk about — after all, you have insurance if something terrible happens to the “stuff” but having those things suddenly go away could set your business back enough that it cripples you.
Depending on what you have (and how much of it), you might need to have more than one layer of security. We think the castle analogies are kind of cheesy, so we’ll forego that one for today but, suffice it to say, locks, access control systems, alarms, cameras, et cetera are among the things to think about. You want to keep everything isolated from the outside when you’re not there, but what about things that only a small group of employees need access to? (Think about HR offices, high-dollar inventory items, fuel tanks, etc.)
It starts with what you are protecting, from whom, and why. (If you want to build a castle and your business can afford it, then go for it, but it might be overkill. Guess we couldn’t stay away from the castle analogy after all.)
Preventing Criminal Activity: The First Line of Defense
We all know by now that criminals go for easy targets. So if preventing theft or other criminal acts against your company is what you are most concerned about, then be aware that would-be criminals will find that unlocked door, rusted-out padlock, broken camera, unattended bay door and see their opportunity. A couple of things to consider:
1. Locks (aka Keeping Your Stuff Safe 101)
You’d be surprised how many clients we see with outdated, ineffective, or just plain missing locks at their businesses. For those that do have locks with a lot of property or company data behind them, it’s worth looking at whether your door can withstand someone trying to force it open (moot point with glass storefronts, we know). Nowadays, your locks must be designed to withstand tampering, drilling, and kicking (though this one is more with plates and screws than locks). If you haven’t already, upgrade your locks — it’s less expensive than the alternative and you don’t need a consultant for it.
Remember those ‘sensitive’ areas we talked about a moment ago? If you have a ‘high dollar inventory room,’ HR file room, cash office, etc., then these are the places to consider installing separate locks in. After all, customer service has no need to be in the HR file room, and HR has no need to be in your office if you’re not there.
2. Perimeter Controls (Fencing!)
No one wants their business to look like Fort Knox, but that doesn’t mean skipping perimeter security. Even if your fencing covers the sides and behind your business, it’s better than nothing (just make sure you can record who might come in after you leave!). This is less of a concern if you have a warehouse or manufacturing facility, but many of our clients also have storefronts where that might not be 100% practical (or inviting for potential customers).
If you have outdoor equipment (don’t forget your A/C unit!), fuel tank, storage/laydown areas, etc., then this is where it counts. We’ve all heard stories of someone who lost everything from fuel to the copper in their air conditioner to, for one of our clients, outdoor seating for their restaurant. This is also where cameras and other surveillance tools come in (more on that in a minute).
The bottom line is to get potential criminals to decide that the work to get into your business isn’t worth the risk of getting caught.
3. Employee Badges/Electronic Access Control
Similar to locks for specific areas of your building, this is a more high-tech version. The added benefit is that you can see who is coming and going in those areas. The logs that come along with it are well worth the cost of the system and can be used for more than just your employees (think vendors, contractors, visitors, etc.).
Reducing Risk: Thinking Beyond Immediate Security
If you’ve been in business for a while, then you’ve likely going through the insurance thing once or twice. If you haven’t yet, or haven’t been able to give the insurance company things you’re doing to mitigate risk, then this is for you.
You probably already know that advanced features on your car (stolen car locator, anti-lock brakes, VIN-etched windows) help lower your insurance rate. The same is true for your business. Fire systems, security alarms, cameras, access control can all help your insurance company offer you a lower rate because they lower your risk of loss.
It can be a lot to think about
What to do and how to implement a physical security plan is a lot of work and, even if you don’t pick us, it’s something you need to think about (and possibly work with a specialist for). Don’t let it intimidate or overwhelm you, because it’s not as daunting as you might think it is. Not sure where to start? We can help.
