Increasing Security at your Business
No matter where you are located or what type of business you run, you know that business security is important. If you’re like most business owners, security threats are something you think about (and possibly even worry about) on a regular basis. This makes sense. You work hard at your business and you don’t want to have your assets stolen or vandalized by criminals.
The good news is there are things you can to do improve security at your business. You might think that business security is a complicated, difficult, time-consuming, and expensive process, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some tips for how you can improve security quickly.
Look for Threats & Weaknesses
One of the best ways to improve security at your business today is to look for threats and weaknesses at your property. This means reviewing your location and looking at it through the eyes of a criminal. If you were trying to break into your property, how would you do it? Remember, criminals have no respect for you or your property. If they want to get inside, they will break windows, pry doors from their hinges, and damage or smash whatever they need to.
Are there any unprotected areas that criminals could take advantage of? Are all of your doors or windows protected by security gates? If they’re not, you should strongly consider having gates or other visible physical security tools installed. Not only do security gates keep criminals out, but they also serve as a strong visual deterrent. Criminals know how difficult it is to break through security gates, and they often avoid properties that have them installed.
It’s also important to take away any tools that criminals could use to commit a crime. If your business has a moveable sign (such as an a-frame sign) on the sidewalk in front of your property, remember to lock it inside your property when your business is closed. Otherwise, criminals could use it to help them smash through your doors or windows to gain access. The same is true for snow shovels, brooms, or anything else that could be used as a weapon or a tool by a criminal.
Increase Visibility
Criminals like to operate where they cannot easily be seen. This gives them the opportunity to work without being spotted and increases the likelihood that they’ll be able to get away with their crimes. To improve security at your business, you’ll want to make it more difficult for criminals to hide.
One way to do this is by installing additional lighting on the outside of your business. Motion-activated lighting is great for this purpose, as these lights only turn on when someone approaches your property. This can save you money on electricity while still keeping your business safe. Plus, a light unexpectantly coming on could spook a criminal. Lighting also improves the quality of the footage captured by security cameras, which often struggle to get usable video in the dark.
It’s also a good idea to remove planters, signs, or other items that criminals could hide behind. Giving criminals a place to hide makes it easier for them to stake out your property or hide from your staff. By removing these hiding places, you keep your property, your employees, and your customers safer.
