Increasingly, safety in the workplace has become a priority for many business owners. Ensuring workers are safeguarded from on-the-job hazards is simply a good practice to have in place. It can protect your business from litigious consequences and helps you avoid workplace injuries. Furthermore, having strong security in place can also protect your company from loss of time and money.
In addition to keeping employees and customers safe, company buildings also demand proper security so you can protect business assets from theft or damage. With this in mind, here are types of security measures your business office or warehouse should consider.
Managed Access
There are different types of access control systems and choosing the right managed access will depend upon your business needs. Managed access is a godsend when it comes to electronically controlling who is allowed entry into various areas of your offices or warehouse. For example, if you have a server room that houses your company’s IT and secured data, only certain top-level employees should have access to this sensitive location.
In this scenario, a role-based access control system will allow you to digitally assign permissions to your IT managers so they can have entry into server and backup terminal rooms while prohibiting other employees’ entrance. Managed access can protect your data, supplies, and assets from theft or tampering.
Security Alarms and Surveillance
Having a system in place that both monitors activity on your business premises as well as alerts you to suspicious behavior on the property can be a huge relief for you, your employees and customers. Security systems are even more relevant today because there has been a 54% hike in theft and burglaries in small businesses in the US over the past year.
Common types of office and warehouse security systems include window and door sensors, motion detectors, signal alarms, and more. Most security systems will alert both you as the owner, key staff members as well as the local police department if there is a breach in security. As a useful point of reference, SafeStreets shows how layered security can bring together alarms, sensors, cameras, and monitoring, an approach businesses can also consider when deciding which security components their premises require.
Surveillance cameras are an extra level of protection for both your inventory and your employees and customers. To explain, catching a crime on a video camera gives you proof and recourse to protect your assets, customers or employees in the event a crime was committed on your business property.
Secure Valuable Items
While having a security alarm in place is a great way to protect your business assets, sometimes the theft is committed before law enforcement gets on the scene. That’s why it’s important to secure valuable equipment in dedicated rooms that are equipped with managed access.
Smaller items of value such as company credit cards, payroll checks, or petty cash should be stored and locked in a safe that can only be opened with a key code combination. If you have items or equipment that are highly valuable, gain peace of mind by keeping these items under lock and key to prevent loss or theft.
Fire Alarms
This may seem like a no-brainer, but you might be surprised how many business warehouses or offices go up in flames due to faulty or outdated fire alarm systems. In many cases, fire alarms are mandatory and companies are required to comply with city, state or country fire codes to stay in business.
However, if your business isn’t required to meet a certain level of compliance, this doesn’t exclude you from protecting customers, employees and business assets by not having an updated fire alarm system in place.
Furthermore, you should also make sure that fire alarms are kept updated and properly powered after installation. Having this life-saving security feature could save your business from enduring incalculable losses due to accidental fires or natural disasters.
Digital Security
Cyberattacks are on the rise, and there is no sign of digital invasions going away any time soon. In fact, cyberhackers are becoming increasingly more clever and bold in their various tactics to breach small business digital information. It only takes one cyberattack to ruin or even shut a business down. Compromises in cybersecurity can cause outrageous expenses and damages.
Furthermore, your company could stand to lose customer trust if they have been a victim of cyberhacking or identity theft from your ecommerce website. Therefore, it’s crucial to make every effort to ensure your company’s digital data is safe, protected and secure from cyber invasions.
The Last Word on Keeping Your Business Secure
Taking proactive steps to protect your business office and warehouse is your first, best effort to avoid loss of productivity, time and money. What’s more, taking precautions will help you better avoid costly injuries or theft. Ultimately, when you prepare and protect your business, your odds of running your company smoothly without setbacks are greatly increased.
