Office security is a top priority for any business. There are many aspects of office security and many ways to secure your premises. Here are seven tips to get you started!
1. Pick the Right Location for Your Office Building
The initial step in securing your office building should be picking the right location. Look for an area with low crime rates and no major construction projects that could interfere with noise levels at night or create traffic issues during working hours. You may also want to consider choosing a commercial area over a residential area, if possible.
While crime rates tend to be lower in residential neighborhoods, there can be more foot and vehicle traffic during normal business hours than you would expect in a commercial neighborhood — which could potentially increase the risk of break-ins.
2. Install Heavy Doors
You should install heavy doors that are difficult to kick in or otherwise tamper with to protect your premises. These doors should ideally be steel and have deadbolt locks installed on them. If the door is made of glass, it may be a good idea to reinforce it with bars or grates so that it does not shatter under pressure. Bars also allow for lower windows, thus creating another layer between you and potential intruders. All exterior doors should have peepholes installed for added security — this allows guards or employees inside the building to see who’s outside while blocking access from anyone trying to enter through the door itself. Never leave an exterior door open when there aren’t any employees around; consider installing an overhead concealed door closer that automatically locks the door when closed.
3. Keep Employees Safe With Panic Buttons
Your employees should be trained to know what they need to do if there is an intruder or fire in the office building. One of these steps should include finding an emergency panic button and knowing how it works. These buttons are usually located all over the premises, including by every exit, inside each room, and at undisclosed locations that only employees would know about — so that intruders can’t find them easily. Each button should have a direct line of communication with on-site security staff who can quickly arrive to handle any issues that arise.
4. Provide Reliable Security Staff for Your Office Building
The quality of your security staff will be one of the most important factors in securing your office building. A single guard patrolling the premises at night is not enough to ensure that nothing will go wrong, which is why you should be sure to hire multiple guards — and train them thoroughly before sending them out on patrol. This gives you an advantage later on since it’s much harder for intruders to overpower multiple people rather than just one.
5. Use Surveillance Cameras
Surveillance cameras are a great way to monitor your office building around the clock without having someone physically present at all times. You can also review footage from these cameras when planning security drills or work with law enforcement if you believe there was malicious activity happening in or around your premises. Even though they do cost money initially, surveillance cameras are one of the best ways to secure your office building.
6. Stay Updated With Buildings Security Alerts
As new security issues in your area arise, you must stay updated with all building’s security alerts that may impact your office building. You still need to watch out for the current state of crime in your location — even if there’s no immediate danger, any developments could increase the risk of break-ins or fire in the long term.
7. Optimize Your Office Building For The Best Lighting Possible
Adequate lighting is one of the most crucial elements in securing an office building since it can make identifying trespassers easier. Start by focusing on both natural and artificial light sources — natural light will always help reduce costs compared with artificial light, but natural light sources are typically only available during the day. You can install light sensors throughout your office building to ensure that lights are only on when they’re needed, thus saving you more money in the long run. Artificial lighting systems should always be placed where they will be most effective — typically near entrances, exits, and other high-risk areas.
Securing your office building is of utmost importance for any business. While there are many ways to achieve this, the seven tips we’ve outlined here will get you started. Be sure to hire reliable security staff, use surveillance cameras, and stay up-to-date on buildings security alerts to keep your office safe from intruders and other threats.
