Choose a Security System That Makes Sense for Your Business
Last week, a Mac store in Edmonton, Canada experienced a violent armed robbery. Local business owner Lawrence Brendel believes that the right approach for companies to take is to be proactive about security — especially when there’s a lot on the line.
In 2003, Brendel’s jewelry store was also robbed at gunpoint. While it is unfortunate that businesses have to take such things into account, his advice is nothing if not practical; “You’re a sitting duck here, you’ve got to do what you can do,” he explained in an interview with CBC.
Proactive Approach
One of Brendel’s security solutions is to require all people to buzz into the store. This allows his staff to evaluate who is asking to come in, and ensures that the business is always aware of who is inside. He also has security cameras that he can monitor through a phone app.
Naturally, it’s impossible for most businesses to adopt the type of business security system Brendel has. Buzzing people in individually will only work in small stores that deal with a limited number of daily customers, like a jewelry store. But his solution does indicate one key point of good business security systems — and that’s making sure what you have is a good fit for your type of business. Here are a few things you should know about choosing a security system.
Choosing a Security System That Makes Sense for Your Business
Did you know that one out of every seven companies has an alarm system? Alarms are a very basic mode of security, and yet a surprisingly low number of businesses actually have one in place. An alarm that automatically calls either its owner or the police when there is a problem is a good and basic mode of defense.
As Brendel discovered, security cameras are another relatively low cost security option, and they can be applied to a number of commercial security applications. While most people think of outside robbery as a major security option, it shouldn’t be forgotten that there are often internal issues as well. One survey, for example, indicates that almost 35% of inventory shrink is due to employee theft.
Simply knowing that a camera is in an otherwise concealed backroom can often be a powerful deterrent for employees who have potentially sticky fingers. This is true of outsiders as well, though; an estimated 67% of burglaries would not happen if video surveillance cameras were universally installed.
Ultimately, the security you choose for your business should target your largest potential weaknesses. A business with a lot of on-sight merchandise will be tempting for late night robbers and should have additional on-site surveillance and detection systems. A digital company, on the other hand, will need more robust online security.
Do you have any tips for choosing a security system? Let us know in the comments.