The Need for Commercial Building Security
Commercial buildings of all types often present an attractive target for criminals. Whether it’s theft from warehouses, offices, distribution centres, or factories, the impact of neglecting commercial building security can be significant. These incidents often occur because someone has identified and exploited a flaw in your existing security. The breach may have originated externally, but it may also have been an insider job, perhaps by a dishonest employee or subcontractor. Theft not only hits your bottom line, but the damage caused can disrupt your day-to-day operations for extended periods, costing you even more.
For decades, Angleside has been providing commercial building security solutions throughout the UK and across Europe. We understand the frustrations and losses caused by security breaches, and our services are designed to address these pain points directly. Beyond the installation of robust physical security measures, we offer security guards, proactive mobile patrols to deter potential threats, and expert alarm and CCTV monitoring and rapid response services.
If your objective is to reduce risk and have genuine peace of mind knowing you’ve taken every possible step to boost your commercial property’s security, read on to find out what we recommend you consider.
Security Auditing and Strategic Planning
Instead of gambling on inadequate security and hoping for the best, proactive measures can significantly reduce the likelihood of your business becoming a target. A comprehensive security audit is the logical first step, allowing you to pinpoint potential weaknesses before they can be exploited.
For a true assessment of your security needs, it’s best to engage an independent and impartial security expert. Their objectivity is crucial for the accurate identification of all weaknesses and vulnerabilities. A thorough security audit will examine all aspects of your commercial building’s security, considering both physical measures that can be implemented and internal vulnerabilities that could potentially be exploited by staff and visitors alike.
The objective of an audit is to produce a strategic security plan that seals the leaks by eliminating the main vulnerabilities. These can be broken down into 4 main areas
- Maintaining a security guard presence
- Staff training.
- Introducing access control and monitoring systems
- Physical adaption of the building and surrounding grounds
1. Security Guarding
For larger businesses and those with high volumes of traffic and sprawling or multiple premises, a uniformed security presence may well be the best and most cost-effective solution. A security guard is a multitasker that can not only reinforce but often fulfil many of the commercial building security functions already discussed here.
Security guards can be alert to circumstances that might not be picked up by automated systems and react in real time to incidents that occur. They can also patrol and monitor areas of a building not covered by surveillance systems as well as the external perimeters.
Security guards are not only a highly visible deterrent to criminal activity, they also offer a reassuring presence to staff and visitors alike. Automated systems can only carry out their programs as opposed to a security guard being able to analyse and react using initiative.
2. Staff Training
Employee security awareness is your first line of defence against internal and external threats. Establishing a suitable training programme for staff so that they become aware of security issues is a good practice that supplements your security measures with extra pairs of eyes and ears.
Teaching them what to look out for and how to respond introduces a collective sense of responsibility. This approach inevitably results in a reduced risk of theft.
Training can be introduced as part of the induction process and should be refreshed and updated regularly.
3. Access Control
There are various points around a commercial building at which an access control system can be used. This might be at the external perimeter in the form of gates and barriers with automated systems such as key fob presses or number plate recognition systems.
If doors and windows are to be upgraded to high-security standards, it would be worth looking at how card entry or key code access systems can be integrated. Similar systems can be used internally to limit access to certain areas of a building.
If you choose not to install an electronic access control system, make sure to manage the key distribution process well. You should keep records of who has possession of the keys and when they have them. Backing this up with a comprehensive logging procedure is always a good idea.
4. Adaptation of the building
Adapting a commercial building and its grounds to increase security is no small task and may take substantial investment. In terms of preventing loss from theft and crime, it is an investment that has the potential to recover and even make good on the initial outlay.
That is not to say that relatively small measures like replacing locks with high-security versions will not have an impact. It is more about how a holistic approach to security can be even more effective and, in the longer term, actually save money.
- Security barriers and gates: Introducing measures like security barriers and gates with anti-tamper and anti-climb features around a perimeter not only makes it much more difficult to approach a building, but it also gives a signal to anyone with criminal intent that the business beyond the perimeter has given some thought to security and in that way acts as a deterrent. Why focus on a difficult target when there are easier pickings out there?
- Lighting: A well-lit building is a more secure building. Definitely, the most important lights to install will be those that brightly illuminate external areas. Not only is it a deterrent to those seeking an opportunity, but it also makes staff entering and leaving the building after dark feel more secure.
- CCTV and Alarm Systems: Installing surveillance cameras is an effective way of securing a building. With the latest developments in wireless internet-based technology, not only have installations become cheaper, but ongoing monitoring has also become simpler. A surveillance and alarm system is a primary deterrent not just to external security threats but also to potential theft carried out by employees and other authorised personnel.
Partnering with Angleside for your security requirements.
Angleside is a well-established industry leader in the security sector. We have been supplying a full range of security services to business and commerce for many years. We like to get involved with security projects at the planning stages, but we are also happy to integrate with existing security arrangements.
We employ high-calibre, rigorously vetted, and highly trained personnel, many of whom are drawn from a military or service background. We have a large portfolio of successful security projects undertaken around the world and we are as happy to take on short-term and temporary contracts as we are long-term.
Our business and commercial security services include:
- Security audits
- Security guards
- Supply and installation of physical security measures
- CCTV and monitoring services
- Mobile security patrolling
- Close protection services