10 tips for office security
Making your office a safe and secure environment is critical to the success of your business and creating a happy and productive workforce.
This is easier said than done however, and without the proper care and attention your property, data, and people can easily come under threat.
A data breach or physical break-in is any companies worst nightmare and the loss of assets, stolen goods, and reputation loss they can bring can do a huge amount of harm. Many office based businesses simply never recover from such a hit.
To ensure that you are not another office casualty that falls by the wayside, we have gathered together 10 top tips and tricks that will help you maximise protection on your premises and create a safe working environment for your valued employees.
Tip #1 – Use ID badges
In a busy workplace it can be difficult to track who is where and doing what at any one time, especially when it comes to the use of electronic devices. ID badges are a great way for you and your security team to identify exactly who they are dealing with and hold employees to account for their actions.
Both staff and visitors should be given ID badges but consider using a different colour for guests so they can be identified easily from a distance. For maximum security, make it so employees sign in and out of the office using their ID card, rather than installing a keypad or having no access control whatsoever.
Tip #2 – Install CCTV
You might be reluctant to install CCTV in your office as you don’t want your staff to feel as though they are constantly being watched. However, there really is no more effective tool in increasing office security than CCTV installation.
You might decide only to install CCTV in common areas such as corridors and entry points, or across the entire property, but either way this is an incredibly valuable deterrent to criminals and a valuable tool in tracking on-site activity.
Tip #3 – Install an alarm
When the working day is at a close, your alarm system will stay vigilant, protecting your property, assets, and data from the threat of local intruders.
For maximum protection, arrange an alarm response service with a local security firm who will response to any detected security breaches on your behalf, keeping your staff out of harm’s way and minimising any threat.
Tip #4 – Don’t forget cyber security
For the modern business, cyber security is just as important as physical security with a huge amount of financial, personal, and client data stored in your computer system. Theft of this could do irreparable harm to your business reputation so ensure you hire a professional cyber security firm to protect your systems.
Tip #5 – Remember to lock up
Far too many office crimes occur as a result of doors being left unlocked and security systems turned off by accident.
Make sure to check your locks every time you leave your office and ensure your staff are aware of their responsibilities in doing the same.
Tip #6 – Store sensitive information in a secure location
Your entire office should be secure but you should take particular care over sensitive information and equipment, even when it is keycode protected by storing it in a securer location when not in use. Contact a professional security firm for more information on where this may be.
Tip #7 – Hire a security guard
Nothing scares off intruders quicker than the sight of a professional security guard in the lobby or outside an office building.
These experts will check ID’s, monitor access control technology, look out for suspicious behaviour, and reassure visitors that they are in safe hands.
Tip #8 – Buy a safe
A fire proof, highly secure safe is a great place to store important documents, valuable assets, and more. Only give the combination to your safe to those who absolutely must have it and whom you completely trust and change the combination on a regular basis. Consult with both a local security firm and your insurance company before proceeding with buying a safe to ensure that it meets their standards.
Tip #9 – Educate your staff
Arrange for a security expert to train your staff on best practice when it comes to on-site security. Training should include everything when logging out of computers when finished with them to where to store their key cards when not in the office and how to report suspicious activity.
Tip #10 – Plan for the worst
Follow the tips above and the risk of an emergency situation in your office is slim. Failure to prepare however Make sure to have a strong evacuation and emergency response plan in place to guard against every possible eventuality.
For more information on how best to protect your workplace in the North East, get in touch with a local security company Manchester today.