Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A part of running your business is putting the proper security in place. Doing so will ultimately lower your expenses and increase your chances for success. The following contributed post is entitled, Five Ways To Improve Security.
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Office security is an important part of any business. The hub of your work needs to be safe for your staff, products and equipment. Office security doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective, however. Here are five ways you can improve your office security.
Invest In An Alarm System
An alarm system is the first and most obvious tool to keep your office secure. Choose one that is easy to set, so you don’t have to worry if it’s been properly done if someone else is the last to leave the office. Make sure the system you choose is reliable; wireless systems like MeshWrx Alarm Monitoring have less in them to go wrong.
Decide if you want an alarm that automatically alerts you or the police (or both) to a break-in. Knowing immediately there is a problem can be very helpful.
Look After Equipment
Make sure any valuable equipment, such as laptops, is properly labelled. Mark these items with ID tags or barcodes so it’s immediately obvious if something isn’t returned. Keep an inventory of kit so it can be checked in and out easily.
Make sure any onsite storage for electronics is secure. A sturdy cabinet or cupboard with a strong lock is an easy way to do this. Ask employees to return any kit they won’t be taking home to this cupboard at the end of every work day. A laptop properly stored is far less likely to go missing than a laptop that was left out on a desk over night.
If staff will be taking any equipment home, make sure you provide them with a suitable carrier to protect it, such as a good quality laptop bag. If you need to, put in place rules to stop employees leaving laptops or other gear in unattended in the car or in public places.
Keep Track Of Who’s Coming And Going
Ask your staff to wear ID badges that prominently display your company logo and their name. Give visitor passes to any site visitors that are equally prominent. Anyone without an ID badge or pass will immediately stand out as someone who shouldn’t be there.
Locking the office with key card or fob access can be an effective way to keep out unauthorised people too.
Install CCTV
CCTV is another obvious choice to keep you secure. In the case of a breakin or other incident in the office, CCTV can be a valuable evidence tool. Prominent signs telling people that you have CCTV also acts as an effective deterrent to would-be thieves.
Set Office Security Policies
You’d be surprised how many office break-ins or security breaches occur that could be avoided with a proper protocol.
Make sure that the office is never left open and unattended. Impose the same rule to any rooms or storage areas that are used to keep equipment or sensitive data. Ask your staff to lock their computers if they leave their desk, and to secure any desk drawers or filing cabinets that contain sensitive or confidential paperwork.
