Any business comes with some level of risk. The minute you put your money out there, you are taking a chance.
However, it is your responsibility to find ways to mitigate the chances of losing a large amount of money or property. During the initial planning for your new enterprise, you should already have affordable business security tips that you can rely on.
While there may be several recommendations out there, below is a list of five business security tips that won’t break the bank.
1. Secure the exterior
This tip may be as old as time, or at least as old as when people started having physical buildings or property. You know that you need to make sure your home or business is safe from intruders
You can do simple things, such as making sure there are no shrubs near the entrances. After all, they can serve as hiding and lurking places, even if they can beautify the area.
If you have new deliveries, make sure you dispose of your boxes right away. Thieves will get an idea of what you have inside based on your trash. So you may want to have people discard all your trash for the day right away instead of having them thrown into a nearby bin.
Proper lighting will also discourage people from simply coming close to your building. A lamp that automatically turns on as soon as it gets dark can light your exterior surroundings.
2. Plan your layout well
The layout is also essential. Are your valuables kept too close to the exits? If so, then you are just handing out your stuff.
If you have any sensitive and vulnerable items, make sure clients cannot take any inside photos. Cash registers and expensive items should be near the center of your business place.
Ensure that anyone, insider or client, cannot grab one thing and exit the place quickly.
Business security also depends on an intelligent office layout. If it is doable, try to change the setup inside the store so that people will not have a clear picture of what is inside, at least not all the time.
Install cameras positioned at the exits and entrances. Take a look at what these cameras are pointing at and make sure that all possible escape routes are marked. There should be no blind spots. Protect areas that would be ideal ways for a thief to pass through. They may use them after grabbing some critical information or an expensive item.
3. Fix your access control
Sometimes, companies need someone to manage the business during the weekends. After all, employees may need to work on some extra tasks. Depending on what type of business you are running, you may want people to finish backlogs or meet up with clients either after hours or on weekends.
Does this mean everyone must be at the office during that time? No. You should make sure you arrange for a different set of access controls for your employees.
Role-based access control can help you allow only employees who need to get into a particular area. You don’t need to open the whole business if only a section is needed after hours. You also do not need to provide access to those who don’t have anything to do during that period. Each additional employee should ask the management for permission ahead of time.
Be wary of people who may want to come during the extra hours even if they are not supposed to be on the team in charge.
4. Lock up properly
This business security tip may seem obvious but still needs extra emphasis.
When locking up, first think of the doors. What kinds of locks do you use? Do you have a deadbolt added to your usual knobs? Install a security system with an alarm that will also sound off when the person who enters has no authority to go inside at the given time.
It will also help if there is a password that the person entering can type into the system. After all, consider the fact that the access cards can be stolen. Even with the security system, the doors should still be firmly locked.
Windows should not be easily broken, as well. Use reinforced glass. It may cost you a little bit more, but at least it can protect you from more considerable losses. The windows should be glazed if it is possible. This way, would-be intruders will not see what is going on by merely peering in from the outside.
Of course, you cannot do this if you have a shop with display items. In such a case, you want people to see what you offer. You can remove the valuables from a direct line of sight. This way, you are not providing a lot of temptation.
5. Prepare safe storage for your valuables
Keeping valuables in a safe storage is best. You can invest in a metal safe that you can keep for emergencies.
What is an emergency? This means that you only keep valuable items there for when you do not have the time to go to the bank. Deposit your daily earnings there and keep a small amount of change that you may need to give customers.
If you sell expensive jewelry and other items, you need a place to store them right in the building. Of course, you should not advertise this. People may assume as such, but they should not know whether you do keep expensive inventory locked up and where the actual storage is.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the preceding security tips can help you keep your business assets safe and do so economically. If you have the budget for the technology, invest in it. Please do not consider this an extra expense, but a necessary way to avoid getting robbed.
When setting up to protect your place of business, you must also think of a means to avoid getting any of your items damaged.
Sometimes, the cameras may not necessarily catch a thief but a client or employee who is not careful with your items. Anyone who has ever found any object damaged and left behind by the culprit will understand.
However, when choosing a security and access control system, make sure you read the reviews first. You don’t want to be stuck with an expensive system that will only let you down.
