Keeping Your Business Protected While Working Remotely

With many states extending their “shelter in place” dates due to COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to keep your business protected while working off-site. Below are a few guidelines to help navigate your business safety during these uncertain times.

Please contact our team with any questions you may have or request a FREE security consultation for your business here.

 

Utilizing Your Security System to Its Fullest

With so many businesses deemed non-essential or operating remotely these days, it’s important to ensure you are utilizing your security system to its fullest and implementing added layers of security where necessary. These tips apply whether working remotely or you’ve been forced to temporarily close.

Security System: If you have a 24/7 monitored business security system, it’s a good idea to call your system’s monitoring center (or central station) to ensure connectivity and proper functioning. If it’s not monitored, check the display on your burglar alarm to ensure everything is in full working order.

HD Video Surveillance Cameras: The landscape of what you want to monitor likely changed when you sent everyone home, so your first step is to reposition your cameras according to the current situation (an empty building). For example, it probably makes more sense for a school – or nearly any business – to survey all points of entry versus a now empty hallway. Spend some time thinking like a thief or vandal and see if you can’t get the most use out of what you already have. If you feel more HD security cameras are needed in your absence or you’re just not sure, give us a call!

Video Verification: It’s also advisable to utilize video verification services, which tie in with your business alarm. Since you’re not physically present and able to verify a burglar alarm yourself, video verification sends the tripped burglar alarm to the 24/7 monitoring center, where trained professionals use your cameras to verify whether the signal was a true emergency or just a false alarm.

Access Control: If you normally utilize access control but nobody is in the office/warehouse/school/etc., you might consider changing (or eliminating) access for the time being. It’s easy to log in and make those changes yourself or utilize MAC (Managed Access Control) so that we can do it for you. To have us make the changes for you within eight business hours, simply fill out the request form here.

 

Additional Layers of Security

There are still a few measures business owners can take in addition to utilizing a security system, surveillance cameras, etc.

Security Officers/Mobile Patrol: Some instances call for a physical deterrent and security officers do that while offering plenty of flexibility. There are permanent and temporary security services in addition to mobile patrol options, all of which act as an extension of your business. Utilizing them for spot checks or as a 24/7 security measure is completely up to you and your business needs.

Curb Appeal: We’ve always recommended that homeowners suspend their mail and newspaper deliveries while away so as not to telegraph a vacant house to suspecting criminals. Now, we’re applying that advice to your vacant business. This goes for any other indicators that you’re absent, such as overgrown grass, a constantly dark property, and so forth. Holding your mail, keeping the grass mowed, and using timed lights are simple ways to confuse and deter burglars.

PRO TIP: The US Postal service offers a business service called Premium Forwarding Service Commercial®, which reships mail to another business location in bulk on a scheduled basis Monday through Saturday. This is helpful for extended absences.

We stand by you and your needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please continue to follow our blog and social media accounts for helpful residential and business safety tips!