We get it—you would never want to imagine something bad happening to you and your employees. But, unfortunately, this can’t be guaranteed.
So, to help protect yourself and your staff, you need to have a security plan in place. This requires careful planning, the right technology and personnel, and proper installation and maintenance.
Creating a security plan is an investment of time and money. But, it’s one that absolutely has to be made.
Commercial settings are 10 times more likely to face a break-in than a residential property. With those kinds of numbers, you can’t afford to take any chances.
That’s where we’re coming in. Here’s our 7 item list that you should follow to create an adequate commercial security plan.
1. Consider Your Needs
One of the first steps to take is to consider what types of safety measurements you’ll need. You’ll want to ensure your security plan aligns with your business efforts.
Do you handle or hold personal information from your clients? Do you hold any sensitive business documents that need to be protected?
Consider all touch points within your company that would be a potential threat during a break-in.
Speak with others in management to assess what their concerns are. Also, you should consult with your employees to gain a deeper perspective, if feasible.
Furthermore, you need to evaluate potential risks. Are there any future additions or innovations in your company that could pose a threat?
2. Analyze Current Security Plan
Another great starting point is to analyze your current security efforts. This will show what some of your strong areas are and which ones could use an upgrade.
To do this, you should conduct a risk assessment. This will inspect every entry, hallway, parking lot, and all other areas.
How to conduct an appropriate assessment really is dependant on your company. But, a good starting point for any business is to assess any physical protection.
This can include security cameras, gates, locks, and technology. Are these systems doing their job? Or, would it be more efficient to have a guard present?
Also, now is a great time to speak with employees about their safety procedure knowledge. You should be reviewing their company safety awareness.
3. Produce a Hard Copy
Once you have an understanding of what your company needs, it’s time to create a plan. This is where you’ll outline what it is you’re looking for and what needs to be improved.
When you meet with security groups, this will serve as your blueprint for your new system. You can show and discuss with them your absolute necessities.
This should include the locations you’ll need equipment installed. Or, this can also include any security staff presence that you would need on-site.
Lastly, do research beforehand to get figures for your budget. This could be a make-it or break-it factor when deciding who to work with. (But, of course, remember you can’t compromise safety for cost.)
4. Test Your Security Plan
After your research, you should have figured out some potential security companies to work with. You should begin narrowing down your process to one candidate.
But, before moving forward with this, you need to test out their process. It’s important to make sure the on-site security company you hire is able to handle your needs and grow with you.
If you’re working to onboard a security guard company, bring them into your building. You should see if they’re able to adapt well to your company environment.
Communicate with other staff members who would be using any equipment. If possible, have a handful of other employees who can test out some of the features.
Make notes of the system’s functions and record if there are any deficiencies. In some cases, these can be corrected, so it’s good to speak with the provider.
5. Access Control
Determining different levels of access needed can be daunting, but it’s absolutely essential to the safety of your business. You need to determine which employees have access to what specific items.
You’ll need to consider the various locations within your company. Perhaps, it’s not appropriate for all employees to have keys to certain areas.
Also, you should consider time constraints. Do you want your employees to have access during off hours? The weekend? Late night?
You should also think about the type of access they will have. Do badges work better in your company? Or, would it make more sense to have a key or access card?
These are all great questions to ask your security provider about. Also, a security guard should be well-versed in who has access to what locations.
6. Devise New Security Plan and Procedures
Once you’ve settled on a system, it’s time to write out a formal copy of your security plan. With your new system, what procedures will come into play?
You need to specify all guidelines for employees to follow surrounding the equipment. Also, outline each roles’ responsibilities so everyone can do their part.
It would also be beneficial to hold a mandatory training session. You don’t want employees to just guess when it comes to operating the new equipment.
Some security groups can assist with this. If this is something you’re interested in, inquire with the security provider.
7. Regular Maintenance and Inspection
The last item we’ll leave you with is to make sure you’re keeping up with building maintenance. You should regularly inspect equipment and personnel to ensure everything’s running smoothly.
You should devise a plan that lays out when, how, and who is in charge of inspection. This will help you stay on track and not let this role go by the wayside.
Also, it’s beneficial to have a small committee to discuss safety protocol. You can meet with these people to discuss errors or changes to be made.
A Security Plan Will Help Protect Your Business Now and in the Future
Your business’ safety is important. But, more importantly, so is you and your employees.
That’s why we work to protect you. With over 80 years of experience in safety services, we’re confident we can help you.
Our security guards are tailored to protect your individual company. We help analyze risk and threats and adapt accordingly.
So, let’s get started. Contact us today to learn more.
