CCTV alone is a great deterrent to theft, along with being a great way to both secure and protect your business from both internal and external threats.

 

It's never nice to have your property stolen and then having to go through the process that follows, but its worse when you can't trust you own staff - and that's where CCTV comes into play. It allows you to monitor what's going on in your premises whether you're there or not. If anything was to transpire, you then have the evidence needed to handle it correctly and deal with any legal recourse that may ensue. We always say that if you're doing nothing wrong, then you won't mind being on camera!

 

CCTV can also be a massive helping hand for Health and Safety. It allows you to check that the correct processes are being carried out at all times in line with your company's policy. If the worst was to happen and and member of your staff or the general public is injured, you then have the power to see what happened with your own two eyes. You could if needed provide the CCTV footage to your insurance provider and/or the police as evidence that all precautions where taken and that you're not liable.

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It is also worth noting that in certain areas, the local government offer grants towards CCTV solutions, which can greatly reduce the cost to you. We would advise checking with your local authority to see what assistance is available in your area.

Intruder alarms are hugely important for securing your business when you've stepped out or closed up for the night. However, did you know these also work for monitoring who comes and goes from the premises via audible chimes?

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But what about someone who has already entered the building? Nobody likes the idea of having to deal with aggressive, or even violent, individuals whilst working. That is where panic alarms can help protect your business during the day in the event the worst is transpiring. These discreet devices are an essential tool in your arsenal for keeping you and your co-workers safe on the job.​

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In this day and age, emergency lighting is a legal requirement in most areas. Additionally, it helps with preventing crime (it's much harder for a trouble-maker to remain incognito when they're clearly visible!). We don't want to go into much more detail in this short blog, but here's the official, important bit:

 

Emergency lighting falls under two headings; escape route lighting and open area lighting (otherwise known as anti-panic lighting), and is governed by BS5266 Code of Practice. The overall objective of emergency lighting is to permit safe escape from a building or other location in the event of the mains lighting going down.

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We recommend looking in to this a bit further with your own research to check what the legal requirements are for your specific business type.

Not every lock is one and the same and we always recommend that if you take over a premises, you should replace any and all locks, along with making sure you/the installer are using the correct hardware to install the locks. Deterrents are strongly encouraged, but physically stopping the would-be trespasser at the door is critical!

 

We personally believe a combination of physical and access control locks are the best route. The access control allows you to monitor who is coming and going and ensures that the premises are secure 24-7. To compliment this, the physical ensures that after operating hours, there is two-factor security as only your keyholders can access the premises. In those cases where you are handing over high-value items to a prospective client, access control comes in handy to stop a thief from making a break for the door.

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It seems obvious, but always make sure all windows and doors are locked and secure before leaving for the day, and make sure all of your staff are aware of the vulnerable points of the building and know the closing-up procedure off by heart.

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Robust safes are also a great way to ensure that any high value possessions have that extra bit of protection in a snatch and grab situation.

Nowadays, everything is online. It is more vital than ever to keep any and all business-associated networks secure. For example, it's great to offer your customers free WIFI, but we always recommend you set up two separate networks and keep your business-only network hidden to stop hackers seeing your private network and trying to connect remotely. We also strongly recommend having two-factor authentication set up on all devices, and ensuring that there is never an opportunity for someone to plug in an unauthorised device to your equipment.

 

It is also a legal requirement under GDPR Regulations that you always lock any device if it is going to be unattended for any length of time.

Ensuring your workplace is clean, uncluttered and clear of rubbish not only makes everyone involved feel prouder of their workspace, but it also has strategic benefits too.

 

It ensures that you can always clearly see what is going on (specifically that there are no obstructions to the field of view of your cameras if you have CCTV installed) and reduces the health and safety risk to your workers and customers. It also makes your business more friendly and welcoming!