How to Assess and Improve Physical Security for Your Office in 2021

Office Security
Bob Gamble
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For a long time, businesses placed a greater focus on information security than physical security. But in 2021, an office-based business needs to turn focus to improving physical security as well. As you get started on assessing and improving physical security for your office, your first step should be a security audit and physical security risk assessment. 

A security integrator that is qualified to perform your audit and assessment will conduct a detailed inspection of all the physical security elements of your building. The idea is to uncover any unexpected gaps or shortcomings in your business’s physical security.

The list below will outline what the integrator may cover during your office security audit. This is the foundation of what you need to examine in order to keep your office safe from intruders, burglars and others who would breach the security of your site. 

Natural Surveillance

It all starts with your landscaping. Hedges and lawns aren’t just for aesthetics; they can also enhance or detract from your building’s security. The idea is to have natural barriers like hedges, while also being careful not to give criminals places to hide. Of course, cameras can be placed in ways that can monitor the areas behind your natural landscape barriers. Trim trees around your property to 7’, and keep bushes at 36″ or lower. This is something you can do before your audit takes place. 

Territorial Reinforcement

Do you have adequate, easily visible signage and other notifications that show the distinctions between the public and private areas of your property? This can help reduce the amount of traffic in prohibited areas, or loitering around your business. Another part of territory reinforcement is lighting. Are your parking lot and other outdoor areas amply lit? Interior lights are also important. Consider having certain interior lights timed to come on afterhours to deter people from breaking in.

Access Control

Of course, signs and lighting only go so far toward protecting a property. Some people will ignore those measures altogether, and that’s why you need electronic access control. An access control system can manage who is and isn’t able to enter your property. It can even grant access during open hours while preventing access afterhours. It can communicate directly with your intrusion detection system, and the findings of its reports can be verified by the timestamps on your security cameras.

In 2021, it just makes sense to consider access control for employees and other authorized occupants. Employees can be given mobile credentials rather than keyfobs, which means they simply swipe their phones to enter – and you control whose credentials are active as people are hired and terminated.

Property Maintenance

It may seem too simple – but having a clean, well-kept property is the key to keeping criminal activity at bay. A property that looks run down to passersby is one that intruders will feel more comfortable breaching, whether it’s sleeping there at night or burglarizing on the weekends. By keeping up the appearance of your building, parking lot and landscaping, you can make big progress toward prevent trespassing and break-ins. 

These are some of the most important ways you can assess and improve the physical security of your office in 2021. To request an audit and assessment of your business property, contact us today. We will be happy to schedule an appointment with you. 

About Accel Communications Inc.

Accel Communications has operated in the Greater Arizona area since 1990 as a full-service security alarm company that sells, installs, monitors, and services fire and security systems. They are the leader in Honeywell Fire, Brivo Web-Based Access Control, Eagle Eye and Flexwatch CCTV camera systems, and DMP Security.

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