Businesses face serious security risks every single day. As cybercrime is up 600% due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s easy to overlook the physical security side of your business and leave your premises vulnerable.

However, as the world slowly begins to return to normal, now is the perfect time to examine how secure your premises are and assess whether you need to upgrade the physical security measures you have in place. 

Lock away devices

Laptops will always be keen targets for thieves, particularly if they’re left in easy to access, unguarded places. If your staff split their time between the office and other locations, then you might not always know where valuable devices are at any given moment. 

These devices are valuable in the obvious sense of how much they cost. However, they might also contain sensitive information that shouldn’t fall into the hands of anyone you don’t trust. We recommend keeping an updated device inventory so you know who's in possession of which device and you encourage all devices to be locked away when they’re not in use. 

Limit access to sensitive areas

If you aren’t aware of who's in your workplace at all times, it’s impossible to maintain a high level of security. This means if an incident occurs, it’s hard to tell who was and who wasn’t present at the time. 

You should be able to limit who can and can’t access certain areas of your business. Even if you have a shared space with other people, you should still have somewhere to store valuables and physical equipment safe in the knowledge that only approved employees can access them.

Document security policies

One of the easiest risks to mitigate is document theft. There's absolutely no reason for anyone to be able to get their hands on any sensitive documents. Whether it’s from an unguarded desk or left on the printer, it’s basic practice that employees safeguard documents effectively. 

We recommend implementing a policy where all areas are cleared of equipment and documents so there’s no risk of theft. 

Train employees

Your employees can't be blamed for bad security practices if you've never trained them on what is good or bad security in the first place.

The best thing you can do to rectify this within your own business is by implementing regular training sessions. Stress the importance of digital and physical security, and carry out regular spot checks to determine performance.

Ask them how security might be improved and if they’ve noticed any areas of weakness that you can fix. It’s the responsibility of every single member of staff to keep the business safe, so make sure to collect regular feedback because you never know what someone else might have spotted. 

Hire guarded security

In some instances, the only way to really be sure that your people and premises are protected is by hiring professional security personnel. Whether you have a retail store, warehouse or a traditional office, having a clear deterrent on show will significantly reduce attempted criminal behaviour. 

A security guard’s presence sends a strong message that your business is being watched at all times. Security guards observe and report any suspicious activity while responding quickly and calmly to any incidents. But physical security stretches beyond just security guards. 

Firstly, the type of security guard can differ, depending on your needs. You might require one or a combination of the following:

  • Security officers/guards
  • Access and egress officers
  • Mobile patrols
  • Internal and external patrols
  • Door supervisors
  • Stewarding and compliance teams
  • Keyholding services

Adopt a CCTV control room

Alongside security guards, CCTV control rooms are other physical security measures you can take to ensure your business is protected. Trained guards monitor the feeds for extra security in real-time. A CCTV control room brings together video surveillance and access control — managed and monitored by security guards who'll ensure your premises remain safe. 

With a CCTV control room that’s manned 24/7, 365 days a year, alongside multiple guards on duty at all times, you can ensure your business is protected. By outsourcing this, you'll benefit from expert guidance on design and solution considerations based on what your business needs.

Unsure if you need physical security? 

It can be difficult to assess whether your landscape warrants investment in physical security and if it does, to what extent it needs. Do you need to hire trained guards? Is it essential to have a control room? Or can you take measures such as more stringent document filing and locking away of valuables without the need for such services. 

Find out more about the state of your security with our complete security checklist. This risk assessment will give you that all-important answer to how much you should spend on securing your site. 

A complete security checklist