Most security discussions focus on cybersecurity, from ransomware to zero-day threats. However, many organizations are discovering holes in their facilities’ physical security. A deadbolt, an after-hours security guard, and a 20-year-old closed-circuit TV surveillance system are no longer enough to protect your business. Your employees and company assets are at risk without a comprehensive physical security strategy and the right tools. Here is a checklist of basic physical security features that every building should have.
Door Security & Alarms
Most doors at the main entrance have proper alarms. However, emergency exits are often neglected. Every entry or exit, including windows, should have locks and sensors that trigger supervised, controlled, and inspected alarms. Important rooms inside the facility, such as data centers and document storage rooms, also need protection. Test all alarms regularly and make sure to have an emergency power source in case of a power outage.
Access Controls
Access control systems that use keys, smart cards, badges, biometric scanners, and other tools to validate a person’s identity prevent unauthorized personnel from entering your building. Access controls should also provide an audit trail showing where and when people enter the building.
Video Surveillance
Modern video surveillance systems provide high-quality footage — often in color rather than grainy black and white — that companies can monitor and manage remotely. Advancements in artificial intelligence have led to AI-integrated surveillance systems, which can reduce false alarms, provide real-time alerts, and adapt to changing circumstances and situations. Cameras can either record continuously or automatically begin recording and storing data when an alarm goes off or motion is detected. Video cameras also deter internal and external threats, so experts recommend leaving them visible.
Lighting
Inadequate lighting makes life easier for criminals and more difficult for security personnel and law enforcement. Lighting should overlap in case bulbs go out, and it’s vital to protect the power supply for lighting systems to prevent tampering. Test standby and emergency lighting frequently.
Communications & IT Systems
As part of your security strategy, the following questions need consideration:
- What happens when an alarm goes off?
- Who is notified — and how?
- Are communications systems reliable and secure?
- Are redundant communications systems available?
- Are computer systems and equipment accessible to authorized personnel only?
Document & Technology Disposal
Many organizations keep all physical files and devices forever instead of securely disposing of them once they’ve reached the end of their useful life. A room or closet filled with these assets is a goldmine for criminals, even if a company has supposedly wiped hard drives, computers, and mobile devices of files. Shred outdated documents and remove old technology from the premises using a reputable e-waste company.
Personnel
During business hours, reception and/or sales associates are often the first line of defense for organizations open to the public. Employee training should explain how to respond to threatening individuals and suspicious behavior. Just as a multilayered IT security strategy is critical to protecting company data and other digital assets, multiple layers of physical security are needed to prevent unauthorized access to your facility and specific areas and resources within that facility.
Is Your Business’s Physical Security Up to the Task? Let the Experts at New Era Technology Guide You
Let New Era Technology help you ensure that your physical security strategy is up to date, technically sound, and properly managed. To learn more about New Era’s Physical Security solutions, please visit our page or email solutions@neweratech.com.
