Before installing a security system into your offices, you must first determine what size or security package you need. With installing business security systems, assessment is the key as most business focuses on a positive ROI and poor assessment of what your business needs just shows a poor leadership. Given that, to better asses what you need you have to know how it works. By having knowledge on how a security system operates, small business owners can do their own maintenance and for big business owners you could avoid being tricked by your IT specialist. It is really important to know how the system works to avoid doing damages to your business such as data theft and privacy leaks.

To have a better understanding on how the system works, one should know how each device operates. These different devices are:

  • Control Panel
    • The control panel is like the brain of your security system. You could basically control everything from there, it is where you arm and disarm your devices, it sounds your alarms whenever one of your sensors detects a breach, and it also notifies the security if such an event happens.
  • With business models, the control panel is usually located in a control room where you could basically monitor every device from there. It is also where the monitors for surveillance cameras are located. It is best to hire a professional security to take charge of this aspect. Take note that all devices are programmable so expect the IT to work hand in hand with the security personnel assigned.
  • Door and Window Sensors
  • Door and window sensors, when armed, will automatically tell the control panel to trip off the alarm whenever the door/window is breached.
  • Motion Sensors
    • Motion sensors works as what it exactly says. This sensor entraps a specific place with an invisible zone, that when breached, trips off the alarm. This is important for business with a vault in there office.
  • Alarm System
    • The alarm systems nowadays are usually a high decibel alarm. Its loud volume will surely notify the authorities and the employees alike. The alarm most of the times also startle the perpetrator causing him to flee in panic.
  • Surveillance Cameras
    • Surveillance cameras can be used is different ways to promote the overall security of your office/building. This can be in the form of:
      • Giving you vision on different places within your property.
      • Giving you vision on entry points, allowing you to monitor who currently is at your entrance, back doors, or fire exits.
      • Records footage of what happened when you were out. This makes it easier for the police to identify the criminal if a recent crime has occurred.
      • It also gives you constant view to observe and assess how your employees interact with customers or how are they doing with their jobs.
      • For newer models, the surveillance cameras can now be accessed remotely through your gadgets.
    • Shatter Proof Glass Security Film
      • These films are applied to glass in order to hold them together in the event that the glass shatters. This makes it almost impossible to break in through windows prompting the criminals to either give up or find another entry point in which only sensors await them.
    • Video Intercoms
      • Video intercoms allow the security at the control room to communicate with whoever is in in the entrance without actually getting there personally. This is important as the control panel guy cannot leave his post without a substitute.
    • Backup Battery Storage System
      • Computers are now a vital part of every office as they store data, allow your employees to create reports and presentations, and just about anything else. The only drawback with computers is that they require electricity to run and nothing would delay a business more than having sudden power interruptions and losing all those unsaved data. Back up batteries are a must for just about any office as not only do they power up your security systems when power is down but it also gives your employees an ample time to save their work before completely shutting down their computers.
    • Access Controlled Entrance
      • Access control systems allow you to manage which employees can get inside specific rooms in your office/building. This allows you to keep sensitive information only to those who are involved in each project.
      • These systems are quite simple and are usually in the form of keypads with pin codes or card swipes.
    • Software Security
      • For small business you may pass on this but for medium and big businesses this is very essential. A small data leak may cause a huge advantage for your competitors and totally ruin the competition for you.
      • As any other business, customers keep your business alive and most of the time these customers would pay in credit cards. If this is the case, then it is a must to have a good software security protecting you from hackers as you may face potential lawsuits if these kinds of information get leaked.