Top 5 Physical Security Threats for Your Business

Whether your business has an existing property or is constructing new business premises, you must take physical threats seriously. When you understand physical threats, you can prepare adequately to prevent any breaches. In addition, your company will save money in the long run by preventing loss and potential lawsuits. Here are the common physical security threats every business owner must work to prevent.

1. Stolen Identification

Criminals can target the identity of your employees to steal from your business. In this case, the criminals will impersonate your employees and gain access to your business premises. Once inside the business premises, criminals can steal physical items or commit online fraud. This type of theft can happen if business owners don't take measures to prevent employee identification theft.

The standard strategy for preventing identity theft is regular employee training. Employees shouldn't lend or share their access control cards with other employees. This practice makes it easier for management to monitor access within the business premises. You may also consider discontinuing physical cards and introduce biometric identification for all employees.

2. Tailgating

Many businesses have implemented access control measures, such as swipe-card access points or locked doors. Unfortunately, a determined attacker can still overcome these security measures by using tailgating tactics.

Tailgating involves an unauthorized individual gaining access to a secure area by walking behind an authorized employee. Since many employees use the same doors, the unwitting employee may not notice the intruder.

Luckily, a business can limit tailgating incidences by implementing the right security measures. You can install anti-tailgating doors that make tailgating impossible, although these doors are quite expensive. Training your employees to detect tailgating is cheaper if not as reliable — discourage employees from holding doors for strangers and encourage them to report any suspicious visitors in the business premises.

3. Internal Theft

Businesses lose money every year due to employee theft. Your employees can steal company information, inventory, and cash, leading to significant loss for the business. Other employees can auction sensitive business data to criminals and competitors, putting your business operations at risk.

Implement the following steps to counter internal security threats:

• Do comprehensive background checks on all prospective staff members before hiring them.
• Create sensitive zones with crucial information and limit access to those areas.
• Position security cameras in all sections of your business and ensure all employees know about the cameras.
• Create procedures for storing and transferring valuables and cash within business premises.
• Conduct frequent audits of your inventory to identify missing items.
• Come up with a strict but fair disciplinary policy for all employees.

Training employees on detecting suspicious behavior from their colleagues can also help prevent internal theft. 

4. Vandalism

Vandalism is the deliberate destruction of property by unscrupulous individuals. For instance, someone may destroy the signs outside your business premises or deface the exterior walls of the building. Others may damage property on the shelf or even business vehicles. In some cases, vandalism involves the destruction of landscaping and intentional flooding of the business premises.

Since vandalism takes various forms, you will also have to implement multiple security strategies to prevent vandalism. The most common is conspicuous CCTV cameras situated in entryways. Hiring security personnel to guard valuable equipment can also help prevent vandalism. Because complete prevention of vandalism may not be possible, get insurance coverage for your valuable assets.

5. Burglary

Someone can break into your business, intending to steal something. The person can smash windows or even use a vehicle to smash through walls. Burglaries are quite common and can result in heavy losses for the business.

The best way to enhance your business premises' security and prevent physical threats is to install CCTV cameras and access control equipment. CCTV cameras are cheap and can scare away potential criminals.

If you're planning to install CCTV cameras, consider getting the best variety from Communication Technology Associates, Inc. We provide a complete suite of security systems to streamline your operations. Contact us to get started.