With crime becoming more sophisticated and criminals more determined, security breaches and burglaries are costing businesses millions of Rands each year. It is therefore imperative for the safety of your business that adequate measures are taken to protect both your employees and your livelihood.

There are a number of steps that you, as the business owner, can take to ensure that the risk of security breaches is minimised, and that in the event of an emergency, adequate systems are in place to mitigate the situation as quickly and as smoothly as possible.

Of immediate importance is the process of identifying the security threats to your business. This includes being aware of the types of crimes being committed in your area, as well as any risk areas which might exist in your factory or building. By being aware of the potential threats to your business, you will be better informed in terms of any security-related decisions that need to be taken. In an effort to promote employee involvement, it may be a good idea to ask your employees for their input in terms of identifying potential risks and what they would suggest the problem solving process to be. Employees are more likely to take a proactive approach to crime prevention if they feel that they have in some way been involved.

Employees are in fact an integral part of business security in many ways. As staff have access to your business premises, they are in some way a threat themselves. It is important that business owners screen their employees carefully before hiring them to ensure that they are not, or have not been, involved in anything that may threaten your business. In addition, it is important to provide employees with adequate emergency training to ensure that, in the event of an incident, they are prepared and will react in a way that will ensure the safety of themselves and others.

A functional and well-maintained alarm system is still the most important aspect of any business' security. Besides serving as a deterrent, a connection to an armed response unit is hugely beneficial in the event of an emergency. CCTV is also useful and can be installed and monitored by your security company, thereby providing you with a means of keeping track of your stock, as well as a source of evidence in the event of any incident.

Access control, which includes every access point (entry and exit) to your property, is also something you may want to consider. By ensuring that the perimeter of your property is secured with a high fence or boundary wall is crucial. Most would-be criminals are unlikely to stroll through the front gates – they will rather seek out a less obvious entry point. Roof access is also of great concern. It is not uncommon for criminals to remove roof tiles and gain access by cutting a hole in the ceiling. This problem can be solved by installing a motion sensor in the ceiling. Internal doors should be fitted with code/card access doors so that even if entry to the building is achieved, valuable possessions are protected. Windows and doors that are not often used should be kept locked at all times.

In addition to these specific safety tips, there are a number of general factors that should be taken into account when considering corporate security:

• Tools or materials that may be used to assist criminals in gaining access to the property should not be left in plain sight and ideally should be locked away somewhere safe.
• Lighting, of both the inside and the outside of your factory or office is crucial to its security.
• All valuable equipment should be security marked, both as a deterrent and to assist in recovery in the event of theft.
• Keep small amounts of cash on hand, and ensure that your company has a drop safe or time delay safe system and advertise this fact.
• Because criminals usually plan the execution of their crimes with some degree of care, it is important that businesses hinder that planning process as much as possible. Disrupting routine by varying the times and routes of cash deposits is a good starting point.

All in all, it is difficult to ensure the complete safety for your business. There are however, numerous steps that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of crime and deter criminals. It is important that these are noted and executed to ensure the safety of your employees, as well as of stock and equipment.

Get a free business security quotation today.

More About ADT Security

ADT in collaboration with their partner Tyco, are the leading providers of security in South Africa. Boasting a patrol fleet in excess of 600 vehicles and a highly trained contingent of security officers and consultants, ADT is the authority on home and business security.