Everything Your Startup Needs To Know About Physical Security

Starting up a new business is both exciting and nerve wracking. You’re finally seeing months of planning come to fruition and are dreaming of commercial success. It’s important that your preparations also encompass the physical safety and security of your business premises.

Essential protection

It doesn’t matter whether your start up is based on a lonely industrial estate, a bustling high street or you operate from a shed at the back of your garden, your insurers will demand that your property is secure. One way of having peace of mind about physical security is to ensure that your building is burglar proof. Security Direct provides a wide range of roller shutters for doors and windows that will make any self-respecting thief think twice before attempting to break into your property.

The enemy within

You could have the best security system in the world but if you are an employer and haven’t vetted your staff properly, then they could give electronic access codes or keys to a criminal associate. If your start-up is operating on a shoestring and you can’t afford to use a recruitment agency, it’s vital that you take time to check out all of your employee’s CVs thoroughly. Contact referees to assess the skills and honesty of your new employee. This article in The Daily Mail highlights the stupidity of not checking out everyone who has access to your building.

Guard your perimeters

If a fence surrounds your business make sure that it’s in a good state of repair and can repel any invaders. If you have a security system, post notices about this on your fence. A building and fencing that’s well maintained will often deter the casual thief. Alternatively, install CCTV; this is quite cheap to run and you’ll be able to give evidence of a crime to both your insurers and the local police.  

Motion sensors are useful

If your new business is situated in an area that’s dark at night, then lights that are triggered by motion on or near your business premises are ideal. You can monitor any intrusions by having your lighting system connected to an app on your smartphone so you can respond immediately to any disturbance on your property. Before you contact the local police try to ensure that a feral fox or any other passing wildlife hasn’t triggered your lights.

Looking after your assets

When you’re starting up in business you probably don’t have the time or the money to cope with crime. Securing your building, making sure that the external entrances are all well lit, changing the passwords for electronic locking systems are changed on a regular basis are all simply a few straightforward safeguards that you can install.

This government website has a whole range of other suggestions that can help you make the inside and the outside of your business premises more secure. Think like a thief and carry out a risk assessment on your property, or ask your local crime prevention officer to carry out a survey of your building. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.