Why Small Business Security is Paramount

Paul Mase - Eversafe Australia has been in the security industry for 20 years. Starting as a sole trader by Paul Mase, Eversafe has grown to be a trusted and reliable security business. We made this possible by installing and monitoring security systems from high-end brands such as Inner Range security systems, Tecom Challenger by GE, Paradox, Bosch, Hik Vision and Dahua. Whatever the size and industry, we aim to provide only custom solutions according to the requirements and budget of our clients. We also back this up with our quick and dependable support, giving peace of mind and providing excellent customer service.

Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to security issues. And with far smaller budgets than larger businesses, break ins, vandalism and theft can doom a small business. The cost to replace broken or stolen inventory, assets, vehicles, materials, data and more can cause a significant financial risk. And the cost of downtime for the business is just as bad. This all distracts your from running your business. Today we are going to discuss why small business security is paramount and how you can protect your SME from would be criminals.

small business security theft

What are Small Business Security Risks?

There are several tangible threats for small businesses. These include:

  • Vandalism
  • Sabotage
  • Theft
  • Lost or stolen devices
  • Service or utility interruptions
  • Malicious insider threats

Over the past few years the proliferation of technology means an entire business could be compromised from one stolen or lost device. As technology becomes more complex, physical security is becoming more difficult to address.

Physical security threats are diverse. They can be man-made, acts of nature, internal or external, accidental or intentional. A Criminal can enter a site that isn’t properly protected by access control. And all the cyber security in the world is worthless if a criminal can walk into your business and steal a device such as a laptop tablet or smartphone device.

What Can Small Business Do About Physical Security Issues?

In today’s environment, even small businesses must face the daunting task of safeguarding data, personnel, equipment, systems, facilities and assets. A layered approach to security is the best approach for businesses in order to ensure they cover all aspects of their business.

Assess Your Business Risks

Most SMEs have limited budgets for business growth, let alone for security. This is why it is important to know what your business needs before you buy. Eversafe offers professional site audits so you will know exactly what you need to protect your business.

CCTV

CCTV installation and security cameras are an excellent countermeasures against theft. Sometimes even the sight of them, or signs indicating them, are enough to deter criminals. Covert cameras are also good to detect employee or vendor theft and cover any blind spots. Cameras can be integrated with other security measures to further protect your business. The best security camera brands have feeds can be sent directly to your smartphone device and/or to a 24/7 monitoring service or the cloud.

cctv camera installation banner

Access Control Systems

Many small businesses lease spaces in shared buildings, so security and identification are key. Shared spaces see up to thousands of employees and vendors through the doors each day, so you need to take control of your security, even if you have building managers.

Access control systems in Melbourne are one way to manage who comes into your business and the areas they can access. ID cards, fobs, smart device apps, and more are examples of non-disruptive solutions to keep your business secure from unwanted visitors. They can be integrated with CCTV and alarm systems to alert you if someone tries to access restricted areas and more. Visitor logs and ID cards are useful for keeping a log of who is in your building. This is not only useful in the case of theft, but also an invaluable list for an emergency.

Combined with CCTV this allows you to not only visually track those on your premise but have a log of when people have entered and left. This combination is invaluable when it comes to providing law enforcement with documentation when necessary.

For those leasing independent buildings, where there is no building management, access control and CCTV are even more important to help ensure your premises and staff are secure.

Card Access System

Alarm Systems

Security alarms are generally the easiest and first security system installed in most businesses. There are different types of alarm security and sensors including:

Motion Detectors

Motion detectors or PIRs generally cover an area up to 10-11ms. These are the most cost effective and cover large areas. When the sensor detects motion it will trigger the alarm.

Reed Switches

These are magnetic contacts for doors, windows and even roller doors. These are used on the perimeter of a building. When the reed and the magnet are separated, they cause the circuit to open which triggers an alarm. This allows you to protect your premises while you or staff are still onsite. It will also trigger and alarm before an intruder even enters.

Panic Buttons

Hold up or panic buttons are important to protect your employees, especially in areas that deal with the public. In the even you or an employee feel under threat, you can push a button alerting the control room or request immediate police responses.

Seismic Sensors

Businesses with an onsite safe should consider seismic sensors. They trigger an alarm when they detect heavy vibrations, like those of a drill or jackhammer.

Smoke Detectors

Businesses should also consider smoke detectors. Conventional smoke detectors cannot connect to an alarm system. Specialised ones can trigger an alarm in the event of a fire, alerting the security monitoring centre call the fire brigade.

Controlling Business Alarm Systems

Modern security alarm systems are generally easy to control. To activate the system simply type a security code on a keypad or touchscreen. Some systems are also capable of internet connection allowing you to control your system from a smartphone app, anywhere and anytime you need.

Facility-alarms

Business Alarm Communication Types

Modern alarm systems can communicate alarm events to you any day or night. Traditionally, alarms have used dialler monitoring over landlines to communicate to security control rooms or your smart device. This, however, is being phased out as the NBN rolls out around Australia.

When protecting your business, you will need to complete a risk assessment for your business and a site audit, in order to decide on the most pressing issues. Eversafe can help you determine whether cameras, alarms, access control, or a combination is best to protect your business. While improving your physical security can get overwhelming at times, so it is best to get a professional to help you. This not only means you get the best security possible, but with even less diversion from the day-to-day running of your business.

Improving your security is an incredibly important part of running your SME. If you don’t keep your business safe, you will have nothing to run. Contact Eversafe, the best business security systems in Melbourne today, to increase the chance of business success!

Article by
Paul Mase
Eversafe Australia has been in the security industry for 20 years. Starting as a sole trader by Paul Mase, Eversafe has grown to be a trusted and reliable security business. We made this possible by installing and monitoring security systems from high-end brands such as Inner Range security systems, Tecom Challenger by GE, Paradox, Bosch, Hik Vision and Dahua. Whatever the size and industry, we aim to provide only custom solutions according to the requirements and budget of our clients. We also back this up with our quick and dependable support, giving peace of mind and providing excellent customer service.