With the increasing risk of theft, vandalism, and unauthorized access, investing in a robust commercial security system is essential for any business owner. These systems not only protect your assets but also ensure the safety of your employees and customers. From advanced security cameras and access control systems to alarm systems and cybersecurity measures, commercial security solutions provide comprehensive protection against both physical and digital threats. This guide will explore the various components, benefits, and considerations involved in selecting the best commercial security system for your business needs.
When choosing a commercial security system to safeguard and monitor employees, property, and assets, consider important factors such as features and benefits, cost, technology and equipment, smart integrations, installation methods, and more.
As a business owner, protecting your employees, property, and assets should never be an afterthought, especially with commercial properties and small businesses experiencing burglaries frequently.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were approximately 45,000 reported incidents of unlawful entry with intent in non-residential settings in 2019. With these statistics and other concerns, adding a commercial security system to your business provides peace of mind—even when you’re not there.
Whether you implement security cameras, alarm systems with 24/7 Monitoring, smart door locks, fire and life safety devices, key card entry access systems, or other devices, it’s wise to pair these with smart technologies. Offered through your security provider’s mobile app, this feature provides real-time alerts via any mobile device.
Commercial security systems can also help improve team productivity, through advanced business activity analytics. This analyses invaluable data such as customised temperature control, employee communication and accountability, open/close reports, and multi-location reporting.
This comprehensive guide includes the many aspects of commercial security systems, such as features, benefits, costs, technology and equipment, smart integrations, and more.
Commercial security systems are comprehensive solutions designed to keep trespassers, intruders, and burglars at bay, providing real-time monitoring and surveillance through alarm systems and commercial CCTV security cameras. These systems are crucial for businesses looking to deter intruders and provide evidence in criminal events. In Australia, commercial premises are potentially more vulnerable to burglary than households, with research suggesting as many as 25% of commercial businesses are victimized annually.
These systems often include components such as key card access control, intercom systems, fire and life safety devices, and smart technologies. Many business owners recognise that robust security can help attract tenants, as it increases the appeal of a property by ensuring a secure environment. Whether you require a standalone alarm system or a full commercial security solution, it’s best to enlist a professional for an on-site inspection and survey, along with customised technology recommendations to best protect your business.
Even if your business is located in a relatively safe area, burglaries, break-ins, and vandalism can still occur, especially in poorly lit locations without cameras and alarms, or other protective measures.
While most of these crimes occur at night and after hours, there are even higher theft and employee safety risks for 24/7 business operations. Aside from a traditional burglar alarm system, other protective measures of commercial security systems include indoor, outdoor, and front-door cameras; fire alarms and life safety devices; access control; intercom systems; and real-time video surveillance.
Integrated commercial security systems provide a single view of all building activity, enhancing situational awareness for security teams. This integration allows for more effective monitoring and response to potential security threats, ensuring that all aspects of the property are covered.
High-resolution video footage captured by security cameras provides actionable evidence that can be used in legal situations. This ensures that any incidents are thoroughly documented, aiding in investigations and legal proceedings if necessary.
Installing a commercial security system can lead to increased trust and respect from employees, visitors, and customers. Knowing that the premises are secure fosters a sense of safety and reliability, enhancing the overall reputation of the business.
Smoke and fire detection systems alert staff and emergency services to life-threatening hazards, enabling a prompt response to emergencies. This rapid alert system is crucial in minimising damage and ensuring the safety of everyone on the premises.
Cybersecurity measures are integrated into commercial security systems to protect sensitive digital assets from theft or breach. This ensures that both physical and digital aspects of the business are safeguarded against potential threats.
Comprehensive security reduces the likelihood of losses from theft and vandalism, protecting the business’s bottom line. By preventing these incidents, businesses can save significantly on potential repair and replacement costs.
Having a robust security system can enhance the appeal of a property, attracting more tenants and visitors. A secure environment is a significant factor for potential tenants when choosing a location for their business operations.
Real-time video monitoring allows businesses to respond quickly to security incidents, thereby minimising damage or loss. This immediate response capability is essential in preventing situations from escalating and maintaining a secure environment.
Commercial security systems are comprised of various components, each designed to enhance the security and safety of a business environment. Understanding these components can help business owners make informed decisions when selecting the best security system for their needs.
Access control systems have revolutionised the way businesses manage building access by replacing traditional locks and keys with electronic solutions. These systems allow only authorised users to enter specific areas, enhancing security and reducing the risk of unauthorised entry. With features such as key card access, biometric scanners, and remote management, access control systems offer a modern solution for building security.
Alarm systems are a crucial component of commercial security, designed to alert security teams of potential break-ins or hazards such as smoke and carbon monoxide. These systems can be tailored to the specific needs of a business, ensuring rapid response to any security threats or emergencies. By integrating with other security measures, alarm systems provide a comprehensive approach to protecting commercial properties.
Environmental sensors play a vital role in maintaining workplace safety by monitoring air-based changes, such as carbon monoxide levels. These sensors can detect harmful gases and alert building management to potential dangers, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for employees and visitors alike. Incorporating environmental sensors into a commercial security system is an essential step in safeguarding against invisible threats.
Video surveillance systems are a key component of commercial security, providing real-time monitoring and recording of business premises. When integrated with access control systems, they significantly increase situational awareness and response times. This integration allows for seamless monitoring of all activities within a building, enabling security teams to quickly identify and address potential security breaches.
Video management software (VMS) is essential for efficiently managing, storing, and retrieving video footage captured by surveillance cameras. VMS solutions offer features such as video analytics, remote access, and secure data storage, making it easier for businesses to monitor their premises and respond to incidents. By utilising VMS, businesses can ensure that their video surveillance systems are both effective and user-friendly.
Thermal imaging cameras are an advanced security component that detects temperature changes and serves as an early warning system for fires. These cameras can identify heat signatures that are invisible to the naked eye, allowing security teams to respond to potential fire hazards before they escalate. By incorporating thermal imaging into a commercial security system, businesses can enhance their fire detection capabilities and protect their assets from damage.
Before adding any devices or equipment, it’s crucial to conduct a comprehensive on-site security review and inspection of your location(s) to clearly understand your security needs. This understanding will streamline conversations with service providers during the purchasing process, ensuring you select the right commercial security system tailored to your business needs and budget.
Consider the following factors and questions when evaluating your security requirements:
Customisation options are vital for tailoring a security solution to specific business needs and budgets. Additionally, as the convergence of physical security and cybersecurity strategies becomes increasingly important, ensure your system protects both data and assets effectively.
Most standard alarm systems boast a control panel with keypad, three to six window contacts, and motion sensors. Higher-end solutions could include multiple security cameras with smart automation features, such as temperature and flood sensors, intrusion detection, access control, remote video surveillance, and more.
Castle Security can help create a specially designed package for your needs.
Comprising a control panel, keypad, and contact sensors, alarm systems can be purchased as a bells-only solution to deter potential intruders. For added 24/7 protection, consider a smart alarm system with real-time Central Station Monitoring to immediately dispatch local first responders and emergency services.
For added protection within and around your commercial property, having regularly maintained and inspected devices such as carbon monoxide detectors, and smoke and fire alarms, can be the difference between injuries, damages, and even death.
Adding indoor, outdoor, and front-door cameras can grant even higher protection levels. This technology can also assist law enforcement in identifying and apprehending would-be thieves and vandals.
When adding the Alarm.com mobile app, you’ll have access to smart technologies including 24/7 video surveillance and remote monitoring, motion detection, and video analytics. Some front-door cameras also offer intelligent lighting integration and night time detection for advanced, after-hours safety.
Many traditional technology devices such as thermal imaging cameras have pivoted to help thwart coronavirus community spread. While this technology can detect fevers leading to possible infections, it cannot screen for the virus or antibodies.
These cameras help with individual spot monitoring, and in dense areas for group checkpoints at grocery stores, hospitals, airports, offices, and retail environments.
Also referred to as telephone entry systems, two-way intercoms provide an extra security layer for employee, property, and asset protection. They also keep any persona non grata at bay at your facility’s entrance and exit points for access control.
Consider combining this with front-door cameras for additional security and contactless communications.
When an employee or authorised guest swipes, taps, or inserts their keycard, its magstripe or chip grants access through a uniquely designed code. After the card reader accepts the authorised credential, it sends a quick signal to the specified door or entryway to unlock.
When combined with other smart systems, keycard technology provides other safeguards, such as personalised access levels, safety audits, and employee activity log management.
Castle Security has partnered with RingCentral to offer VoIP phone systems to commercial and small businesses. Certain features and benefits can ensure employees never miss a call, meeting, or message—whether they’re out of the office or simply away from their desk.
When integrated with a smart commercial security package, a VoIP solution provides ease of use, scalability, flexibility, and more.
From monitoring employee whereabouts, productivity and driving, to conducting vehicle diagnostics, movement detection, and theft prevention, a fleet management tracking tool such as Connected Car provides invaluable insights from the Alarm.com mobile app.
Business owners can also track activities such as driver habits and schedules, and other accountability measures. This also includes real-time information on important diagnostics such as oil and tyre pressure, fuel consumption, engine warnings, battery life, and more.
Should you decide to add smart technologies to your commercial security system, these can be easily controlled and managed from anywhere via any mobile device. Consider the following integrations for additional protection, ease of use, convenience, and more.
Remotely monitor your business and operations 24/7 when you’re off-site or on holiday. You can also instruct delivery persons or other visitors to leave packages at your front door, even when you’re not there.
Smart thermostats monitor your building’s interior heating and cooling, for additional energy efficiency and quality control. Consider adding contact sensors to appliances containing perishable items requiring specific temperature settings. These can also help manage food storage and accountability, detecting how often a refrigerator or freezer door is opened, or if someone accidentally leaves it ajar.
Flood sensors alert to sudden and extreme fluctuations in moisture, water, and temperature that could lead to weather-related flooding. It protects your business from costly damages that could be incurred due to flooding from natural disasters, leaky pipes, or septic tank issues.
Installing smart locks with mobile alerts eliminate security concerns regarding lost or stolen employee keys, or terminations. These also immediately inform you if a door is unlocked, ajar, or opened by an unauthorised user.
Easily turn your business alarm on and off, from any location. This is also useful during after hours, should an employee require access to a job site. In conjunction with smart cameras, this ensures safely monitored entry points.
Schedule lights or other electronics to turn on and shut down each day. An app can also be set to activate smart bulbs should your camera detect outdoor motion.
When purchasing a commercial security camera package, motion detection rules and thresholds can be programmed for a wide variety of coverage, through Alarm.com Business Activity Analytics. This includes virtual tripwires for occupancy, group gatherings, and people-counting measures, as well as heat mapping and queue monitoring.
These technologies transform security within and around your place of business, and provide invaluable insights, such as customer traffic, marketing analytics, and inventory tracking through automated weekly or monthly reports.
If you have several employees across multiple locations, consider tying together your analytics and information on one interface, via the Alarm.com Enterprise Dashboard.
A virtual tripwire at building entrances captures total occupancy via multi-directional counting. As this technology calculates how many cross this invisible line, you’ll receive immediate alerts about exceeding capacity levels.
Invisible ground zones track the locations and duration of customers, employees, guests, and others. Time-lapsed or single image heat maps examine average spot movements, for marketing insights and other consumer information.
Virtual ground zones count the amount of people in a specific area. This can also detect unwanted loitering by both customers and employees. Real-time mobile device alerts will appear for overcapacity situations.
This virtual zone manages average customer wait time. Notifications appear if the queue length is too lengthy or exceeds pre-set durations.
While all commercial properties are prone to theft and vandalism, small businesses are even more vulnerable. Many do not have the methods and technologies to monitor and review operations, logs, and activities both during and after business hours. Such a lack of security and surveillance increases opportunities for employees to steal.
According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, employee theft is a significant issue, with many businesses reporting incidents of internal theft or fraud.
With appropriate protection systems, small business owners are less likely to experience potential threats, incidents, associated losses, and other unsavoury scenarios.
Indoor, outdoor, and front-door cameras with video surveillance provide constant protection, as well as viewing and playback of recorded footage of monitored areas, such as shop floors, front entrances, stairwells, stockrooms, kitchens, checkout areas, and others.
Utilising smart technologies such as motion detection and video analytics can also help deter smash-and-grab crimes, vandalism, and other potentially dangerous situations.
A DIY commercial security system can be a cost-saving option for budget-minded and tech-savvy business owners. While Castle Security provides guidance and technical support to DIYers within local service areas, a professional installation could be more prudent for multiple locations with complex systems.
Utilising a professional company also grants access to expert knowledge and guidance regarding product placement and other best practices.
The importance of professional installation and integration of commercial security systems cannot be overstated. For optimal performance and effectiveness, it’s crucial that these systems are correctly set up, configured, and tested by skilled professionals.
Firstly, professional installation ensures that security systems are properly configured and tested, guaranteeing their functionality and reliability. Improper installation, on the other hand, can lead to degraded functionality or even complete system dysfunction, leaving your business vulnerable.
Moreover, working with professional installers ensures that all components of the security system are compatible and interchangeable, providing a seamless and efficient security solution. These experts assess your property to establish security goals and identify areas that require surveillance, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
Professional installers also offer detailed recommendations for each area of the property, optimising security coverage and effectiveness. Before handing over the system, they conduct thorough testing to ensure all components are functioning correctly, providing peace of mind that your business is well-protected.
It’s important to work with an experienced provider such as Castle Security to help determine the best commercial security package to protect your employees, property, business, and assets.
