What to Look For in the Best Commercial Building Security Systems
Keeping your business safe and secure makes your employees feel good about working in your building, and makes it a better place to work in general. When a break-in happens, when confrontations happen between customers and service staff, or when employees steal from the company, it doesn’t take long for word to get around.
Commercial building security systems can be complex and intimidating, but there are plenty of options to choose from that will help you feel more at ease while protecting your company’s most valuable asset: its people.
Investing in a good security system now can save you a world of trouble later on. Unlike residential properties, many commercial buildings have numerous entrances and exits, so it's harder to secure them. Building security systems can help you manage your business, monitor employee entrances, and exits, and protect your valuables.
Older access control systems were more expensive and harder to manage and install, but cloud-based systems have made them more affordable and easier to set up and maintain. That makes them accessible to more businesses.
If you're not sure where to start, we've created this quick guide for everything you need to know about what to look for in the best commercial building security systems.
Why Your Business Needs a Business Security System
Businesses are a major target for theft, vandalism, arson, and other threats. According to the 2020 National Retail Security Survey, both small and large businesses lose an estimated $61.7 billion each year to theft, fraud, and cybercrime, and that number is only getting higher.
What's more, the risk of these threats only increases if you work within coworking buildings or in shared office spaces. Commercial building security systems act as a deterrent to potential criminals looking for an easy target, and they're also pretty much required to help you keep your employees safe and your property secure.
A high-performing office building security system will protect your company's valuables by preventing:
Unauthorized Entry
Building security systems are a vital part of any business security plan. They can help you keep your employees safe and your property secure.
In the event that you have restricted access to certain areas, a commercial building access control system equipped with smart locks and cameras can help protect those areas and prevent them from navigating the space. It will also let you know who's entering these areas and know exactly who’s coming in and out.
The best state-of-the-art access control systems allow you to instantly revoke and grant access with only a few taps on your device.
Fire Damage
With so much at stake, it’s important to maintain a comprehensive fire protection system for your business. Data collected by OHSA shows that commercial building fires are responsible for over $2 billion in damage each year.
Commercial building security systems are designed to mitigate potential fire damage by providing you with 24/hr surveillance to detect potential fires, hot spots, or smoke. Office building security systems are also equipped with heat sensors to identify the location of a fire and alert the fire department when they arrive on the scene.
Vandalism
Not only do security systems protect your business from theft, but they also deter vandals - people who deface buildings and property for fun. Vandals are not just destructive, they can be costly since communities lose $15 billion a year from the effects of vandalism.
Security systems are designed to prevent burglars and vandals from ever reaching your business, much less giving them a chance to hurt it. Top-of-the-line building security systems combine video surveillance with access control, allowing you not only to see who is coming and going but to also restrict access to authorized personnel only.
Shoplifting and Theft
Shoplifting or theft is not a victimless crime and can be expensive for businesses of all kinds to deal with. The 2020 National Retail Security Survey shows that shoplifting is one of the primary causes of inventory loss in businesses. Shoplifters may only steal in small amounts, but those small amounts can add up to a lot of money if they keep doing it for months or years undetected.
Shoplifters can be very creative when it comes to stealing, and they often know exactly what they're looking for and how to hide it. Security systems can be effective in deterring would-be shoplifters by providing real-time footage from surveillance cameras while also identifying them whenever they enter your store.
Internal theft can be just as damaging to a business as shoplifting. Access control systems, in particular, are well-suited to minimize internal theft and prevent employees from going to places they aren’t allowed to and taking things they shouldn’t.
Cost of a Business Security System
Commercial building security systems can be expensive, but the cost is worth it when you consider all that they offer. The average business spends $1,390 to $10,870 a year on security, with that number varying depending on the size and type of business. Regardless of the price, having a security system in place will provide you with the priceless gift of reassurance that your property, staff, and customers are safe.
Switching to a cloud-based security system doesn’t just minimize the potential security threats that can make your commercial business vulnerable, but it can save you money in the long run. Investing in an office building security system protects your assets which protects you against losing money needlessly. It’s an investment, but one that’s worth the price.
Types of Commercial Security Systems
It's important to know the different types of building security systems that businesses can employ in their office. While not every business will require one or more specific kinds, it is useful to turn to a reputable commercial building security company that can perform an on-site audit and understand your needs so you don't end up with something unneeded and expensive.
Here are the most frequently used types of security systems:
Access Control
Preventing unauthorized entry with smart locks and cameras is the main goal of access control systems. They are used to restrict access to certain areas of a building and keep track of who enters and exits the building.
Access control systems can be used in a variety of different ways, but one of the most common is your mobile device. This way, you can easily grant or revoke access without ever having to leave your office. You can also prevent access outside of opening hours for different areas of your office.
Video Surveillance
Security cameras and other video feeds are a great way to get a visual on who’s requesting access to your building.
They can help monitor employees and deter criminal activity, all while providing peace of mind for staff members who want constant surveillance footage at their fingertips. One advantage is that cloud-based video management systems let you view feeds from anywhere with internet access - perfect if there aren't enough eyes on patrol in the building itself.
Cameras with motion detection can help save storage space by only recording when something is happening, as well as providing alerts if movement is detected. It’s also good to be mindful of video surveillance solutions that can be easily integrated with other security measures - having your cameras activate when someone types on a keypad etc.
Office building security systems that include video surveillance software will let you record footage and review it at your own convenience. You can also use this software to search through footage for specific events and investigate specific security threats.
Alarms, Sensors, and Employee Monitoring
The average burglary takes an average of 8 to 12 minutes to happen, and there are over 1 million reported burglaries in the US every year according to the FBI. Some of the facts regarding employee theft are even more shocking. The average business fraud scheme lasts about 16 months on average, and workplace crime costs U.S. businesses $50 billion annually.
That adds up to your business losing a lot of money in a short period of time, and leaves you with only minutes to respond to a theft event or security breach.
A comprehensive security system can include alarms and sensors that work in tandem with your video surveillance cameras and your mobile access control. In particular, a cloud-based system can enable you to respond quickly and effectively to the forced entry in real-time, locking the offender out of sensitive areas of the building and alerting security teams and first-responders to the situation.
What to Look For in a Business Security System
When looking for the best building security systems, it's important to look at all of the features they offer. This will help you find the security solution that is right for your business.
An effective commercial building security solution should include:
Cloud-Based
The best commercial building security systems now rely on cloud-based technology. This means that you can access your building safety and security system remotely, from anywhere in the world and from any device.
Having cloud-based technology is especially useful as you expand and grow your business. Building security systems like this allow you to monitor your business 24/7 by accessing footage from wherever you are.
Integrations
Integration is the key to building security. With a system that can easily connect with your other building management software and other third-party technology and apps, you can easily modify your security plan to meet your specific needs. With this, you can adapt, scale and operate more proficiently and securely.
Commercial building security systems should be able to integrate with existing technologies and also support new technologies as they emerge.The best solution is to have a cloud-based system and have a centralized network to manage all aspects of your security system in the same work environment.
Mobile Access
Many commercial building security systems come with mobile access, which allows you to keep an eye on your business from anywhere. Plus, with mobile access, you can unlock doors, nearby or remotely, from your phone. The app will also send notifications to your phone when an event occurs at your business. With mobile capabilities, you have a live audit trail of who used which key and when, so you always know what's going on in your business regardless of where you are.
Ease of Installation
If you have an office building, it's important that your security system is both easy to install and operate. Some building security solutions are plug-and-play, meaning they can hook up with your existing Wi-Fi and be up and running in minutes. Systems that are hardwired should also be easy to install, with clear instructions and everything you need to get started included in the package.
Scalability
Your security needs will change as your business grows. Make sure to choose a system that has the ability to scale with you as your business changes, allowing for unlimited scalability. Office building security systems should also be flexible enough that they can be used in a variety of different settings. Therefore, when you're ready to expand to other locations, your security system should be able to easily expand alongside you.
Automated Workflows
Ideally, Office building security systems automate the process of granting or revoking employee access with as little human input as possible.
Automating your access control allows your business to carry out essential tasks without human interaction. Automation can help with a variety of tasks, like creating a real-time guest log of people who have temporary access to your building.
Additionally, the best security systems allow you to send access keys or remote access control through a secure API. This will automatically grant access to authorized employees without any need for manual operation.
With automated workflows, you can save time and keep your business running smoothly like a well-oiled machine.
Easy to Manage
A building security system should be easy to install and intuitive to use without a lot of extra steps or things to remember. Choose a system that is easy to operate and has a logically organized interface. The system should be easy to navigate, making it simple for you to find what you need.
Not all businesses can afford dedicated, on-site security personnel. Modern security technology like cloud-based systems and mobile access control gives smaller businesses like coworking spaces, gyms, and beauty studios the ability to keep their businesses secure from one easy-to-navigate interface.
Through advanced technology, building security systems now allow you to use your smartphone device to unlock your door. No longer do you have to worry about memorizing multiple passcodes or carrying around cumbersome keys. In fact, studies have shown that 19% of students lose their keycards every year. Losing a keycard isn’t just a hassle for them but expensive for you, because key cards can be about $22 apiece. That’s also a good reason to consider alternatives to traditional keycards.
To save you the pain and hassle, mobile access control allows you to unlock doors and passcodes from your phone, an innovative alternative to the traditional keycard.
Mobile Access Control with Nexkey Makes Your Space Safe and Secure - No Matter How Big or Small
Whether you’re a big corporation or a small local gym, you need some way to protect yourself, your customers, your employees, and your building from threats both internal and external. Security and safety systems are an integral part of any commercial building and can be as simple as a front door lock, or it could include a complex system that includes video surveillance and employee monitoring.
With Nexkey, your phone is your key, eliminating the need for theft-prone keys and keycards that can be easily stolen or copied. Nexkey allows you to instantly grant and revoke access on your smartphone, track who accessed your business and when, and will notify you of any unusual activity.