In a world of ransomware attacks and data breaches, many organizations are focused heavily on digital security—and for good reason. Ransomware attacks are on the rise and cybersecurity costs organizations millions a year.
But when we think about modern business security, it’s important to remember that physical security (alongside digital) plays an important role in safeguarding valuable data and infrastructure.
Physical Security: Why It Matters for Businesses
Physical security protects your technology, data, and staff from physical actions and events that could cause damage. While many of these events are covered by insurance, prevention efforts can save an enormous amount of time and money.
As security breaches continue to rise, the importance of robust physical security systems grows with it. From surveillance cameras to access control systems, the demand for advanced security solutions is only growing. Let’s review the strategies your business can employ to protect your physical security using these tools.
Video Surveillance Systems
Digital on-premises and cloud surveillance systems make it much easier for businesses to monitor activity, reduce risk, and deter crime. Here are some benefits and key features of effective surveillance systems:
- Deterrence: The presence of visible cameras deter potential criminals. Knowing they're being watched discourages illegal activities, reducing the likelihood of vandalism, theft, and other crimes.
- Thermal Imaging: Thermal imaging cameras offer around-the-clock surveillance and temperature monitoring. They can screen body temperatures, monitor equipment to prevent overheating and detect hotspots that can lead to fires.
- Monitoring: Surveillance cameras offer real-time monitoring of activities within the designated area. This allows security personnel to respond promptly to suspicious behavior or incidents, preventing escalation.
- Evidence Collection: During a crime or incident, high-resolution cameras capture clear video evidence that can aid in investigations and prosecutions. This footage can also be used for insurance claims or internal reviews.
- Remote Monitoring: Modern surveillance systems often feature remote monitoring capabilities, enabling authorized personnel to access live feeds and recorded footage from anywhere with an internet connection. This flexibility enhances situational awareness and allows for rapid response to security threats.
4 Tips for Strategically Placing Cameras
Here’s how to get the most out of your security cameras:
- Cover Critical Areas: Install cameras to cover entry points, high-traffic areas, valuable assets, and vulnerable areas susceptible to unauthorized access.
- Consider Blind Spots: Identify potential blind spots where surveillance coverage may be obstructed and position additional cameras or adjust angles accordingly.
- Comply with Legal Regulations: Ensure compliance with relevant privacy laws and regulations governing surveillance, such as obtaining consent, respecting individuals' privacy, and displaying signage where surveillance is in operation.
- Secure Camera Placement: Mount cameras out of reach to prevent tampering or vandalism. Choose weatherproof and vandal-resistant camera housings for outdoor installations.
Visitor Management Systems
Beyond video surveillance, visitor management systems track your visitors in a formal way. Many businesses get a lot of foot traffic—job candidates, delivery personnel, contractors, consultants, clients, and more. However, not every business has an employee sitting at a front desk for welcoming and physical security purposes.
A visitor management system solves this problem (among others). When visitors arrive, they’re greeted by the check-in kiosk, which instructs them to sign in. Admin users are able to customize the system to collect as much or as little information about the visitor as they need.
Once the visitor has input their information, the software alerts their host contact via SMS, email, Slack, or Microsoft Teams.
Benefits of Visitor Management Systems:
- Improved Visitor Tracking: Accurately record visitor details and movements, providing valuable data for security and compliance purposes.
- Reduced Unauthorized Access: Implementing strict access control measures ensures that only authorized individuals are allowed on-site, reducing the risk of security breaches.
- Emergency Preparedness: Access to real-time visitor data enables quick identification and evacuation in the event of emergencies.
- Integration with Existing Security Systems: Your business can integrate this system with other security measures like access control systems (discussed more below), surveillance cameras, alarm systems, and biometric authentication, creating a comprehensive security infrastructure.
Access Control Systems
Access control refers to the measures to regulate entry into physical spaces, ensuring that only authorized individuals are granted access while keeping unauthorized individuals out. It plays a critical role in safeguarding sensitive areas by preventing unauthorized access, monitoring and logging access, and enforcing physical security policies.
Different access control systems offer a range of benefits depending on your type of business and physical security needs:
- Key Card Access Control Systems: Key card systems utilize cards or key fobs containing embedded credentials that grant access when presented to a reader. Benefits include ease of use, scalability, and the ability to deactivate lost or stolen cards quickly.
- Biometric Access Control Systems: Biometric systems use unique biological traits such as fingerprints, iris patterns, or facial recognition to verify an individual's identity. Biometric access control offers a high level of security as it is difficult to forge or replicate biometric identifiers. It also eliminates the need for physical credentials, reducing the risk of unauthorized access due to lost or stolen cards.
- Keypad/PIN Access Control Systems: Keypad or PIN-based systems require users to enter a numeric code or password to gain access. These systems are cost-effective and suitable for areas with low to moderate security requirements. However, they are susceptible to credential sharing and may lack the robustness of other systems.
- Proximity Access Control Systems: Proximity systems use radio frequency identification (RFID) or near-field communication (NFC) technology to grant access when a compatible credential, such as a key card or smartphone, is brought close to the reader. Proximity systems offer convenience and can be integrated with other security systems.
Choosing the right access control system and implementing it effectively requires an understanding of your organization's specific needs. It’s best to partner with a trusted service provider to conduct a thorough assessment of your organization's digital and physical security requirements, considering factors such as the sensitivity of the areas to be secured, the number of users, and the desired level of convenience.
Maintaining and Upgrading Physical Security Systems
Your chosen security system will only function as well as it is maintained and updated. By implementing a proactive maintenance program that includes regular inspections, cleaning, calibration, firmware updates, and power supply checks, organizations can mitigate the risk of unexpected failures, optimize system performance, and sustain reliable protection.
So, how do you identify if your system might need updates? Consider the following:
- Outdated technology
- Frequent malfunctions
- Limited features or functionality
- Regular security breaches or incidents
- Changes in business operations or environment
By prioritizing preventive maintenance efforts and addressing signs of a needed security system update, organizations can safeguard their assets, maintain operational continuity, and uphold a robust physical security posture.
Establishing Physical Security for Your Business
With so much attention directed towards cybersecurity, it can be easy to overlook the importance of physical security. Maintaining security isn’t just about protecting your business from revenue loss; it’s also about fostering confidence among your customers and employees.
Reach out to Meridian for a security assessment today to learn more about our customized security solutions.