What Type of Commercial Security System Do You Need for Your Business?

Dixie Safe & Lock Service Inc. • May 14, 2019

Commercial Surveillance Camera — Houston, TX — Dixie Safe & Lock Service Inc.

There are many factors business owners should consider when deciding on a security system. Where you’re located should be one of the variables that help you determine what type of system you need and the features to include. The type of building you have, your facilities and the value of your assets and equipment are other significant factors to consider.

For example, if you’re a HVAC service company or a pest control company you likely have a fleet of vehicles and potentially expensive chemicals and equipment that’s stored onsite at your facility. These fleets are often secured after hours in outdoor, fenced in areas on your lot. These types of business locations are often situated away from residential areas or in industrial areas that aren’t highly populated at night.

A business with that type of facility is going to have significantly different security concerns than a café on a busy street. Traffic will be passing the café’s storefront at all hours of the day or night – including law enforcement – making it a less inviting target for would-be thieves. It also won’t have a lot of expensive equipment or cash in the store, as tills are usually emptied frequently to prevent large sums of cash from accumulating on the premises.

The café may be best served by an alarm system that includes things like glass breakage sensors or motion sensors. The small storefront may not need a full-fledged CCTV network, but the service company with a fleet of vehicles in an isolated area may benefit from a more robust system that offers constant visual monitoring.

Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Business’s Security

What are your points of vulnerability? Any entrance should be considered, as well as areas of potential ingress, such as ground floor windows.
Is there enough lighting? Would burglars feel exposed trying to break in?
Is there a risk of employee theft or misconduct?

Are there outward signs of a security system that will act as a deterrent for potential thieves or burglars?

Cost and Potentially Insurance Incentives

Ultimately, the purpose of a security system is to reduce the probability that you will suffer a monetary loss that will negatively impact your business.

From the insurance company’s perspective, properly secured businesses are less likely to file insurance claims due to theft or vandalism. They encourage businesses to install effective security measures by offering premium discounts to policy holders who install security systems.

If your business isn’t currently receiving a break on your premiums thanks to your security system, you may want to contact your commercial insurance provider. Ask them if they offer discounts for security systems and what criteria those systems need to meet to qualify for the available incentives.

You may also be able to get a discount on your commercial insurance by upgrading your fire alarm system. Generally, local state governments and municipalities mandate some type of fire alarm, but not every fire alarm is going to qualify your business for insurance discounts.

Crime Rate

Some areas have higher rates of theft, vandalism and other forms of property damage that could constitute a preventable loss for your business. You should take crime statistics for your area into account when deciding on what level of security your business needs.

A security system isn’t just about safeguarding physical property. There’s also the matter of your employees’ safety to consider. Knowing the rates and types of crimes in your area can help you protect your human capital as well.

For more information on crime rates for different parts of the Houston metro area, you can check Neighborhood Scout or Area Vibes. The FBI has also made a lot of local crime statistics and trend data available on their Crime Data Explorer.

It’s also a good idea to stay apprised of the area and neighboring businesses. If there’s an uptick in after-hours thefts in the area you may want to adjust your current security setup. If the area has become notably safer in recent years you may not need to purchase as robust of a system the next time you update your security.

Features to Consider

Modern CCTV systems offer higher resolution and color options than were available in previous generations of the technology. The higher the resolution the better, as it will make identifying perpetrators much easier for you and law enforcement. There are also modern motion-sensing cameras that will only activate when motion is detected. These are great because they provide deterrent benefit all the time but will only take up storage space with recorded video when it is necessary.

Another great addition to your business’s security system is some form of remote access and system notifications. Ideally, if something trips your business’s security system you want to know about it right away. Many modern security systems allow you to log in to an app to look at video, images or information on breaches in real time.

Whether or not you need a dedicated security specialist and a security HQ is highly dependent on your business and your needs. If you do need a large system and significant resources dedicated to security, you may want to purchase a system that has room for growth. For example, some DVR recording systems for CCTVs can only accommodate a set number of channels. If you think you’ll need to expand the system or your operations in the future, you’ll want to purchase a security system and features that can be added to and expanded.

Find Out Which Commercial Security Solution Will Work Best for Your Business

If you’re interested in learning more about security system features or want to update your existing commercial security solution, contact our helpful experts at Dixie Safe & Lock Service Inc. We have the capabilities to provide comprehensive security systems – from robust CCTV and keyless entry to basic alarm systems and monitoring.

We’re happy to discuss your facility’s needs and offer affordable, cost-effective solutions. Give us a call at (713) 643-5767 to schedule a consultation.

Number	First Name	Last Name	Email Address
1	Anne	Evans	anne.evans@mail.com
2	Bill	Fernandez	bill.fernandez@mail.com
3	Candice	Gates	candice.gates@mail.com
4	Dave	Hill	dave.hill@mail.com

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