Businesses are four times as likely to be burglarized as homes.
In 2011, nearly 500,000 businesses experienced a burglary. According to a West Bend Mutual Insurance Company article, burglaries occur every 10 seconds, and only one out of six cases results in an arrest.
Consider the value and vulnerability of your business — it probably has massive amounts of equipment and highly valuable products on hand. The first step in protecting your business is being proactive in establishing security solutions for employees.
One way to mitigate the risk of break-ins is to invest in access control systems: a card- or keypad-based system for which each employee has a unique card or pin number to access the building.
Modern access control software platforms include a report tool that can query the database. Queries can be run on a door, employee, badge, etc. These reports are accessible through the client interface, which is usually software installed on a PC (thick client). Hosted systems can also be accessed via a webpage (thin client).
Access control software requires that a user be created in the software with password protection. The access server resides in a network and is also protected by the responsible IT department’s network security. Users are set up with rights to which components they can access in the software. A receptionist will often have different rights than an administrator.
Upkeep for access control systems is an ongoing process and includes firmware and security patches to prevent unauthorized entry into the system. Server OS security patches (Windows) where the access control system resides must be verified with the access control software manufacturer before installation to avoid system bugs. A cloud-based server solution (Software as a Service) will greatly simplify the traditional maintenance requirement of the customer since these systems are normally updated and backed up by the service provider.
Electronic access control not only gives you peace of mind that your business is safe but also empowers you with control over your business and actionable data to make modifications and adjustments. For instance, the system can be set to restrict access or traffic flow through certain areas of the facility. The system also allows you to check who is accessing certain areas, verify that they have the appropriate credentials, and take action if necessary.
Access control by job, responsibility, and date gives the employer and/or business owner control. This control encourages and enables business and employee safety. Ensure that your employees and property are safe — contact Koorsen to find out how we can protect your business.
