5 Core Security Systems Every Office Needs

In 2017, research showed that there were around 130 large-scale targeted security breaches in corporate offices yearly, and this figure has grown by 27% in subsequent years.

Corporate office security isn’t just a necessity; it’s a priority. A security breach could place your reputation on the line, waste time, money and resources, plus you could be held liable for breaking GDPR compliance.

So, how do you secure your corporate office from a physical security standpoint to maximize security and productivity? Keep reading to learn about the five core security systems every corporate office needs.

A Physical Access Control System

Access control is the cornerstone of physical security. It protects a building from intruders, ensuring that the property remains secure and all company resources are protected.

Without access control, unauthorized users have unrestricted access to office resources, putting your data and GDPR compliance at risk.

Adding turnstile access control in your building lobby that requires access credentials like keycards and fobs can help to ensure that no unauthorized user can enter the building. Additionally, securing building entrances with commercial building door locks can help to protect your building from intruders.

A cloud-based access control system ensures that all security data is accessible from anywhere using a cloud-based control center or mobile application, allowing for more agile and responsive security. 

Additionally, cloud-based security systems do not need complex wiring systems, and software updates can be performed over the air, making them more manageable than on-premise alternatives.

Integrated Video Security

Establishing a cloud-based security system will allow you to integrate your security tools together to enhance their function. Integrated video security can help to spot suspicious activity on the premises and works with other devices to provide a more robust security system.

Here are the opportunities presented by integrated video security:

Identity verification – by integrating video security with access control, you can reduce the probability of an unauthorized user using stolen credentials to enter the building. The system can verify user identity by comparing credentials with facial recognition data, ensuring only authorized users can enter the building.

Alarm systems – You can ensure a quick response when investigating alarm triggers by integrating video security with your building alarm systems. Both alarm system data and video surveillance feed will be readily available on a single interface, allowing security professionals to explore alarm triggers and initiate evacuation procedures if necessary quickly. Integrated alarm systems can be especially beneficial in the event of an emergency that requires the building to enter a lockdown mode. This allows security professionals to divert their focus to the emergency response and preserving safety, rather than scrambling to ensure systems capture video footage. 

AI and analytics – You can integrate AI and analytics to automate video feed monitoring by opting for a cloud-based video surveillance system. Security teams must consistently monitor video feeds, which might lead to them missing potential security threats. AI monitors the feed, providing automated alerts when a potential threat is detected – keeping your security team aware of security happenings at all times.

Alarm Systems

Alarm systems are a requirement in any commercial building, and failing to provide alarm systems could lead to liability issues during security breaches or even personal safety claims. So, to ensure you comply with building safety regulations, it’s best to invest in an alarm system.

With an on-premise alarm system, the alarm sounds, and a security professional or system administrator must travel to the control box to determine the trigger’s location and confirm the alarm’s validity.

A cloud-based alarm system allows security professionals to view alarm system information from anywhere using a mobile app – determining where the carbon monoxide, fire, smoke, or gunshot detector trigger is coming from. 

Having a cloud-based alarm system isn’t just important for keeping your colleagues safe, but it’s also critical for protecting your sensitive data. Being able to respond quickly to an emergency situation like a break-in means that you’ll have the time to secure your sensitive information, avoiding security issues such as costly data leaks in the future!

Time is of the essence in an emergency evacuation scenario, and security professionals can benefit from the agility a cloud-based alarm system provides.

Visitor And Delivery Management Systems

One of the critical aspects of security for commercial office buildings is keeping an accurate ledger of visitors. With visitor management software, you can automate the visitor management process, reducing manual effort and increasing visitor convenience.

When the visitor or a delivery person needs to enter the building, they are provided with a visitor form on their mobile device. After filling out this form, their mobile will become their key to enter the building. Once they leave the building, the system will sign them out and revoke their access key. 

Visitor and delivery management systems provide reliable and accurate visitor management data that can be beneficial in a security investigation.

Modern Access Credentials

When it comes to modern access credentials, you have a few options – keycards, fobs, and mobile access credentials. Mobile credentials are quickly becoming one of the favored options for access control for several reasons:

More convenient – with mobile credentials, the user can enter via Bluetooth communication, meaning they don’t need to withdraw their device from their pocket or bag to enter.

More hygienic – Bluetooth-enabled entry allows the user to enter with simply a wave of their hand over the reader, triggering remote communication with their device. This reduces the number of touchpoints the user must touch before entering the building, increasing hygiene.

More cost-effective – mobile access credentials can be more cost-effective than keycards and fobs. Keycards and fobs need replacements when lost, whereas you can download mobile credentials to a mobile device at no additional cost.

Summary

When considering your security strategy for your corporate office building, you need to know about the latest technologies and trends in the security industry. Investing in sophisticated and modern security solutions can ensure an agile security response and provide more convenience in daily operations. Consider the security essentials listed in their article and whether their benefits could enhance your security strategy.