How To Avoid False Alarms

There is nothing worse than having to respond to a false alarm at your businesses because a security alarm was triggered.

False alarms are annoying and more importantly cost businesses time and money. Some cities are giving out fines to businesses that have numerous false alarms.  Fines can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars into the thousands.

To help prevent false alarms with your business security system, we recommend following the tips below.

1. Have Your System Professionally Checked – It is important to have your business security system provider test your system from time to time. This helps to identify and fix any problems before they happen. We recommend having your system check at least once a year.

2. Test Your System – You also should regularly test your system yourself at least once a month. Be sure to notify your security system provider before doing any tests. Be sure to check that all functions of your security system are properly working.

2. Make Sure Employees Have Alarm Code – Be sure to give the alarm code to employees, who arrive to work early so they can disarm the security system. If you are hesitant on giving your employees the code, create company policies that regulate office hours.

3. Familiarize Yourself With The Alarm – Sometimes a business owner may be unsure how to effectively operate the security system. If this is the case, contact your business security system provider to help teach you how to use the system. Also, look at the literature that comes with the system.

4.  Make Sure The Backup Battery Is Working – Sometimes the backup battery in your security system may be old. Be sure the backup battery is working. Often times, your security system provider will check it during the regular inspection process. This is something you should check during your monthly inspection.

5. Keep Sensors Clean – If you have motion sensors, be sure they are clean and do not have any dust. Also do not have any hanging object near the sensor that may set them off. Also look for any loose wiring. Contact your security system provider if repairs are needed.

Following these tips will help prevent false alarms and keep your business safe. Remember to have your system regularly tested. And if you are unsure about anything, contact your security system provider.

How to Properly Secure Your Business Smartphone

A week ago we talked about Choosing a Camera Surveillance Smartphone.  One thing we didn’t discuss was protecting your smartphone once you have it connected to your business security system.

Did you know that 700,000 phones are stolen each year in the US?

When choosing a business phone, make sure it is protected just like your store.  Here is how to increase the security of the 3 most popular types of smartphones.

iPhone

The iPhone is one of the most sought after phone for thieves.

Stop data from being stolen by protecting your phone with a password.  Setting up a password using the iPhone can be done in these steps.

• Step 1 – Go to iPhone general settings from the main page.
• Step 2 – Tap “Setting” key at top of page and press “General”
• Step 3 – Click on Passcode lock.  You will be prompted to enter a 4 digit code
• Strep 4 – Enter the 4 digit code you want to use
• Step 5 – Re-enter the password again to verify and activate it
• Step 6 – Adjust any password settings from this screen.

Having a password on your iPhone is essential when using it as a business security solution.

Android

The Android is the fastest growing market of smartphone users.  Android phones are equipped with a password protection called Unlock Pattern.

Unlock patterns can be set up on Android devices in these steps.

• Step 1 – From the home screen press the menu button and select “Settings”
• Step 2 – Select “Location & Security”
• Step 3 – Click “Select Unlock Pattern”
• Step 4 – Tap next and “Next” again
• Step 5 – Draw a pattern on the screen without touching the same dots twice
• Step 6 – Tap “Continue”
• Step 7 – Draw the same pattern again
• Step 8 – Tap “Confirm” and you are done.

Blackberry

Blackberry is one of the top selling phones for the business market.  Knowing how to protect the information it holds is vital to any business owner.

Here are the steps to password protect your Blackberry.

• Step 1 – From the main menu scroll and click on “Settings”
• Step 2 – Scroll down to “Options” and click
• Step 3 – Scroll down and click on “Security”
• Step 4 – Scroll down and click on “General Settings”
• Step 5 – Change the password option to enabled
• Step 6 – Scroll up and hit “Save”
• Step 7 – You will be prompted to enter a new password
• Step 8 – Enter and verify

Securing your Smartphone

Business owners use smartphones to stay connected to security surveillance cameras everyday.  Make sure that the data your phone contains is as secure using these helpful tips.

Critical Steps To Choosing A Strong Business Security System

Choosing a business security system can be a difficult and time-consuming process. It requires patience and collaboration among decision makers at your business.

There are several critical steps you need to follow when choosing a business security system.

Step 1: Discussion

• Have a period of time to discuss what type of security you want for your business. Be sure to discuss a budget. Take as much time as you need to talk during the discussion period. You want to have a clear plan of what security needs are most important.

Step 2: Security Cameras

• Discuss with your employees and managers if they would like surveillance cameras. For some, this may be too intrusive. Be sure to discuss locations. You may want cameras outside of your business.

Step 3: Access Control Cards

• Discuss if access control cards are the right fit for your business. Access control systems keep doors locked until an employee uses his or her access control card to remotely open the door. This is a good day-time business security solution.

Step 4: Fire Alarms

• Having a fire alarm is a very important safety feature. You will want to find a company that has good working relationships with fire departments across the country.

Step 5: Security Alarm

• You will need to have a discussion about what type of security alarm you want. Do you want motion detectors, 24 hour monitoring, etc. See what security features best match your business and your budget.

Once you have discussed various business security solutions, you will be able to work with a security system provider to help carry out your business security plan.

How To Insure Against Employee Theft

Even with the best employee theft prevention strategies, you’re still not going to stop every instance of theft. No matter how hard you look, someone is always going to be able to escape the system… at least for a little while.

That’s why some larger companies choose to purchase insurance policies called fiduciary bonds.

These policies help eliminate the risk of theft, fraud, embezzlement, bribery, and a number of other issues caused by employee misdeeds.

The system works so that once a company is able to prove that is has suffered losses due to the actions of its employees, the insurer pays the company for the loss and gains the rights to take civil action against the employee.

If the insurance company successfully sues and is rewarded above the policy amount, the company is given any additional amount awarded.

This type of insurance is important for many companies as the misdeeds of employees can lead to expensive liabilities for a company. However, these policies can be expensive and are generally only used by large companies.

For everybody else, business security solutions and a good business security system is more than enough.

Stop Employee Theft By Setting The Right Policies

Setting up official policies to deal with employee theft is very important. One of the biggest threats to your business is employee theft.

The lack of rules and policies can do serious harm to your business. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, employee theft costs businesses more than $50 billion a year. To help your business, here are some of the most important policies:

Employee Education – Explaining what constitutes employee theft, how to stop it, and what procedures must be followed by every employee is a must. By giving the proper training, you turn your employees into your own security team. Make sure that you make education sessions positive and explain how each employee benefits from preventing theft.

Check The Books – Conducting regular audits on areas that are likely to be targeted by theft is an important step to eliminating it all together. Regularly audit every area where money changes hands (purchasing, payroll, sales, etc.) even if you completely trust the people involved. Make some of these audits random so employees do not have time to cover their tracks.

Enforce Mandatory Vacations And Job Rotations – Many employee theft schemes are discovered only when an employee takes a sick day and someone else must fill in for them. By enforcing mandatory vacations and occasionally rotating people between departments, you prevent anyone from being able to hide what they are doing.

Support Employees – While it’s not a valid excuse, many employees feel justified in stealing because they feel the company wronged them. By supporting employees through tough times, treating them kindly and with respect, and setting management practices that encourage overall company profit, you will see a major decrease in theft and an increase in loyalty.

Create Reporting Programs – Make it easy for your employees to report theft and make sure that everyone knows exactly how to do it anonymously. Some companies have even had success offering small rewards to anyone who reports a serious instance of employee theft.

Choose Right Business Security Solution – A good business security system with access codes, alarms, and camera surveillance systems where necessary can make a big difference in stopping employee theft. While it’s not exactly a procedure, it should certainly be part of your security efforts.

How To Prevent Robberies At Your Business

Robberies can be a major problem for some businesses, and it’s important that you take every step you can to protect your employees, customers, and store.

There are a number of methods that you can follow that will help prevent robberies and keep everybody as safe as possible.

• Your business security system must include a good security camera surveillance system. This means a professionally installed, highly visible system that records all areas where frequent customer interactions occur.

• Train your employees to look for suspicious behavior. Sometimes it is possible to notice threats before they happen. And when they do, contact the authorities immediately. By having your employees look for anxious, jittery, or suspicious people, you can help prevent robberies.

• Take police action immediately. Employees should pay careful attention to what robbers look like, so they can give a full description to police. Be sure to take every action necessary to aid in the arrest. This makes the statement that you are not a safe target to rob in the future.

• Be friendly. Believe it or not, having your employees be really friendly to every customer that walks through the door can potentially stop robberies. People don’t rob someone that they like so if the robber is immediately treated nicely before they have a chance to act, they may leave without causing trouble.

No strategy is fool-proof, but by taking the actions recommended here and discussing your options with an experience security professional, you can significantly cut down on the risk of robberies in your business.

Outlining Your Security Goals

Before selecting an alarm system to protect your home or business, it’s always a good idea to carefully consider what your exact goals are for your security. Not everyone has the same needs when it comes to security and there is no one-size fits all response.

While a good security technician will help you walk through these goals more precisely, understanding them yourself can go a long way to getting the system you want. Ultimately, the time you take to consider your goals today can save you a lot of money in the long run while keeping your family or business safe and protected.

Before buying any home security system or business security system, ask yourself these questions:

How much protection do I really want?

While the top-of-the-line alarm system promises to give you a very high level of protection, it’s not for everybody. These higher end systems cost a lot more and can be overkill for many people.

If you are buying from a reputable security alarm company, any of the systems they offer you will be reliable and capable of protecting your home of business. It’s up to you whether you want to spring for the extra bells and whistles of the higher end systems.

How important is ease of use?

Not all security systems are equal when it comes to being easy to use. More complicated systems, which are still quite easy to use for adults, can cause problems if children will be using the alarm.

A system may be more complicated because of the additional features it offers, but if you have kids or anyone who might not be able to use a more complicated system, it’s a good idea to find an easy system that anyone can learn.

Can I trust my security company?

The most important step when it comes to setting up a reliable security system is selecting the best company to install, maintain, and monitor your system.

Selecting the right company can make the difference between keeping your family safe and having a break-in. Professionals know all of the security tricks and will help you choose the exact right system for you. You can also trust that the best company will install your system correctly and provide excellent monitoring services.

Before making your decision, research the company and talk to other customers to get their opinions. Make sure that the company has a long history of success, and that they guarantee their work against problems. If a company is willing to put their money where their mouth is, that’s a good sign that they are true professionals.