Tips To Promote Security Outside Your Business

Most business owners spend a lot of time and money protecting the inside of their business. It makes sense. There’s merchandise and other items that need protection.

However, many business owners forget to protect the exterior of their stores and offices. Unprotected exteriors are easy targets for theft and vandalism. Windows can be broken … walls can be spray painted … expensive items can be stolen.

Following the business security tips below can help protect your business’ exterior from vandalism and theft.

Bring Valuables Inside

One of the best ways to protect outdoor valuables is to bring them inside after business hours. If there is outdoor furniture or merchandise that needs to be protected, bring them inside of your business after hours. Make it part of your regular closing routine to bring valuables inside.

Lock Up Valuables

If furniture and other items are too big to bring into your business after hours, make sure they are properly secured with locks. With outdoor furniture, place chains and clocks around the items, making it hard to steal them.

Install Security Cameras

Installing security cameras is great way to protect against outdoor theft and vandalism. Security camera surveillance systems installed outside your business help to identify would-be thieves and vandals. Security cameras also help to deter would-be criminals from damaging your business. If you decide to install security cameras be sure to have signs telling people your exterior is protected by security cameras.

Install A Fence

For some businesses, it may make sense to install a fence. Having a fence can help protect property that is stored outside. This is especially important for retail stores such as hardware stores. It is also important for construction companies that have expensive equipment and machinery outside.

Hire Security Guards

Hiring security guards are another option that you may want to consider. However, this can be a very expensive option. Most likely, hiring security guards to protect the exterior of your business will not be feasible under your business security budget.

Summary

Following the tips above will help protect the outside of your business. For other business security solutions, be sure to check out the Hue & Cry Security Systems website.

Easy Ways To Cut Business Security Costs

Like most businesses, you’re probably looking for ways to save money in 2011.

There are the obvious areas to cut such as office supplies, travel expense and IT. TechRepublic had an excellent article on how businesses can cut costs relatively pain free. The list included ditching the fax machine, going paperless and embracing telecommuting.

However, you also may be looking at ways to cut business security costs. This is a fine line to walk. You want to save money. But you also don’t want to compromise the security of your business.

Here are some easy ways for you to cut businesses security costs without compromising your level of security.

Know Your Needs

A lot of times, businesses don’t know what they really want when it comes to security. Take the time to sit down and really plan out what level of security your business needs. Think about areas of your business you want to protect.

Consider your security options. Do you need an access control system? Do you need security camera surveillance systems?  Knowing what options your business needs will help you save money in the long run.

Shop Around

Be sure to shop around. Like anything you purchase, you want to consider all of the options on the table. Find a security system company that has a long track record of helping businesses. An upstart company could cost you money down the road. Be sure to get customer testimonials for any security system company you consider.

Finding a reliable security company will save you money in the long run because you won’t encounter any hassles.

Find A Reliable System

This may seem common sense, but many businesses do not take the time to look at a security company’s track record. Try to find out if false alarms are frequent. Talk with customer references about any problems with their system.

With false alarms fines rising, you’ll want to find a security company that has a track record of very few false alarm problems.

Have System Regularly Tested

In order to cut security costs, you’ll want to see how often the company comes out to test your system. You’ll want to find a company that tests your system and provides you with technical support when needed. This can help to prevent false alarms and ensure your system is properly running.

Summary

Following these tips will help you cut security costs in the long run. Remember, security comes before savings. Compromising your security could cost you more money down the road. Take your time and do your research when looking for ways to cut business security costs.

Secrets To Stopping Employee Theft

It is estimated that U.S. businesses annually lose more than $50 billion because of employee theft. That’s why preventing theft should be Priority Number 1 for every business owner. Here are some tips to help prevent employee theft.

Hire the Right Person

Hiring the right person will help stop employee theft. Here are some good hiring practices that you should try at your business.

• Check Education And Certification Claims – Make sure that your interviewee has attended the school(s) on their resume. Also check on the status of their certifications.
• Contact Past Employers – Calling past employers is a great way to learn more about a job applicant. The past employer’s tone often tells a lot about the applicant.
• Check References – Few businesses actually do this. You’ll learn a lot of valuable information about an applicant by checking their references.
• Check Criminal Record – Unless you want to hire felons, it’s important to do a background check on the applicant.

Crate Employee Theft Policies and Programs

After you have hired the right employees, you will need to implement policies and programs that cut down on employee theft. Here’s what you need to do.

• Employee Education – Create training sessions to explain how employees benefit from reporting thefts. Be sure to tell them how to spot employee theft.
• Check The Books – Conduct regular audits on areas that are likely to be targeted by theft. Audit every area where money changes hands. Make some of these audits random so thieves do not have time to cover their tracks.
• Enforce Mandatory Vacations And Job Rotations – Enforce mandatory vacations, occasionally rotating people between departments. By doing this, you prevent anyone from hatching plans to steal from your business.
• Support Employees – Support your employees through tough times. Treating them with respect improves the business environment. You will see a major decrease in theft and a major increase in loyalty.
• Create Reporting Programs – Make it easy for your employees to anonymously report theft. Some companies offer small rewards to employees who report theft.
• Choose The Right Business Security Solution – Find a good business security system with access codes, alarms and camera surveillance systems. This makes a big difference in stopping employee theft.

By following these guidelines, you will cut down on employee theft. These tips also help to create a better workplace environment for you and your employees. Remember, stopping employee theft starts with hiring the right people and having the right policies.

The Top 10 Ways Protect Your Home Office

With more people working from home, the need for business home security is becoming more and more important. Here’s what you need to know to keep your home office safe and secure.

1. Protect your home office with a security alarm as well as locks on all doors and windows.
2. Lock important documents such as payroll information and confidential business documents in a secure file cabinet.
3. Avoid giving keys to colleagues and employees. If you have to give a key, you really want to be sure you can trust them.
4. Meet with work-related people in public places such as restaurants. This prevents people you don’t know well from entering your home.
5. Create a password for your Wi-Fi Internet. Protecting your wireless Internet with a password prevents hacking and other criminal activities.
6. Have passwords for computers and email. This prevents against someone gaining access to important documents and email conversations.
7. Close binds and shades when you’re not working. Offices have valuable equipment in them. Don’t let people see what you have.
8. Separate your office from the rest of your home with a locked door. Don’t let visitors, such as neighbors and repairmen, into your home office.
9. Back up computer data with an off-site back-up service. This helps to protect your files if your computer breaks or there is a fire.
10. Install a smoke detector to alert you of fires. Many people neglect fire safety in their home office. There are a lot of things that can catch fire.

Finally, natural surveillance is helpful for deterring would-be thieves. By keeping your home office well lit and clearing away shrubs or areas where someone can hide, you will significantly decrease your risk of a home office burglary.

Following these tips will help protect your office as well as your home. Be sure to keep your home life and office life separate. You’ll be more productive in the long run.

10 Qualities Your Security Company Should Have

No matter what your security needs, your security company should have certain qualities that make them experts in their field. The safety of your business could depend on it. Here is a list of 10 qualities that you should look for in your security company:

1. Desire for a long-term relationship – One strength of a security company can be measured by its commitment to your business or organization. The desire for a long-term relationship indicates stability and will let you know that your security company isn’t just a fly-by-night organization.
2. Segment-specific knowledge – A good security company will know your business needs and therefore know what type of protection your business should have.
3. Certification – You should be able to trust that your security company knows what it is doing. The best way to measure this is to check their certifications. Don’t be afraid to ask what professional certifications that your security company’s employees hold.
4. Product Knowledge – Your security company may offer a variety of solutions. However, they should have extensive knowledge of each product that they sell so that they can provide you with the best possible solution for your business’ security needs.
5. Exceptional Customer Service – Once your security system is installed, your relationship with your security company is just beginning. You should be able to count on them to provide you with excellent customer service. Check their website for testimonials from customers to see what kind of customer service they provide.
6. Strong Organizational Skills – Whether you have a large business security system or a small one, your security company should be able to keep on top of your security needs. They should always be abreast of your company’s security solution and should know the nuts and bolts of the security solution that they are providing you with.
7. Strong Portfolio – Your security company should have a healthy portfolio that contains a large variety of business solutions. A strong portfolio will indicate that your security company has the ability to design a security solution that is right for your business.
8. ESP – While no one can actually tell the future, your security company should always have an eye on your business so that they can help your security solution adapt to fit your business needs.
9. Stability – Your security solution will likely include alarm monitoring so it is important to choose a security company that’s been around for awhile. You don’t want to have to switch security companies because your current one disappears so make sure you choose someone with staying power.
10. Industry Knowledge – This one seems like a given. Any security company should know their industry but you would be surprised how many of them just don’t have the information to keep up with changes in the security industry. Make sure your security company employs knowledgeable people who can answer your questions and stay on top of your security needs.

No matter what security company your business chooses, you should be armed with the knowledge to make the right decision about which company to go with. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about any aspect of your security solution – a good company will always have a good answer for any problem that you may encounter.

The Real Cost of Vandalism

Think that minor crimes, such as vandalism, aren’t a huge deal to your business?

Many business owners make the mistake of considering minor crimes to be a nuisance and not worth worrying about. After all, they reason, the costs of preventing these crimes will be greater than the cost of the crime itself.

This couldn’t be more wrong. The U.S. Small Business Administration estimates that the average cost of each case of vandalism to a small business is $3,370. This results in a loss of 13.5% of annual net profit for a small business making $500,000 a year in revenue, according to Dr. Martin Bressler, author of a study on business crimes and a professor at Houston Baptist University.

So the next time you’re thinking about what crime costs to your business, consider the real costs and, suddenly, that security camera surveillance system may seem like a lot better investment.

Stop Employee Theft Now

Employee theft can be a major cost for companies of all sizes. Between physical theft of merchandise and cash, under ringing, bad customer service, and employees not doing what they are supposed to, you might be losing a lot more than you think each month.

While it can never be stopped entirely, there are some business security solutions you can do to immediately stop most employee theft. They include:

Conduct thorough background checks before hiring people. Background checks may cost a little bit but when you consider how much a stealing employee can cost you later down the line, the cost is tiny.

Develop strict financial procedures. Have a plan in place for minimizing risk from cash receipts, accounts payable, bank transactions, store credit, and refunds and returns. Your accountant can be a major help in this process.

Spend time “on the floor.” Leave your office and regularly interact with and monitor your employees’ activities. Your presence will help deter theft while also allowing you to detect potential issues.

Restrict access to sensitive areas. Not all employees need access to the security sensitive areas of your business. Use access control systems to prevent unauthorized personnel from entering important locations.

Use good camera surveillance systems. Good well maintained security systems can significantly cut down on employee theft and help to prosecute those who steal anyways. Place cameras anywhere that your employees are handling money or inventory and closely monitor the recording for issues.

Common Business Security Myths

There are a lot of myths out there about business security solutions that leave many businesses vulnerable to fraud, robberies, and even employee theft. These common myths, that may seem harmless at first, can lead to major problems that are not easily repaired.

Here are some of the most common myths:

People Only Sue Big Companies with Fraudulent Claims

We’ve all heard the stories about people suing McDonalds because their coffee is too hot, or someone claiming to have broken their neck in a major retail outlet when really they are completely fine. But what about smaller companies, are they ever really sued with fraudulent claims?

This myth makes the claim that people only sue large businesses because that’s where the money is at. Unfortunately, the reality is that small and mid-sized businesses are also regularly targeted with fraudulent claims. The worst part is that these businesses are much more vulnerable because they can’t afford expensive lawyers and a large settlement could put them out of business.

Shoplifting Only Happens In Low Income Areas

This is a common and completely untrue myth that claims that people in richer areas are much less likely to be stolen from than in poorer areas. Unfortunately, the facts show that expensive stores in fancy shopping malls are just as likely to be stricken by shoplifters as anywhere else. Additionally, since the products they sell are so much more valuable than in lower end stores, there is an added incentive to steal.

Vendors Keep Perfect Records and Are Completely Honest

Many people don’t ever consider vendors a potential source of shrinkage when looking at where they are losing money. For some reason, while businesses are quick to blame customers or even employees, the activities of the vendors are seen as beyond suspicion.

The truth is that vendor fraud is estimated to account for 5.2% of overall shrinkage. It’s important that you watch your vendors carefully to prevent theft.

People Only Steal Inventory and Cash

The reality is that there are a lot of ways that people can harm your business without actually taking something physical.

Without proper business security systems and camera surveillance systems, customers can make false injury claims, employees can “under ring” sales or not work when they should be, and vendors can make errors that hurt your bottom line. When tracking what your company is losing from theft, be sure that you can measure all of the damage, not just the physical loss.

Top 5 Reasons Your Restaurant Needs Security Cameras

1. Stop Employee Theft: Strategically placed security camera surveillance systems significantly lower employee theft, which is so common in an industry known for high turnover rates.
2. Protect Customers and Employees: Security cameras act as a deterrent against robberies and break-ins and help to prosecute those who do attempt to steal from you.
3. Avoid Liability and Fraud: By recording everything that goes on within your restaurant, you can protect your bottom line against fraudulent injury claims.
4. Offer Remote Access for Managers: Many security cameras let managers monitor their stores from any computer. This allows you to know the store is running smoothly even while you’re not around.
5. Make Customers Feel Safe: People are much more likely to visit a store where they feel safe. By using visible security cameras, you provide customers with the peace of mind that keeps them coming back.

Increase Your Business Security with These Simple Steps

No matter what type of business you have, keeping it secure and preventing criminal activity is vital both to the safety of your employees, and to the success of your company.

• Start with a plan. Setting goals and measureable objectives helps you understand your needs and track your security progress.

• Make security a priority. Business security systems should be a top priority for any business.

• Run background checks on employees before hiring them. Running a thorough background check on your employees helps prevent employee theft and avoid problems.

• Use visible security measures. People are less likely to engage in criminal activity if they know that they are being watched.

• Use surveillance cameras in ALL important areas. Recording all activities where cash or inventory is handled via a camera surveillance system can help to identify and prosecute thieves. Be sure to always keep your cameras well maintained as you don’t get second chances to stop criminals.

• Always prosecute criminal activity. By pressing charges against any criminal activity, no matter the cause or amount stolen, you send a clear message that you do not take theft lightly.

• Check your plan regularly. Regularly check the results of your security efforts and make alterations when you find things that are not working.