COVID-19 has forced practically every business in the nation to change the way they do things. Some had to change their products on the fly. Others had to change their delivery models. Still others have kept up their operations in much the same manner, but with most employees working in home offices.
There are signs that life could slowly start returning to normal. Businesses will naturally think about what that means in terms of employee health, social distancing, customer safety, hours, prices, and profitability. That’s all good. But we’re here to remind you not to ignore the corporate security aspects of ramping up your business.
If you’re about to reopen your business from COVID-19 lockdown, security should be one of the first things you think about. If you’re still waiting for the green light, spend this time thinking about your corporate security needs.
Here are seven areas you’ll want to make sure you don’t overlook.
Security Guards
If your business opens its doors to members of the general public, then social distancing and other safety procedures are no doubt top of mind for you. A security guard can help you enforce your safety policies while taking the burden off your receptionist or other employees who are ill-equipped to do so (and, frankly, may be dreading the task).
Posting a guard at your entrance gives you a consistent way of screening the people who enter your business, ensuring they’re following guidelines, and sending the message that your business takes corporate security seriously. And it is usually cheaper than hiring an extra employee to handle these tasks. Here’s more about the need for security guards during this crisis.
Mobile Patrols
It’s no secret that empty buildings are one of the biggest corporate security concerns of this pandemic. Office buildings that used to be bustling with activity are now underused or vacant most of the time.
You could post security guards at your empty buildings. But you may find that you can get the protection you need at a far lower cost by sending mobile patrols to your locations periodically throughout the day or night. Mobile patrols provide a visual deterrent to theft and vandalism. And mobile patrol officers can handle simple security tasks such as unlocking or locking doors, checking for leaks and broken utilities, or escorting employees to their vehicles.
Cameras
Moving into a new space—perhaps a smaller one as you restart your business in a limited form? Or maybe you’re returning to the same space but want to ensure you’re providing a higher level of corporate security than before.
Cameras can help you do just that in a cost-effective way. They give you a consistent way of recording anything that happens around the workplace so that you can take appropriate action after the fact. But they also provide a proactive security measure. When potential criminals see that cameras are recording their every move, they’ll think twice about their plans.
Thermal Cameras
The pandemic puts a new spin on traditional security challenges. There’s no corporate security service that can absolutely guarantee no infected person will ever enter your premises. But today’s thermal cameras can now detect (with a high degree of accuracy) the temperature of anyone who walks into your building. This could give your company some protection against liability issues in the event that a harmful virus is ever spread in your workplace.
Construction sites, airports, and hospitals are already making heavy use of thermal scanning. We predict offices will now adopt these solutions to protect their employees .Learn more about this trend.
Access Controls
It used to be that companies mainly used access controls to keep the wrong people out of their server rooms. Today, as we return from the pandemic lockdown, access controls can also be a great way to track when employees are entering or exiting the workplace when there are few managers around to monitor them. But there’s a safety angle, too—with offices still underused, access controls can help protect small teams from potentially dangerous incidents at a time when they’re most vulnerable.
Leased Alarm Systems
Construction sites everywhere are continuing to reopen, but it’s a gradual process. In the meantime, teams have left highly valuable equipment and materials on site. Leased alarm systems give construction teams a cost-effective way to protect these assets for a short time period as teams are in flux and projects transition from one phase to the next. These systems can be scaled to any size site to give you the precise level of protection you need at a price that meets your budget.
Pre-Employment Background Checks
Sadly, the pandemic has resulted in many layoffs. You may be thinking that as your business ramps up operations, now is a good time to scoop up some of the abundant talent available on the job market.
That’s a great thought—but be careful. Just because there are some great candidates available right now doesn’t mean they’re all what they claim to be. There will always be people who exaggerate their responsibilities in their previous positions, who claim to have attended prestigious universities, who list references under the assumption that you won’t call them. Don’t get reckless in your hiring. Now is the time to vet backgrounds thoroughly. After all, the cost of a bad hire is as high as it has ever been. Read more about the true cost of a bad hire.
These are just seven of the top corporate security concerns to consider as we slowly but surely emerge from the pandemic lockdown. Not sure where to begin protecting your people and property? Call Creative Security for a complimentary, no-obligation security and vulnerability assessment. We’ll use our decades of experience to provide you with the foundation for a safe and happy worksite.
