Tips For Securing Your Business
Helping improve your security is our business. Commissionaires is the trusted name in security, offering security guarding, mobile patrol, consulting, digital fingerprinting and background checks, security training and more. Our expertise ensures the safety of people, property and information for clients from coast to coast. Please take a moment to review the following recommended security and safety tips for your business.
Security Survey and Risk Assessment
Your business may benefit from a security survey and risk assessment. Read more
Employees and Security
Employees can be your best asset in theft prevention and loss. Read more
Cash
Ensure any cash, be it the company’s or your own, is always kept out of sight and locked away. Be sure to set a company policy regarding petty cash. Policies to consider: Read more
Security Countermeasures are Critical for Loss Prevention
Security countermeasures are used to deter, detect, delay, deny and respond to incidents through a layered approach. Read more
Burglary
Burglary is a property crime that occurs when the business is closed. The burglar may enter through any opening (door, window, air conditioning duct, skylight) or even create one through an interior shared wall or an outside wall. Reduce your risk as much as possible. Burglary is a crime of opportunity that can be prevented.
Office Building - unauthorized visitors
Even the most strict access control measures can see an unauthorized person or even an authorized person who has not checked in, getting into office areas without proper accreditation. People that you do not recognize or who do not have either a company ID or a visitors badge displayed should be politely challenged. A simple offer of help is often enough to determine what the situation is.
Retail Environments
Keep areas clean around the store to aid visibility. Display your most valuable articles near the center of the store to force a burglar to take the longest possible escape route. Keep merchandise displays organized to allow maximum visibility throughout the store. Check closets and restrooms before you lock up to prevent any unwanted visitors staying inside your store after closing hours.
Confidential Information
- Adopt a ‘clean desk’ philosophy by storing information in drawers and locked cabinets;
- Make sure soft copy electronic files, information and media are backed up and properly stored;
- Make sure electronic equipment is placed in a temperature controlled environment.
Life Safety and Emergencies
Today’s buildings have complex life safety systems. They are designed to provide early detection of hazards from fire. They offer voice communication for the effective evacuation and relaying of instructions to building occupants. Evacuation plans are in place to ensure you are safe in the event of an emergency. Most facilities have documented plans available to all. As an occupant of any building it is prudent for you to know the plan, your role in it and how to evacuate the building in more than one way.
Get involved with your community
- Learn about crime in your neighbourhood and what is being done about it. Offer to help. You may be able to provide expert advice, funding, publicity and meeting places for citizen efforts;
- Include crime prevention information in your staff memos and newsletters, customer statements and notices;
- If you use vehicles, teach your drivers to spot suspicious behavior and how to notify the police. If you’re radio dispatched, train your dispatcher to report information effectively;
- Bring the problems of business security, shop-lifting, vandalism, etc. to the attention of community leaders. Start a “Business Watch” to prevent crime.
Additional Resources
www.getprepared.ca (security preparedness)
www.ccep.ca (Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness)
www.gov.on.ca/EMO (Emergency Management Ontario)
www.disasterrecovery.org
www.tbs-sct.gc.ca (security awareness)
Tips for Business Security
Note: The information contained in our Security and Safety Tips has been gathered from many reliable sources. Whereas, to the best of our knowledge in this area we believe the contents to be true, we cannot take responsibility for its accuracy.