Protecting your business goes beyond just purchasing the right locks for your front door – the perimeter of your building matters too.
A perimeter refers to any area between your commercial building or store and the fences and walls that surround it.
If you’re about to assess whether your existing measures are enough to keep your business safe, here are some key considerations to keep in mind.
Evaluating Perimeter Security: What to Consider
- Walls
Is your commercial space surrounded by a wall instead of a fence? This can be a strength, provided the wall is high enough. The higher your wall, the less visible the interior of your property is. If the idea of an overly high wall makes you uneasy, you can counteract this using a CCTV system. This way, you have eyes on your surroundings at all times without letting prying eyes in. What’s more, walls offer more resistance than gates and fences.
- Fencing
In terms of price, versatile looks, and functionality, fencing is a winning choice. It’s also ideal if you don’t want to lose out on potential foot traffic and passer-by’s seeing your branding. If you do have fencing surrounding your property, check the integrity and repair the fence where necessary. If the repairs are too excessive and are compromising the overall quality, it’s time to invest in a new fence. And if you want to take things a step further, there is always the option of electrifying the fence.
- Gates
Next, you want to evaluate any gates that allow access to your commercial space – just how secure are the gates, and are any gates less visible? Start by evaluating the integrity of the gate’s locking mechanism as well as the motor. Is it strong enough or in need of repair? If you have pedestrian gates in other areas, make sure that any padlocks and chains are enough to keep intruders out. You may even want to install video cameras around gates that are less visible.
- Lighting
Once a building is unoccupied, lighting becomes an important factor. What perimeter lighting do you currently have in place and is everything still in working order? Are there areas of your property that could benefit from additional lighting, including flood and motion activated lights? It’s also important to make sure that none of your lights are interfering with your CCTV footage. A security audit can help you identify these weak spots.
- Shrubs and Trees
Shrubs, trees, and plants can make your commercial space more visually appealing. However, this can become a problem if overgrown trees and shrubs are interfering with your security. Any overgrown trees and shrubs that make it easier for criminals to hide or access your property need to be cut back or removed completely.
- Security Alerts
If there is a security breach at your property, what happens? Are you alerted? Is there a security company that responds to an alarm activation? If you have these systems in place, be sure to run a test, ensuring everything works correctly. Having security signage outside and around your property is also recommended as a deterrent.
- Access Control
Lastly, how are visitors able to get in and out of your property? Is access controlled or can just anyone walk in and out? If so, you may want to look into a video access control system or even a manned entrance to prevent potential criminal activity.
Improving Your Perimeter Security
After evaluating perimeter security, you’ll have a list of what needs to be changed or upgraded. Ideally, you want to fix everything at once, but if you are on a tight budget, get a professional opinion on what you should focus on first. For expert advice and assistance with a commercial security audit, contact Quickly Locksmith on (305) 984-9922.
