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Small Business Security Systems – What You Need to Know

Small Business Security Systems – What You Need to Know Business security systems are just important to small businesses as they are to large organizations. Assets, data, and inventory are just some of the valuable things you have to protect. Small business owners sometimes consider investing in a security system as overdoing it. They feel that only large, complex operations need the tools in place to spot and/or deter theft. If you own a small business, the right security system can do a lot more than you think. Small businesses stand to lose a lot without protection. In addition to break-ins while their business is closed; they can also be robbed during the day. This puts their assets and their employees in danger. Many people don’t think twice about putting a security system in their homes. They want to take every precaution to keep vandals and thieves away. There’s a lot to lose if you fail to protect your business, too. You could lose profits due to shoplifting, fraud, and employee theft. These types of crimes cost businesses billions of dollars annually. Sometimes they go unnoticed until your annual inventory or audit rolls around. By then, you’ve lost even more without any way to know who is responsible. With the right video monitoring system, you can see what your employees are doing. If they are slipping cash or products in their pockets, you have the evidence you need to bring the theft to a halt! Security systems help deter crimes committed during the daytime or the night. Burglars and robbers know their chances of getting caught are much greater when their crime is caught on camera. The bottom line is that you stand to lose a great deal more without a security system. It’s well worth the investment. There are also lots of levels of business security systems, so you can get just the features you want and need. A security company that offers custom solutions makes it easier to fit security into your budget. Which Security System Is Right for You? Any business is vulnerable to robbery and theft, but some types of businesses are more likely to be robbed than others. Thieves often hit banks and jewelry stores for the high-value items they obtain. They expect to run into security systems in these businesses but are sometimes willing to take a greater chance of being caught in return for getting more cash or valuables for their efforts. Robbers steal from businesses like restaurants, retail stores, and convenience stores for other reasons. There are fewer people around, quick access to money, or less likelihood of getting caught shoplifting. You should consider the setting of your business and the types of risks you’re up against when choosing a security system. You might even talk with local police to learn more about the types of crimes being committed in your neighborhood. Find out what MO any current thieves are using and ask for their recommendations. No one knows more about the crimes going on in your area than the local police. Types of Business Security Systems Video monitoring is the basic security system that lets you view any area of your business whether you’re there or not. Video technology has come a long way from the grainy fixed cameras that only filmed limited areas. Modern video cameras let you monitor your business from any location at any time and record the images on your phone or computer. Video monitoring is also a versatile choice. It lets you keep an eye on your customers, your employees, and even what’s going on in the parking lot. When someone’s actions lead to criminal charges or an insurance claim, you have the evidence you need to prove your case. The cost of installing video cameras depends on the size of your business and the areas that you want to monitor. If you are a store with high-theft items, you want to cover the entire floor from every angle. If the main focus of concern is with the cash register, you can get adequate coverage for less. Another choice is to install pan/tilt cameras that give you different views from a single camera. Ask the security experts which options are right for your business. Catching intruders before they get inside your business will save you from loss and frustration. An alarm lets you and the authorities know when someone tries to break in or vandalize your business. It saves you from having to deal with a loss and the legal steps you have to take after the fact. Realizing that your business is equipped with an intrusion alarm will deter thieves and vandals who don’t want to risk getting caught in the act. To get the best use from an alarm, it needs to fit the size and use of the business. Like many other security features offered today, many alarms can be connected to your smartphone. You can receive messages whenever someone or something activates the alarm. You even have the option to see inside your business in real-time whenever there’s a cause for concern. Most of us are aware of the numerous security breaches happening today. Large banks, retail chains, payment processing companies, and credit card companies have all had data breaches to some degree. Although your business might not operate on a large scale like these, the data you store is just as valuable. It’s also vulnerable to hackers who want to access it. Nearly every business of any size uses computers and the internet to obtain, share, and store data. Some experts recommend storing data in the cloud. That way, you won’t lose your data if your equipment is stolen. It isn’t just your business that you need to protect. You probably know by now how it feels to receive a notice that your information has been hacked. Your customers or clients trust you to protect vital information including their social security numbers, phone numbers, banking and credit card information. A computer breach could lead