When it comes to protecting your assets and employees, businesses often need help. In the Bay Area, thieves are always looking to take advantage of businesses by shoplifting, burglary or robbery. Having an up-to-date security system is crucial in deterring criminal activity. However, there are some simple security mistakes that can derail your plans and leave your business vulnerable to harm.

Here are five common security mistakes every business owner should avoid:

#1 Bad Security Camera Placement

A lot of small business owners tend to think they can buy a cheap camera on Amazon and place it anywhere on their property. What they don’t realize is that there is a science to the placement of a security camera.

If you are using a camera as a deterrent to theft, it must be placed somewhere visible. If you are using it to gather evidence, it needs to be placed where it can easily pick up identifying features while also being hard to see. If you want the camera to cover areas that are usually hard for you to monitor, you must know where these areas are and pick the correct vantage point. You must also have a camera that has sufficient enough resolution to pick up important details. If you fail to properly place a security camera, criminals could simply walk right past them undetected.

Hiring a professional security company is one great way to combat this issue. A professional security company employs trained technicians. These technicians can install cameras and recorders in places to help deter criminal activity from the start.

#2 No Access Control

Most businesses have areas where sensitive information, property and tools are kept. As a business owner, you do not want just anybody to have access to these areas. This is why having an access control setup is so important. Access control will restrict specific employees and persons from entering sensitive areas. This will help prevent employee theft, protect company secrets and depending on the circumstance, it could keep untrained personnel from getting hurt. By installing an access control system, you can monitor where employees go and prohibit certain types of employees from gaining access to company assets and equipment.

#3 Old Security System Needs to Get Upgraded

An old security system is a vulnerable security system. The longer a security system is around, the longer criminals have to learn ways to circumvent it. This is why it is important to upgrade your system every once in a while. New security systems often address the flaws in earlier models. This means the new system is more secure. Even if you have never had a security problem in the past, you should still consider the occasional upgrade to keep you system secure. Just because something hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t happen at all. Stay a step ahead of criminals and potential breaches, update your system to close the holes that criminals exploit.

#4 DIY Security Systems Installation

While it may seem attractive to save some money by installing your own security system, you run the risk of making mistakes that could lead to serious consequences down the road. It could end up costing you a lot more money and time. Your business is too valuable to risk. Hire a professional security company that knows how to do the job safely and correctly.

#5 Not Having a Plan for When Everything Goes Wrong

Even with all of these steps, it’s still possible for companies to find that they are not prepared when things go wrong. When your employees know how to respond in an emergency situation, they can keep themselves and your customers/clients safer. This is why you need to make an emergency plan, so everyone has a good starting point when it comes to dealing with an emergency.  It might seem useless for companies to come up with emergency plans if nothing has ever happened before, but this is really one of the most crucial parts of business security.

Do You Need Business Security Solutions in Redwood City?

At Integrated Access Security, we have over 50 years of combined experience helping Bay Area businesses secure their properties and protect their investments. We are a local, family-owned business with dedicated professionals you can trust. Call us today at (650) 299-9345 or fill out our contact form for more information. Contact our Bay Area experts today to find out how we can help your business set up these features and reduce your insurance costs!