Workplace theft amounts to nearly $50 billion a year – and that’s just theft associated with employees!

You may worry about employees or outsiders stealing from your business. But you may not know what you can do to stop theft from taking place.

This post will teach you how you can tackle this problem, using a concept known as physical security planning. If you’re fed of up of people stealing from you, this post will show you how to turn your business into an impenetrable fortress.

What Is Physical Security?

The goal of physical security is to help you defend your premises from those that might want to steal from you.

Many businesses ignore the importance of physical security as they think they have nothing that’s worth stealing. They might think their simple office is not going to attract any attention.

However, in this modern age of cybercrime, physical security is incredibly important.

That’s because someone can walk onto your premises, steal a computer or server, and then gain access to sensitive data. They can then blackmail you, or use this data to access bank accounts and steal your money.

Of course, physical security is also vital if you have valuable equipment on your premises.

For example, if you own a construction firm, you may need to store your trucks on an open courtyard that’s visible to the public.

Upon seeing your equipment, someone might plan to steal it. In a situation like this, your best defense is to put in place robust physical security protocols.

Use CCTV

If you want to install CCTV on your premises, you have the option of choosing a wired or a wireless system.

A wireless CCTV system can be a lot easier to install, and you may even be able to get the job done yourself.

But wireless systems are also prone to hacks, as those with malicious intent can jam the signal between the camera and the central console. This means the camera will be unable to record anything, making it easier for people to get away with stealing from you. 

When installing a CCTV system, you also want to think a lot about where you put the cameras. Generally, there are two things you need to keep in mind when it comes to camera placement.

Firstly, you want to make sure you have cameras focused on key locations.

This might include the entrance or areas where your most valuable equipment is stored. You may even want to put a camera near some of the ‘quieter’ areas on your premises. That’s because thieves might use these locations to gain access to your property.

However, you also want to install cameras in places where people will see them.

If your cameras are highly visible, they can act as a deterrent. You don’t need to make all your cameras visible, but you should put some in areas where the general public will be able to see them.

It’s also worth noting that you may want to take certain environmental issues into account too.

Check whether the sun is going to obscure the view of the camera, during certain times of the day. You also want to make sure that there are no plants that’ll get in the way.

Give People Identity Cards

If you want to take your security up a notch, an identity card (ID card) system can work well. With such a system, people can only enter your premises if they have an ID card.

Another cool thing about an ID card system is you can control ‘who’ has access to ‘what.’

You can set things up so that only certain individuals can access specific buildings or rooms. This can provide you with peace of mind if you have contractors frequently visiting your premises.

If you make use of ID cards, you need to keep a close eye on who is on the system.

If someone is no longer working for you, it’s vital you quickly take them off the system. Additionally, if someone needs access to a specific area for a short period, make sure you revoke access once they’ve done what they need to do.

To help you manage this, it might be a good idea to put someone in charge of monitoring your ID system.

You may want to provide them with a checklist that details all the things they need to check for, every week, so the system remains secure.

Hire Security Guards

Hiring security guards is perhaps one of the most expensive things you do to keep your premises secure. But it’s also one of the best things you can do too, as this individual will spend all their working hours making sure your premises is safe. 

You can employ individual security guards, or you can use the services of a security company.

You can find a security company by performing a local online search. Once you find a company that looks as though it’d be a good fit, read some of their reviews.

It’s worth noting that hiring someone through a security company can often work out to be more expensive. This is because the security company needs to make a profit, on top of the money the security guard is earning. 

Because of this, you might want to find an independent security guard.

If you’re going to hire an independent security guard, you can do so by placing a job ad on a site like ‘Indeed.’ Make sure you’re specific when describing the job and try to describe the associated responsibilities as best you can.

Once people start applying for the role, you’ll need to put them through a thorough vetting process.

You’ll want to ask them if they can provide you with any references. Be sure to contact the people associated with these references and ask about the performance of the security guard.

You’ll also want to do a background check on the potential hire. There are online services that’ll help you do this, and you often don’t have to pay much to get access to this data.

Improve the Perimeter of Your Location

The better the physical perimeter of your premises, the harder it’ll be for people to break in.

At the very least, you want to make sure you have a good fence or wall. If there any gaps, make it a priority to fix them. You may also want to use some barbed wire to deter would-be thieves.

You should also think about improving the ‘gate’ for your premises.

If your current gate is flimsy, potential thieves might think they can easily ram it down with a vehicle. But, if the gate looks solid, then people might think twice about breaking in.

If you have a lot of vehicles pass through your premises, you may even want to install some parking barrier gates. You could then hire someone that does ID checks on everyone that visits your premises. 

Use Better Lighting

You might think that it’s counterintuitive to light up your premises.

After all, if everything is lit up, aren’t you just bringing attention to things that people can steal from you? While this may sound true, there are many benefits to lighting up your premises.

For one, it improves the effectiveness of all other security measures.

If your premises is well lit, it means that CCTV cameras will have a better view of what is going on. It also means that your security guards will have better visibility when walking around. 

Plus, in a way, good lighting can also act as a deterrent.

If someone sees your premises is well lit, they’ll realize that it’s going to be difficult for them to enter the premises and go unnoticed.

When installing lights, it might be a good idea to use some that turn on in response to motion. Such lights can help bring attention to unexpected activity on your premises. 

Can Physical Security Planning Help Your Business? 

If someone steals from your business, it can have a massive impact on your ability to earn a profit. But if you make use of physical security planning, you can protect yourself from those that want to steal from you. 

It’s important to remember there’s no one size fits all approach. Thus, you need to review the unique needs of your business and develop a physical security plan that caters to these needs.

You’ll also want to review your security plan on a regular basis. Especially since your security needs will change, as your business grows and moves into new markets. 

If you can consistently do both of these things, you should be able to dramatically limit the odds of someone stealing from your business. 

Do you run a retail business? Read this post to learn how you can prevent shoplifting.