Commercial property security is not something that you can afford to ignore. Whether you own, manage, or lease a commercial space, you have a responsibility to protect it – and your tenants, clients, and visitors – from various threats and risks, such as theft, vandalism, fire, cyberattacks, and natural disasters. A secure commercial property can safeguard your assets and enhance your reputation, boost your productivity, and reduce your liability.
However, commercial property security can be a complex and challenging task. You need to consider your property’s size, location, type, and function, the nature and level of the threats (or potential threats), the legal and regulatory requirements, the budget and resources you have available, and the expectations and needs of your stakeholders.
As always, you can rely on Naco Commercial Property Solutions to have your back in all areas of your commercial property, including its security. Let’s take a look at how you can ensure safety for the property and everyone who visits it.
Step 1: Assess Your Security Vulnerabilities
The first step in creating a commercial property security plan is to assess your security vulnerabilities. What this means is you need to identify and analyze the potential threats and risks that your property may face, as well as any weaknesses and gaps in your current security plan. A security vulnerability assessment will help you understand the scope and scale of the security challenges that you need to address and prioritize the areas that need improvement.
Here’s how to start:
- Security audits: A security audit is a systematic and objective evaluation of your existing security policies, procedures, systems, and practices. It involves inspecting and testing your physical and digital security infrastructure, like locks, doors, windows, cameras, alarms, sensors, networks, servers, computers, etc. It also includes interviewing and observing staff, tenants, customers, and visitors to assess their security awareness and behaviour. A security audit will help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your security performance, and provide recommendations for improvement.
- Security surveys: A security survey is a comprehensive and detailed examination of your property and its surroundings, to identify and evaluate the potential sources and targets of security threats. It involves collecting and analyzing data and information about your property’s layout, design, features, functions, activities, occupancy, traffic, access, lighting, landscaping, etc. It also involves reviewing and mapping the crime and incident reports, trends, and patterns in your area, to assess the likelihood and impact of security events. A security survey will help you identify the vulnerabilities and exposures of your property, and provide suggestions for mitigation.
- Security risk assessments: A security risk assessment is a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the probability and consequences of security threats and incidents. It involves estimating and measuring the frequency, severity, and duration of security events, as well as the costs and benefits of security measures. It also includes ranking and rating the security risks, based on their significance and urgency. A security risk assessment will help you identify the priorities and objectives of your security plan, and provide a basis for decision-making and resource allocation.
A security vulnerability assessment should be conducted by a qualified and experienced security professional, who can provide an unbiased and independent opinion. You can hire an external security consultant, or use an internal security staff, depending on your needs and preferences.
Step 2: Design Your Security Solutions
The second step in creating a security plan for your commercial property is to design your security solutions. This means selecting and implementing the measures and methods found during your vulnerability assessment that will address your vulnerabilities, and achieve your security goals.
Protect your commercial property by implementing the following security solutions:
- Cybersecurity solutions: Cybersecurity protects your digital assets and systems from cyberattacks like hacking, phishing, malware, ransomware, denial-of-service, etc. Cybersecurity solutions include firewalls, antivirus, encryption, authentication, backup, recovery, monitoring, and more. Implementing these solutions will help you prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats, and safeguard your data, information, and communication.
- Alarm systems: Alarm systems are the security devices and systems that alert you and the authorities of security breaches. These systems often include sensors, detectors, sirens, lights, panels, etc. Alarm systems will help you deter, discourage, and notify of security incidents, and activate emergency response.
- Security cameras: Adding security cameras in and around your commercial property will allow you to observe, document, and verify any security incidents, and provide evidence and information if/when needed.
- Security personnel: These are the security staff and agents that provide physical and human security services for your property. This can include patrolling your grounds, guarding entryways, escorting people onto and off of your property, and screening visitors. Hiring security personnel will help you enforce, control, and manage security operations throughout your commercial property.
- Security policies and procedures: These are the rules and guidelines that define and regulate the roles, responsibilities, standards, and expectations of your organization and its stakeholders. Security policies and procedures will help you establish, maintain, and improve your culture and performance, and ensure compliance and accountability.
A security solution design should be customized and tailored to your specific property and situation. To create one, ask yourself the following questions:
- How well does the security solution address your vulnerabilities and achieve your security goals?
- How much does it cost, and how much value does it provide?
- How easy or difficult is it to implement and operate, and what are the challenges and risks involved?
- How well does the security solution fit and integrate with your existing security infrastructure, and what are the synergies and trade-offs involved?
- How flexible and adaptable is the security solution to your changing and growing needs and demands, and what are its opportunities and limitations?
Step 3: Evaluate Your Security Outcomes
The third step in creating a commercial property security plan is to evaluate your security outcomes – measuring and reviewing the results and impacts of your security solutions, and comparing them with your security goals. A security outcome evaluation will help you understand the effectiveness and efficiency of your security performance, and identify the areas that need enhancement.
There are different methods and tools that you can use to conduct a security outcome evaluation:
- Security metrics: Security metrics are the KPIs that quantify and qualify your security performance. These include things like security incidents, losses, costs, savings, satisfaction, etc. These metrics will help you track and analyze your security progress and achievements, and provide data and evidence.
- Security reports: Security reports are the documents and records that summarize and communicate the performance of your security solution, like audits, surveys, risk assessments, and solution designs – all the things we’ve discussed in this blog. These reports will help you document and share your findings and recommendations.
- Security feedback: This is the input and opinion that you receive from your stakeholders – for example, your staff, tenants, customers, and visitors – about your security solution’s performance. Conduct surveys, interviews, reviews, and ratings with your stakeholders so that you can better understand and improve your security perception and reputation, as well as provide insights and suggestions.
A security outcome evaluation should be conducted on a regular and consistent basis, whether you choose to do so monthly, quarterly, or annually, is up to you, depending on your needs and preferences.
Commercial property security is an important and valuable aspect of your business’s success. By following the steps and strategies outlined in this guide, you can create and implement a comprehensive and customized commercial property security plan that will help you keep your space, tenants, clients, and visitors safe at all times.
If you need any help or want some guidance on how best to implement your commercial property security plan, contact Naco Commercial Property Solutions today. For more tips and tricks to help save you money with your commercial property, download our free guide.