No matter what type of business you’re operating, the security of your employees, your property and your assets should remain a priority.
To do this effectively, you need to implement security measures that are tailored to your unique business needs. Potential threats facing your business depend on many factors including
- The industry you operate in
- The size of your business
- The location of your business
- The number of people you employ
- The value of items kept on site
That said, there are several proven strategies you can put in place to enhance office security. In this post, we highlight 4 of our favourite office security strategies which are easy to implement.
Empty your waste bins every day
It’s possible that your waste bins and recycling bins could contain documents such as payroll details, bank statements, and personal data. This kind of information can be incredibly useful to a criminal who could either sell it on or use it to defraud you.
In essence, a full waste bin could be just as enticing as open cash for any criminal scouting your premises. To prevent thieves from breaking intent on rummaging through your waste bins you should shred important documents and empty your bins each day.
Keep your office neat and tidy
Not only is an untidy office irritating, but it can also be dangerous. Important documents, keys, and other valuable items could get caught up in the piles of clutter which, in turn, can make easy pickings for criminals.
In fact, thieves often make a point of targeting untidy offices since they perceive an office that’s in disarray to be a sign of lack of security. To prevent this from happening, make sure that
- Employees put away all documents and clear their desks before leaving the office at night
- Clean and put away washed cutlery and crockery before locking up
- Remove any clutter from corridors
Implement security code words
In some situations, it may call for a member of staff to raise the alarm privately. This is easier to achieve if you implement code words. For example, should an employee encounter an aggressive customer they could use a code word to warn their colleagues. To put security code words in place
- Brief all your employees on what code words mean and how they should use them
- Use code words that aren’t glaringly obvious but don’t sound awkward or out of place in a working environment
- Notify employees of code words that are in use all of the time
Minimise lone working
Your premises are more vulnerable when there is only one person or 2 or 3 people in the office. This is because it’s easier for a criminal to overwhelm a single person or a couple of people than it is when the office is full.
On the flip side of this, it’s also easier for a lone person staying behind in the office to commit a theft or other crime.
To reduce the likelihood of either of these situations occurring,
- Ensure that only senior employees you trust are allowed to open the office first thing in the morning
- Keep a record at all times of who is in the building
- Implement remote working options and close your office when only a few people are supposed to be working, such as over the Christmas period.
These 4 tips will help protect your office but to achieve the highest levels of office security you may want to look into hiring a security service such as MA Services Group.
We provide a variety of security solutions including office cleaning, static and mobile security guards, and concierge services. Why not give us a call on 1300 020 406 to see how we can help you.
