Commercial Business Alarm Systems: Worth The Investment? A Locksmith’s View

In the world of commercial business, it’s easy to get so focused on productivity and profits that other key issues fall to the wayside. That includes security, unfortunately. As a security expert, I’ve seen many companies fail to take their security setup seriously. The result is a shock to the system when, eventually, a criminal works their way through inadequate commercial security setups.

That’s why, as a Doncaster locksmith from Lock & Key, I want to raise the alarm – pardon the pun – on the need for high-end security systems. In my opinion, the best place to start is with a commercial alarm system. If your setup lacks high-quality, commercial-standard alarms, you could be making it easier for criminals to break into your building – and making life harder for your security personnel.

If you want to avoid that issue, read on. I’ll explain my professional opinion on why investing in a new commercial alarm system for your business could be one of the smartest investments you make this year.

The Importance Of Quality, Up-To-Date Commercial Security

So, the first thing I want to address is a simple question: why is security so important?

I know that might sound like an obvious question, but it’s one worth asking. After all, many commercial firms take on the ‘why us?’ approach. Why would someone rob us or break into our building? Well, the same question can be asked by the tens of thousands of UK homeowners who get an unexpected and unwanted visitor entering their home!

It’s easy to dismiss the importance of security, especially if you have security personnel in place. Or you have already invested in high-security locks and/or camera systems. By installing a commercial alarm system, though, you are making a cost-effective commitment to keeping your building safe.

Commercial Business Alarm Systems: At A Glance

Before we go any further, what is a commercial alarm system? Is it not just a burglar alarm, akin to the type you might have at home? No, it’s more than that.

Most commercial alarm systems today are comprehensive, including cameras, alarm systems, access control systems, and more. It means all your security measures work in tandem, so you are likely to get something more than the sum of its parts.

Today, having just one security system isn’t enough: you need a multifaceted approach. These tools work together to ensure everything is covered. If your motion sensors pick up potential threats, they prime the cameras and send notifications to security. Alarm systems are triggered, if needed, to alert security staff and the local police force to a potential break-in or robbery.

Access control systems also ensure that nobody can just walk into your business. It negates the need to deal with key management protocols, instead relying on simpler systems like a PIN code or card/fob access to your building. They also make it much more challenging for someone to break into the office or building – and even if they succeed, the alarms and camera systems are there to catch them!

The Expected Benefits of Investing in a Commercial Alarm System

Every business is different, so not all of these benefits may apply to your company. In my experience, though, most businesses benefit from:

Reductions In Theft & Shrinkage

The first benefit that I want to focus on is usually the most important reason for investing in a commercial alarm system: minimising theft and shrinkage. Put simply, your business is likely to have fewer intruders and internal thefts simply because everyone knows security systems are in place.

Making sure that your commercial alarm system is visible to potential intruders is very important. If they are aware of camera systems, motion sensors, alarms, etc., they are less likely to even consider breaking into your business. Most criminals want an easy win, don’t they? As such, knowing they are likely to get caught on camera – if they even get inside – is off-putting.

The same applies to staff who might feel a little obliged to “help themselves” to some stock, too. If they know they are being recorded on CCTV, they are far less likely to take the risk of being sacked or facing disciplinary action. You’ll find that a lot of shrinkage stops simply because staff who love a freebie and criminals alike are less confident of success, thus reducing the action in the first place.

More Effective Access Control

If your commercial alarm system includes access control terminals, then staff cannot just wander into any part of the building. They will have limited access based on their position in their company. As such, your junior staff cannot wander into management or security-sensitive areas – such as those with hazardous materials – and access to such areas is limited to authorised personnel.

You can also have alarms set so that anyone entering restricted areas triggers them. Thus, your security team can then react to the notification and inspect closely. When paired with CCTV, you’ll also have direct visual evidence of any unauthorised access to critical or high-risk areas of the business. This even applies to fire exits and entrances intended only for specific individuals.

Better Access Tracking

The above is something I want to build on for a moment. With a commercial alarm system in place, you have improved access control. You also get another often-understated benefit: tracking, rather than having to try to use CCTV footage to work out who entered where and when, a commercial alarm system gives you time-stamped access.

With a keycard or PIN-based access system, you simply need to pair the access credentials with the entry. If someone claims their credentials have been stolen, you can review footage to determine whether they are telling the truth. That makes it much easier to track breaches of professional conduct code, in-house theft, or staff impersonations.

Not only do access control systems prevent entry to unauthorised personnel, but they also make it easier to track who entered a building and when. That’s not only good for preventing crime, but also for tracking staff whereabouts in the event of an emergency.

Response To Potential Hazards

In any commercial environment, it’s imperative that your staff can go to work without running into any avoidable hazards. That’s why commercial premises armed with a commercial alarm system are so safe. They come with alarm systems that trigger not only for motion, but for emergency scenarios.

Take, for example, a sprung pipe or a fire starting. With traditional alarms, you might not get building-wide or security-specific notifications. With a commercial alarm system, your entire building is alerted to emerging issues. From a chemical spill or the presence of carbon monoxide in the air to any other substances or solutions your business deals with, alarms will sound if they are detected.

Every commercial alarm system can be configured to meet your business’s parameters. As such, it’s easy to craft alarms that react specifically to the threats and conditions your business faces.

Remote Response & Reactions

Another benefit of modern commercial alarm systems is that they can trigger remote notifications. If your senior security personnel are off-site, they can still receive notification of a security breach or an emerging hazard. Management staff can also receive the same notifications, ensuring everyone remains alert to potential hazards. With notifications sent digitally, everyone can react ASAP.

Remote responses mean that you can react in real-time as opposed to coming into the workplace hours after the fact. That means you are more likely to catch the perpetrators at the scene of the crime and thus more likely to ensure they are held to account in the event of a personless crime, such as a fire – remote notifications mean you can get immediate help on the way.

Emergency Assistance Can Be Automated

Another benefit of having a commercial alarm system is that your alarms will interact with local police. That is very important; easy to ignore as a benefit, but one that could literally save your business. If the alarms go off, your security team can respond in person. You can set alarm conditions; a small-motion alarm is enough to alert security, but a full-on break-in can be escalated to the police.

The same goes for a fire. You can have your monitoring systems immediately react and contact local emergency services on your behalf. That means a rapid alert to the authorities to help deal with any problems that emerge, be that a break-in, robbery, or a vandalism spree, to physical assaults and emergencies such as gas leaks, fires, and more.

Perpetual Business Monitoring

Your security staff, I am sure, are very good at their job. They are, though, only human. That means they can only work certain hours and only catch what they can with their own eyes and skills. With a partner commercial alarm system, though, you now have a 24/7 pair of eyes and ears over your entire business.

That 24/7 protection means you can feel far more secure than you would if you had only security staff patrols and CCTV to rely on. These systems mean that as soon as suspicious activity is picked up – yes, even at 3.30AM – you can react accordingly. It might mean you get woken up in the middle of the night to a security threat, but it means you don’t come into work the next day to a missed disaster!

That constant monitoring gives your security staff the extra heads-up and support they need. Not only can they always be notified when an issue arises, but they can also rely on third-party support from the police if they are unable to respond.

Increasing Staff Confidence & Safety

Having a commercial alarm system set up will make staff feel safer. Your staff should never feel scared or at risk when they walk into their workplace. With a thorough, comprehensive system in place, your staff will come to work with total confidence.

Your staff need to be safe and comfortable to be productive, correct? Well, that means they need to feel safe. It’s likely that your business already takes health and safety very seriously, so your staff feel like they are working in a safe, clean environment. Why not extend that to your security systems as well?

Staff can get on with the job knowing that security has their back. They don’t need to worry as much about intruders storming into the building or someone coming through the front door to rob the place. As such, having a commercial alarm system is one of the best ways to boost staff confidence.

Long-Term Peace Of Mind & ROI

Your business does not have unlimited money, as nice as that would be. As such, you need any investment in the business to be worth the cost. That’s why a commercial alarm system is such a wise purchase.

Over time, these systems improve efficiency, reduce vandalism, minimise crime and limit theft. These are all issues that can impact long-term financial performance. Staff confidence in your business also impacts this: if staff feel 100% safe in their workplace, they can give 100% to the job and thus boost your in-house efficiency.

If nothing else, you get the peace of mind knowing your business is more secure. Alongside your security team, this can create a sense that your business is prepared for the modern world of crime. As security systems modernise, so do criminals. Investing in a commercial alarm system ensures you are suitably prepared, so you can rest a little easier!

The Final Word On Business Alarm Systems

I hope that the above has given you more insight into what I believe are the most important benefits of a commercial alarm system. When installed by a professional, these systems can make a real difference to how your business operates. It can keep everyone safe without impacting performance.

Last but by no means least, I’ve come across anecdotal evidence over the years that alarm systems will reduce the cost of business insurance.

Remember: if you are based in the Leeds area, my team at Lock & Key can help you with installing the best commercial alarm system. Don’t leave security to chance – upgrade today for all the reasons I have suggested above.