Keeping your property safe and secure should be of paramount importance, whether it is for personal or professional use. But safety and security is not simply about protecting your property from thieves; it also involves shielding it from fires, environmental hazards, and cybersecurity threats.
Below, we explore five tried and tested ways to keep your property safe and protected from a variety of threats.
1) Fire Alarm Systems
Adequate fire alarm systems are often a legal requirement, but they are more than just an obligation. Effective fire alarm systems can protect your property and workforce in a variety of important ways.
For example, the best fire alarm systems can detect small changes and hazards before they have the chance to become a major problem that causes injury, destruction, and worse.
Smoke alarm systems will also help with this, and many fire alarm systems can also be fitted with fire doors. These are especially effective in controlling the spread of a blaze, and can also help to identify where the fire began.
You may also choose to have fire alarm systems that connect to the local authorities, so you can be sure that the fire and ambulance services will be alerted to any emergencies.
In a business premises, combine these systems with regular fire drills and effective escape routes and you will be very well prepared for any fires that break out.
2) CCTV
Standing for ‘closed circuit television’, CCTV is one of the most popular and effective forms of property protection.
Visible CCTV cameras can act as a significant deterrent for would-be thieves and trespassers, while the footage from CCTV cameras can be vital if an investigation into an incident is ever required. This is not only true of crime, but also in terms of safety and fire prevention to ensure that mistakes are learned from and never repeated.
CCTV can help everyone in your home or business to feel more protected and secure; this can be especially important if any residents or visitors are vulnerable, such as children or the elderly.
3) Cybersecurity
It is important not to overlook areas of cybersecurity, whether you’re using technology at home or at work. It may be necessary to bring in an expert to advise, but try to ensure that you are regularly reviewing and updating your processes to provide the most secure online experiences.
This may include ensuring that your vital files and data are protected and stored safely, as well as making sure that you comply with protocol such as the Global Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), and more.
It is also highly important to invest in a high-quality antivirus to guard against malware and other malicious programs. The consequences of being hacked can be severe, and include having confidential data stolen or leaked, seeing your IT setup rendered inoperable, and experiencing attacks that cause your website to go offline.
Effective cybersecurity will help to protect everyone around — whether that is colleagues and customers, or simply family members browsing the internet.
4) Secure Access
A great way to increase the safety and security of your business premises is to implement secure access. This means limiting public access or putting a system in place that requires further checks, identification, or another means of authorisation. These can involve electronic checks, or manual inspections by a guard, for example.
Secure access helps to ensure that no-one on the premises is unaccounted for. This is not only essential for security, but in the event of an emergency or fire it is vital to know the location and number of those on-site.
You can use secure access points at high traffic areas such as entrances and exits, but also for areas that may be more secure or require specialist training — such as construction zones, locations with fragile or sensitive equipment, sites that contain hazardous materials, and more.
5) Appropriate Gates & Fencing
Further to introducing secure access points, it is important to ensure that the perimeters of your property are well maintained and protected. This includes having appropriate security gates, fencing, or walls that will prevent unauthorised individuals from entering — whether by accident or on purpose.
Many secure options can safeguard your property while remaining attractive and cohesive to the design of the building. Secure fencing need not look intimidating or outdated, while your existing boundary walls may prove sufficient as long as they are well-maintained, appropriately high, and regularly maintained.
By applying the tips above, you will help your property to remain as safe and secure as possible at all times!