Let’s take a look at some of the most effective modern security technologies, and how they can help you protect your business and prevent theft and damage.

Remote Access Monitoring

One of the most sophisticated advances in security technology has been the advent of remote access monitoring – also known as interactive monitoring. It’s now possible to use a smartphone, tablet or PC to access your business’ security system via broadband internet. This technology lets you arm and disarm alarms, and monitor your CCTV camera feeds, at home or while mobile. You can also have alerts sent directly to your device.

The digital format also allows for access to some useful data – it’s possible to check your business’ security logs of alarm and visitor activity with a few taps on your smartphone.

Alarm Monitoring

Alarm monitoring takes the stress and worry out of business security. By having your business overseen by a central alarm monitoring station, you’ll be alerted at the first sign of trouble. They can also contact police or dispatch a security team, according to your choice for what happens in the case of a security breach.

Fingerprint Keypad Access

A few short years ago this technology would have seemed like something from a sci-fi movie. Now, fingerprint security locks are a mainstream technology, available to business owners at reasonable prices.

Fingerprint locks mean no more fumbling for keys or locking yourself out – they even trump digital keypad locks, as there’s no need to memorise access codes. You simply need to configure the lock to accept the fingerprints of you and whichever trusted employees you choose to grant access to.

CCTV Technology
CCTV has come a long way in recent years. Cameras have evolved from expensive, clunky devices into small, compact and value-for-money pieces of technology. It’s no longer expensive to have your whole business premises covered by the eye in the sky, 24/7.

Digital recording systems are the modern standard, and high-bandwidth data transfer enables your camera feed to be easily sent to a number of locations such as your central alarm station or home computer.

Ink Dye Criminal Marking

Ink dye marking is an ingenious invention that acts as a strong deterrent to potential thieves. Essentially, it’s paint that stays on fabric and skin for weeks. It can be stored in dispensers attached to locks, doors, and walls. When a criminal attempts to trespass or break in, the ink dispenser activates and sprays him with the permanent paint. He’ll be unable to leave the house for weeks without attracting the attention of the authorities.

It’s most effective when combined with clear signage on your premises, warning criminals that they’ll be coated in permanent paint that police are trained to be on watch for.

We can expect many more advances in security technology as cutting-edge research makes it’s way into commercially available security products. New technologies such as facial recognition and tag-and-track cameria systems will soon become available to your small business, giving criminals even more reason to avoid trying their luck.

In this post, we’ll help you untangle things and settle on a security solution that’s right for you. Here ‘s a checklist of the major small business security that you should consider.

1. Consult A Security Company

Every small business is different. Security needs differ between businesses, and one-size-fits-all packages are often a poor fit. The first thing to do is take the time to seek out and contact a security company that can listen to your needs, assess your small business security risks and recommend a custom-tailored security solution.

2. What’s Your Budget?

The security solution you opt for will greatly depend on the funds you have available. Ideally, you’d turn your business into fort Knox – but unless your profit margins can allow for that, you’ll probably have to compromise. Fortunately, it’s not hard to find a cost-effective solution. A simple alarm and camera system is fairly affordable, whereas keeping security personnel on the payroll can increase costs. Once you know exactly how much you can afford to spend on securing your business, you can move forward and look at the points below.

3. What Do You Need to Protect?

This can be hard to assess, but it’s worth thinking about. What exactly in your business would be a target for thieves? Do you keep large amounts of cash and valuables on the premises? If you have piles of valuable inventory, how obvious is that to outsiders? What are the crime statistics in your area? Any business can be a target, but it’s a good to think realistically about the risks and what really needs protecting.

4. The Bare Essentials: A Monitored Alarm System

The core of small business security is an effective alarm system. A good system consists of a bell alarm,
infra-red or vibration detectors, and a wireless uplink to a central monitoring station. The infra-red detectors will pick up suspicious movement in open spaces, and vibration detectors will trigger the alarm if doors, fences or windows are compromised. The connection to the monitoring station ensures that if the alarm is sounded, both you and the police are instantly notified. For best results, you’ll also want the alarm clearly visible to potential intruders so it can also act as a deterrent.

5. Security Guards

Security guards can be an important part of small business security. Criminals often scope a business out before targeting it for a burglary, and if they notice security guards, they’re far less likely to go through with the crime. Guards aren’t just a good deterrent – they often bring secondary skills to the job and can act as concierge or receptionist if needed.

6. Security Patrols

If you have multiple buildings on your premises, then your business might benefit from mobile security patrols. If you’re in a lucrative industry where there’s the possibility of being targeted by organized crime, patrolling guards are the ultimate deterrent and the surest way to tighten up security.

7. Effective Procedures

A small business is only really secure if the staff who work there are well trained in both regular procedures and emergency plans. Is there a clear understanding in the company of who is responsible for daily and weekly lock-ups, check-ups and reviews? Do staff know what to do if there’s a break-in or ,theft or damage? The better trained your staff are, the more you’ll minimise both the chance of an incident, and any business downtime if one occurs.

8. CCTV systems

The price of CCTV systems has reduced drastically in recent years. What was a state-of-the-art setup restricted to businesses with a big budget is now available to all small businesses thanks to developments in small camera technology. It’s now possible to outfit your small business with multiple cameras, covering all key areas, at a very affordable price.

9. Interactive Monitoring Systems

Interactive monitoring takes CCTV surveillance a step further. It lets you access the feed from your security cameras on your mobile device or computer while away from your business. The feed can also be monitored at the central station, along with your alarm monitoring service.

Hopefully that’s given you a good understanding of what your options are when it comes to small business security. Remember, the most important point in this checklist is the first – find and contact experts who can customise a security solution most suited to your needs and budget.

Security guards are a part of our daily lives whether it is at a bank, pub, hospital, sporting event, at a shop or office building.

Security guards can maintain business security, prevent crime, and even assist employees and customers. The presence of security guards can deliver many benefits to a business.

1. Extra Security

The mere presence of a security guard can give the sense of security and peace of mind not only to the business owner, but also to customers and employees. Employees and customers at places that are highly exposed to risk require this additional protection. The use of security guards are almost a necessity to businesses that are located in high crime areas, high risk situations dealing with those who are intoxicated, angry or emotional or deal in high end merchandise such as money, jewellery or electrical goods.

2. Crime Prevention

Having security guards on your business premises can be a great deterrent to criminal behaviour – whether it is violence, harassment, graffiti, theft or break and enter. Professionally trained security guards can often identify suspicious people or situations that may escalate and intervene before something serious occurs preventing damage, injury or worse.

3. Handling Crime

Security guards are well trained on various levels to responding to a crime. This could include restraining assailants until Police arrive or simply taking details of suspicious characters to inform the Police at a later time. Respected security guard companies only provide guards who will abide by the law and can tailor the level of response to a potential threat to the business owner’s requirements.

4. Customer Service

Security guards can act as additional customer service support for the business. Security guards are often the first face someone sees when interacting with a business whether it be operating the front desk or manning a door. They can guide customers to find products, answer basic questions or find the a location that they are seeking. A friendly and professional security guard can be a real asset to a business in providing higher levels of customer service and safety. A good security company will brief the security guards on what is required and provide site specific training to ensure they are delivering the required level of service.

Having a professional and well trained security for your business can provide many benefits. Whilst not necessary for all businesses, having a security guard not only supports other security technology such as CCTV, alarm systems and access control but can deliver customer service benefits to your business.

Despite the affordability and simplicity of modern alarm systems, there are a still a number of businesses that do not have one. Even if you are a small business starting out, the cost of an alarm system is not prohibitive and is a sound investment to protect your building, equipment and stock. A loud alarm is a deterrent however if you don’t have alarm monitoring and are not constantly physically within close distance to the building then you could be setting yourself up for trouble. A burglar can be in and out of your premises within minutes. Alarm monitoring can be as little as a dollar per day and ensures that someone is always monitoring your alarm system to ensure that it has been switched on and whether it has been activated. A security patrol or police are often only minutes away to check on any alarm activations – catching any burglars in the act.

It is of little benefit to have the latest alarm system and most respected alarm monitoring service if the alarm system is not turned on. By having security procedures in place, you could possibly avoid unnecessary damage and theft. Sound security procedures might include; training staff to always lock the premises and turning on alarm upon leaving, monitoring and managing access codes and keys that are given to staff (and old staff) and getting staff to notify you of any suspicious behaviour.

Criminals are attracted to dark areas where they cannot be seen. If your premises is located in a quiet location or area which doesn’t receive much traffic at night such as an industrial estate, along with alarm monitoring it is also recommended that the area is well lit. Installing sensor lights around your premises with security CCTV cameras and prominent security signage are some ways to discourage potential break and enters.

Any entrance to your business is a potential entrance for a burglar. So don’t forget about windows or those side/back entrances. A simple way to solve this is to ensure all windows and doors have locks and even security grills on them. Installing motion sensors inside your building at all potential entrances (a good security company will recommend this) will also trigger the alarm system if someone does make their way inside.

When it comes to business security, it is better to be over cautious and cover all your bases than be sorry. By employing the above mentioned security tips you could avoid some of the common business security mistakes that lead to theft or damage.

Business security is a necessary investment to protect staff, equipment and assets and to deter theft and vandalism. Security is not as expensive as you may think with alarm monitoring from as little as $1 per day and basic alarm systems starting from around $1,000. There are several factors involved in determining what is the best security system for your business and a good security company will complete a site evaluation prior to recommending the most suitable option for you.

The best security systems involve a combination of staff training on security procedures and the utilisation of the latest technology. Below are some of the security options for your business.

1. Access Control

An access control system monitors the movement of people around a building while also maintaining a log of the people who enter and exit via the doors. The system includes an identification device, for example, picture identity card or PIN or electronic tag to access the premises. It may also include “readers”, such as proximity, magnetic stripe or most commonly keypads. Most modern office buildings are fitted with some form of access control for security purposes.

2. Alarm Systems and Alarm Monitoring

Alarm systems are a popular method of protecting business and combined with alarm monitoring can be an effective way to protect your premises from potential security threats. It also gives you a complete record of the openings and closing in the building and whatever has happened while you were not there. Back to base alarm systems are monitored by a 24 hour, 7 day per week control centre which is alerted to abnormal access or alarm activation. Alarm systems and monitoring are suitable for all businesses large or small.

3. CCTV

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) involves the installment of a monitor at a certain locations internally or externally of the business for security purposes. Cameras are available in colour or black and white, fixed position or over pan-tilt. The over pan-tilt cameras are easily manipulated by an operator in the control room who can monitor the surroundings. CCTV can deter external and staff vandalism and theft. CCTV is suited to retail outlets and businesses at a high threat from vandalism or theft.

4. Security Guards

Duties security guards can provide include loss prevention, customer service, retail security, investigation services, cash collections, ATM servicing, mobile patrols and crowd control. Security guards are often a strong detterent and preferred by businesses at high risk or requiring immediate intervention. Security guards provide benefits to industrial sites, retail outlets, clubs, pubs, banks, hospitals, universities and larger office buildings.

5. Biometrics

The use of biometrics involves identifying a person using a unique characteristic, for example, fingerprint, retina, face or voice recognition. This is an increasingly popular option as the technology is becoming more affordable as it is very difficult to manipulate. Biometrics are suited to high security businesses and government facilities.

Your business may benefit from one or a combination of a number of the above security measures. If you are considering reviewing your business security or upgrading your security system then contact TJM Security on 1300 766 070. We will undertake a thorough site inspection prior to providing a tailored security solution for your business.

Whatever your security needs may be, your security company should possess certain qualities to qualify as an expert and a suitable partner in your security. This is very important because the safety of your house and business greatly depends on it. Below are some qualities you should look for in a security company:

1. Committed to a long term relationship

The strength of a security company can easily be measured by its level of commitment to the clients. Longer term relationships show stability in any organisation.

2. Expert level of knowledge

A good security company should know the needs of business security and the kind of protection you need for your premises. A security company that asks lots of questions and actually visits and evaluates your place of business before recommending a solution is worthwhile.

3. Licensed

Your security company should be able to prove that they have a Master Security Licence by providing a physical copy of their licence and their licence number. To ensure this is valid and current, you can check their license number. You should never hesitate to ask a security company to provide their security license details, a genuine company will have no problems with providing you these details. For more information on who should hold a security licence, please visit http://www.asial.com.au/Whoshouldholdasecuritylicence.

4. Product knowledge

The security company usually offers a variety of solutions to customers. The company should have extensive knowledge on the level of services. This is important for the safety of your business and yourself. Test the knowledge of the security company by asking questions about the products they offer.

5. Customer Service

Customer service is very important when dealing with a security company. How long does it take to receive a call back? Do they actually listen and address your needs? If the company isn’t focused on providing good customer service before you have signed up with them then it is very unlikely that this will improve after you have signed on the dotted line. Request testimonials from their customers and even speak with them to find out more about their service.

6. Strong Portfolio

An ideal security company should have a brilliant portfolio such as having a variety of well reputed clients. This gives an edge over other security companies as customers trust the services rendered. It also ensures the company will design the most effective and practical security solution for your needs.

7. Credibility

Check out the security company’s website and do a Google search for their name. If they have a strong, positive presence online this usually indicates that you will be dealing with a reputable company.

If you are looking for a reliable and knowledgeable security company in Sydney, Newcastle or the Central Coast, contact TJM security on 1300 766 070.

Grade A1 alarm monitoring provides business and home owners with 24 hour / 7 day protection of their premises.

Back to Base Monitoring

A back-to-base alarm system needs to be installed in the premises for the A1 alarm monitoring to be active.

Today, convenience is a high priority and back to base monitoring system provides the most convenient way to protect your premises. This is done through a control room where the security personnel are monitoring your alarm system around the clock. If you cannot visit your premises for some reason, you can ask a patrol to attend on your behalf.

In emergency situations, the control room will alert you immediately. Back to base monitoring is designed to ensure that your belongings and premises are completely safe. Monitoring is also an easy way to contact the fire, police or other services in case of an emergency.

When an alarm is activated, an operator in the control room is notified immediately. The operator then notifies the local security patrol nearest to the location.  There is also the option for the control centre to contact the owner/manager of the premises prior to notifying the security patrol.  This reduces call-out costs associated with false alarms.

Users can also install cameras with their security alarm systems. This enables digital images to be transferred immediately to the A1 control room during an alarm activation.

For more information on TJM Security’s Grade A1 Alarm Monitoring to protect your business or home, please contact us on 1300 766 070.

Christmas is a great time to go on holidays, whether it is to visit family, take the kids away or just to take a well deserved break.  A vacant property for a prolonged period of time increases the chances of burglaries in the house.

Burglars often take the time to watch a property prior to breaking in and if it appears the occupants are on holidays then it makes the house an easier target.  Reducing the risk of burglaries is not impossible.  By simply implementing the following steps you can have a stress free holidays without worrying about your home security.

1. Keep an empty mail box

If you are away for more than a couple of weeks, it might be a good idea to put your mail on hold.  Simply contact your local post office and instruct them. Similarly contact the newspaper agency to instruct them.

You can also ask a trusted friend or neighbour to pick up daily mail, junk mail and newspapers for you outside the house. Piled up newspaper, junk mail and letters make your property look vacant and encourage burglars.

2. Avoid phone recordings

Before leaving, never put on a phone recording stating your absence. If the burglars are sophisticated enough to contact your home phone number they will easily know about your absence and for how long you will be away.

3. Ensure your house is well lit every day

Arrange to have the lights in your house turned on each day. This will create an impression of your presence and thus, keep away burglars. Ask the neighbours to do this or you can purchase an automation system which will turn the lights on and off automatically at preset times.

4. Get a house sitter

Ask a trusted friend or family member whether they would be interested in house sitting.  You can also hire a professional house sitter. House sitters are well trained and will take care of the house in your absence; however, this depends on your budget. You should ensure that you hire a house sitter from a reputed and registered organisation.

5. Confide in your neighbours

Ask your neighbors to look after the house and report to the police if they suspect unusual movement in or outside the house. Leave an emergency contact number with them so they are able to inform you in an emergency.

6. Lock all the entry and exit ways of the house

Before leaving, make sure you lock every window, door, garage door and gate properly. Check all the locks beforehand so they are not accessible by burglars.

7. Alarm System and Security Alarm Monitoring

A fantastic way to deter potential burglars and protect from any threats is to install an alarm system and get alarm monitoring from a local security company.  This method is the most effective and is a very affordable for the average household.  Many insurance companies also look favourably upon this and may offer you a discount on your premium.

Implementing these security measures will immensely lower the chances for burglary whilst you are away enjoying Christmas holidays.

If you would like further information about protecting your home, please contact TJM Security on 1300 766 070.