Essential Features to Look for in Commercial Alarm Services

When considering a security system for your business or an upgrade to an existing system, you want to pay attention to three main considerations: technology, hardware, and security monitoring services. This overview provides a checklist of the essential features that make up a robust business security system.

Technology and Hardware for Commercial Security Systems

Here are the vitally important technology and hardware items for a comprehensive commercial security system for small businesses. Conduct a security review to ensure you have the essentials covered.

Alarm System

There are strategic choices for commercial alarm services, such as audible or silent alarms. Consider the appropriate response when an alarm activates, such as what processes occur automatically and who gets a notification.

Physical Barricades

In this category are rollup doors and window coverings made from high-strength, hardened carbon steel, as well as reinforced, shatterproof glass or bulletproof glass where needed.

Surveillance Cameras

The best practices are 24/7 surveillance of all areas of the business buildings. For each camera location, a decision needs to be made about using a hidden camera or displaying the camera as a deterrent.

Digital Video Recorder and Network Video Recorder

Using a digital and network video recorder allows the business to keep a permanent record of the surveillance footage on-site with a backup of the files automatically uploaded to cloud storage. Video analytics can then be used to search for pattern recognition of suspicious activity or identify an event history.

Motion Detectors and Infrared Monitoring

Motion detectors are useful to detect potential intruders. They can be set around the perimeter to notify security personnel of a potential problem proactively. Infrared monitoring is useful for areas that are not well-lit or where a camouflaged intruder may try to gain entry under the cover of darkness.

Remote Monitoring Services

Business owners may enjoy remote monitoring services that give them a bird’s eye view of their business location from any place. They can connect to the video feeds from their business through secured encrypted connections using a VPN tunnel over the Internet.

It is very convenient for a business owner to use a smartphone and log on to their security system to check and see if everything looks OK. Giving the business owner access to this video feed also means the security personnel must be vigilant in their duties because they never know when the owner might also be watching.

Access Control System

An access control system gives more control over who has authorized access to certain areas. The system may use biometric information, such as facial recognition, fingerprints, or retinal scans for accurate identification.

Security Lighting

Well-illuminated areas such as large parking lots discourage unwanted persons from loitering on the property. Security lighting should be targeted to cover all areas evenly and not cast undesirable shadows.

Intercom System

For public access control, an intercom system can be used to hear and see the person asking for entry before allowing them into the building.

Smoke, Fire, CO2, and Natural Gas Detectors

Depending on the risk factors for your business location, you may want to add CO2 and natural gas detectors to your smoke- and fire-detection system.

Security Signage

Security signage ranges from physical signs and safety cones to digital signage systems that update in real-time from a centralized location to convey safety information for emergencies.

Backup Power Supply

In a grid-down situation with a loss of power, your business security system needs to continue working. This may be achieved with backup generators and battery storage systems.

Commercial Security Monitoring Services

Equally important as the technology and hardware used to protect your business, is the 24/7 monitoring company providing the security solution and commercial alarm services. Business security systems can be breached by intruders and that is when the security monitoring personnel needs to take immediate action to prevent further property loss and damage.

When selecting a provider for commercial alarm services, here are the important considerations.

Customized Security Solutions

Every business has unique security needs. The security profile for protecting your business needs to be customized to address your needs so you can have the peace of mind that you have proper protections in place.

Incident Response Plans

A qualified security company must be able to create and execute an incident response plan for various and complex security scenarios. The documentation of these procedures and feedback on their proper implementation becomes the data needed for risk mitigation of future events.

Ability to Scale

You want to have a security company that can grow with your business to serve multiple locations or protect additional facilities as your expansion needs require.

Local Focus

You want someone from the local area that is well established because you need to feel you can count on them due to their high standards of reliability and customer-focused service.

Company Reputation

Before committing to a commercial alarm service, conduct due diligence about each company you are considering. How long has the company been in business? Are its customers satisfied? What is the average length of experience of its personnel?

Be careful of working with a “fly-by-night” firm that offers security services for a price that is “too good to be true.” If you fall for such a scam, you may return to your business after a long weekend to discover you have been completely cleaned out by a group of criminals falsely posing as a security company.

Vetted Security Personnel

An “insider” job is extremely frustrating. Ensure the company you select as your security monitoring service vets its personnel and conducts exhaustive background checks before trusting them to guard your business. 

Experience Better Security with U.S. Protective Services

U.S. Protective Services has been serving Northeast Ohio since 1969. We are a second-generation family-owned business. Our long-standing presence in the community and continuous adaptation with technological advancements allow us to provide high-quality security services.

Contact us to start the conversation about conducting a security audit and installing or improving your commercial security system.