It doesn’t matter what kind of facility you run – security will always be one of your primary concerns. It is vital for your clients, for your staff and for all your assets. No matter what standard your facility’s security may currently be at, here are four measures you can take now to take it up to the next level.
Start with access control
Before you look any further, ask how easy it is for anybody to gain access to your facility. What are staff required to do to gain access? What about visitors? How many points of entry are there? Are there weak spots? Your front gate/door access system should be impregnable. Staff access processes have now moved well beyond key cards or tags to biometrics, fingerprint and even facial recognition scanners. The coming and going of staff is relatively easy to control, however. Where things often get loose – and where the biggest risks arise – is in the area of visitor access. You need a firm system of signing in and out that involves security staff and electronic tools to make sure that you have full control over the movement of people.
Focus on Network Security
Increasingly, facility managers are finding that some of their most valuable assets do not exist in warehouses or storerooms, but in cyberspace, on hard drives or in the Cloud. For this reason, your network security should be paramount. Invest in all the necessary software, such as firewalls, anti-viruses, anti-spyware, etc. Update them regularly and make sure you have an IT team you can depend on.
Set up “Big Brother”
Some regard them as a little intrusive, but when it comes to the security of your facility, cameras are essential. Install them in all the key areas ensuring that there are no blind spots and that footage is stored for the longest possible time and is easily accessible. With this ‘eye in the sky,’ you can easily pinpoint any questionable activities.
Future-Proof Your Security
Just as access cards are now giving way to biometrics, so the latest technology will have to clear the path for ever more sophisticated security measures years down the line. Not only will you always need to keep an eye on the technology markets to spot the next trend, but you will also have to adapt and grow your security measures in line with the growth and developments in your facility itself. Draw up five- and ten-year security plans, in line with the facility’s overarching goalposts. This way, you can ensure that security upgrades always run parallel to the progress of your facility.
Jason Scholtz is the CEO at Envision Investments and a leader in the property and strategic investments industry in South Africa. For more investor tips and an insider’s look into the South African market, be sure to get in touch, keep an eye on this blog or visit http://www.envisioninvestments.co.za/
