Guide to renewing physical security systems in the workplace
Renewing physical security systems in the workplace – the ultimate guide
Why should your physical security systems be reviewed regularly? The more your business grows, the more attractive it becomes to criminals. Every new milestone comes with a new set of challenges, opening up potential vulnerabilities in your physical security systems. These can include locks, cameras, security guards and physical barriers; all helping to protect hardware, software, networks, data, customers and employees from the likes of damage, theft, violence, natural disasters and corporate espionage.
Anyone working with vehicles, whether selling, lending, managing or repairing them, knows that they are a magnet for thieves and joy-riders. Business owners have a responsibility not only to protect these high-value assets but to also keep their employees safe as any intrusions could spontaneously spill over into violence and accidents, with innocent people caught in the crossfire. Hostile actors – whether human or digital – continually find smart new ways to bypass physical security systems. That is why you can't afford to rest on your laurels when it comes to safety.
Business owners must regularly review physical access control in the workplace to make sure only the right people can use their assets at the right time. You must always be mindful of emerging weaknesses in your tools and protocols, and research the latest solutions to stay ahead of any threats. In this blog post, we will talk you through the points that businesses should consider to improve their physical security systems:
8 tips on physical security system improvement for business owners
- Conduct a physical security risk assessment
Before investing in any new equipment or hiring additional personnel, you must understand your business’ physical security risks and needs. What threats might your company face? Many car showrooms have large parking lots – could there be blindspots where criminals can hide in the shadows? Do employees often forget to log when they are taking cars out on test drives, opening them up to theft and risky behavior? When carrying out a safety audit, consider your location, past incidents, and the effectiveness of existing security measures. - Set up physical security perimeters
Physical access control starts with creating a barrier, which only authorized people can access, around areas where sensitive data and high-value assets are stored. Examples are walls, front counters and electronically controlled doors in car dealerships. You may also want to add security guards to these perimeters. Be mindful that people are fallible, so a combination of both human and technological measures can bring more to the table. - Set up physical entry controls
Only the right people at the right time should be able to access sensitive areas. Doors controlled by PIN, card or biometrics can help ensure this. Be sure to add an extra layer of authorization to areas of high-risk. Access logs must be reviewed regularly. Car dealers and fleet managers might want to pair this with technology for more visibility. KEYper’s MX electronic key systems, for example, keep a detailed digital log every time someone checks a car key in and out, and notifies you if curfew is missed. - Key management
As above, a great example of strong physical security measures for car sales or rental businesses is our electronic KEYper MX Key Cabinets. They protect car keys when not in use, and limit access to the right people at the times that you allow. Our non-locking panels are perfect for audit-only applications. Meanwhile, our locking panels allow per-item access control for each key position, only releasing individual assets to authorized personnel. You can combine both types to suit your company’s needs. - Protect against environmental threats
Mother Nature can wreak havoc through fires, floods, earthquakes, and more. Be sure to install smoke and heat-activated fire alarms, plus carbon monoxide detectors. You might also benefit from fire extinguishers and sprinklers. And to detect leaks or flooding, you could add water or moisture detection devices to dropped ceilings and within raised floors. - Video surveillance
Set up security cameras both outside and inside your car showroom to help deter crime like theft, vandalism, joyriding and trespassing, and provide evidence if intrusions occur. Our iDter Security Camera not only provides eyes on your vehicles after hours, but also offers instant notification, visibility and control following an intrusion attempt through iDter's mobile apps. - External lights
Help employees feel safe as they leave work and walk to their vehicles with automatic, movement-detection lights outside. Spotlighting trespassers in large showroom parking lots can also ensure security cameras get a clearer shot of anyone trying to steal or joyride one of your vehicles, and therefore deter crimes from taking place. - Think about compliance
The automotive industry increasingly faces stringent laws and regulations. For example, car dealerships must protect customers’ private and personal data. So you must update your understanding of the latest laws in order to pick new physical security tools that can help you remain compliant. You must then feed this knowledge back to employees to ensure they follow any new procedures correctly.
How do you know you’ve found the best physical security system for your business?
Your business has its own unique security needs. But the best physical security systems benefit from cloud-based software and a mobile app. Cloud-based measures can be managed from anywhere in the world, and from any device, giving you peace of mind when you’re off-site. With other systems, you’d need to employ someone to work on-site around the clock, which can be costly and lead to errors.
Car salesmen taking vehicles out for test drives would need to log out assets from the same place, taking it in turns to use the system. This can slow down a sale. But with cloud-based systems, multiple salesmen can book out vehicles at the same time wherever they are and pass ownership of keys over to each other in the field, with your permission, using mobile apps on their smartphones. This speedier service is sure to put smiles on customers’ faces.
Effective physical security systems also have clear emergency protocols to ensure a swift response to critical situations like fires, natural disasters and safety breaches. You must ensure all staff members know what to do when the unexpected happens. Provide updated training and practice emergency drills regularly to ensure employees will respond calmly and efficiently during emergencies. And last, but not least, the best system should always ensure compliance with the latest laws and regulations to stop you being hit with heavy fines.
KEYper physical security systems – here’s how we can help
Getting your physical security system right is critical for your business’ success. In the face of ever more sophisticated threats, strict regulations, changing markets and growing competition, it can feel overwhelming to pick the right one for you. But we can help.
KEYper is an expert in helping businesses in car sales, rentals, PDI, service, fleet management and repairs level up their security. Our user-friendly key management systems are perfect for the automotive industry as they simplify key and asset tracking, while providing increased accountability and security.
Book a demonstration with one of our experts today to see how we can help you secure and manage access to your car keys, control and track every dealer plate, take inventory of every vehicle in your lot and benefit from detailed reports via smartphone administration. We can help you plan every aspect of your system and also provide on-site and online training, as well as user guides.
Call us free for an immediate answer to your questions on 800-399-7888.