How To Choose A Security System For Your Business
In business security, much like in home security, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. You need to consider how much security your business needs. To do that, you need to pinpoint your current security’s weak points, know what types of equipment you need, and assess your budget. Below, we’ve outlined our criteria for choosing the best security systems for businesses.
Equipment
In business security, the more equipment options, the better. When we selected our top picks, we went with those that offered a wide selection of security equipment. Ideally, that includes:
- Security sensors: These are your motion sensors, door and window sensors, and glass break sensors that can alert you to break-ins during and after office hours.
- Environment monitoring sensors: These are your smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and any other sensor you need to make sure your building is safe from environmental threats.
- Panic buttons: In cases of robberies and holdups, as well as non-criminal emergencies like fires, panic buttons and alarms can connect you and your employees to emergency services immediately.
- Security cameras: Security cameras provide video surveillance so you or security personnel can monitor your establishment during and after office hours. It’s ideal if your alarm company can provide both indoor and outdoor cameras.
Security cameras play crucial roles in business security, which is why we also added criteria for choosing security cameras. They must have:
- Security features: Such as motion and sound detection, or even better, artificial intelligence like person detection
- Good specifications: At least a 1080p HD resolution, infrared night vision, 120 degrees viewing angle, and two-way audio
- Storage: Most ideally, local recording via micro-SD cards, NVRs, or DVRs, as well as backup cloud storage
Technology
It’s also important to choose a security system that can work in your current office setup. Most businesses today have internet and Wi-Fi, so we selected security systems that use the internet for communication. Communication is crucial because this is how the system will alert you or your alarm company in case of emergencies.
However, as we all know, internet connections can be unreliable sometimes, so you also need backup communications. For most of the security systems on our list, that backup communication comes in the form of cellular backup. With cellular chips built into hubs or control panels, security systems can still alert you over cellular signals should your internet go down.
Power backup is another vital technology in business security. With the use of batteries, which can last for up to a day on a single full charge in most cases, security systems can continue to provide protection through power outages.
Monitoring
If you have on-site security personnel 24/7, good for you. Otherwise, alarm companies can monitor your business for you. They won’t watch your security feeds 24/7, mind you, so it’s still up to you to catch shoplifters and the like.
However, in the event of real emergencies, like after office hours break-ins, alarm companies can send police dispatch to your building. With professional monitoring, you can gain peace of mind knowing that you’re never on your own in protecting your business.
Installation
Most of our top picks offer DIY and professional installation. Choosing the installation method is really a matter of preference; however, professional installation is ideal for larger businesses in particular.
If you go the DIY route, you need a basic understanding of the system you’re installing and where to install your system components for maximum effectiveness. With professional installation, those tasks will fall in the hands of experienced technicians. So while DIY installation is doable, if you have the means, go for professional installation.