Some buildings are more attractive to potential thieves and vandals than others. If your organisation’s premises house high value assets or the building itself is listed and requires particular protection, it may require a higher level of security than other sites. Alongside a tailored access control system and CCTV network, there are extra steps an organisation can take to ensure site security remains as robust as possible.

Here are four ways to improve security for high value buildings.

Review your security systems regularly

Any organisation with a high security premises should have a rated access control system in place, such as National Security Inspectorate (NSI) Gold, designed to meet their unique site needs. Access control hardware may range from gates, barriers and turnstiles controlled by access readers to electronic door locks and exit buttons, monitors and intercoms. Whatever the access control system setup, the solution should be built to protect a site’s particular security weaknesses, with integrated software that streamlines site-wide people management.

Then there’s CCTV – a vital component of site security for high value premises. Today’s CCTV systems offer unrivalled visibility, safeguarding and peace of mind for organisations that need to monitor activity on and around a site. Today’s offering not only records what is going on but can highlight as its happening. 

Implementing access control and CCTV solutions is only half the challenge though. Organisations must also ensure that these security measures remain fit for purpose over time as their requirements change, which means regularly reviewing the systems, as well as the surrounding infrastructure that supports them, such as a WiFi network. This is why it’s crucial to partner with a security tech supplier that provides a complete end-to-end service, from design and specification through to installation, training and ongoing support. At Touchstar, we work with our customers to continually review their solutions and upgrade them with latest updates and new functionality, for systems that grow alongside their operations.

Assign a security officer

When security is a top priority, it can be beneficial to give a trusted team member the role of security officer. This doesn’t mean turning one of your employees into a security guard or a security expert, but rather placing the responsibility of project managing site security with one particular person.

This staff member should oversee all things security, such as keeping on top of who has access to building keys and security information, being the main point of contact for service providers, and managing security systems maintenance.    

Not having someone to take on this role can mean these sorts of tasks slip through the cracks, so it’s a very worthwhile measure to take.

Monitor changes to your site

On large sites, or those with multiple buildings, it’s easy for even a small change to suddenly threaten your site security. Trees and shrubs can grow to obscure the view of CCTV cameras, exterior building damage could impair a camera mount, particularly on older buildings, and renovation work can pose a significant security risk, literally leaving your building open to intruders. 

It’s important to continually consider both planned and unplanned site changes in relation to security, so that any necessary developments to your access control and/or CCTV systems can be made.

Plan for IT system updates

Some access control and CCTV systems rely on a wireless cloud-based infrastructure, which makes the status of a WiFi network integral to premises security.

Any work on the WiFi, such as system updates or maintenance, can therefore directly affect the security systems, so it’s vital to plan for these events and ensure as little downtime as possible. This is especially important if your site has multiple buildings and/or a remote monitoring centre.  

Alternatively, opting for closed network security systems, as we recommend our customers do here at Touchstar, ensures that even if there is a wider network outage, access control systems and CCTV cameras are not impacted.

For expert help designing and implementing security systems for high value buildings, look no further than Touchstar. Get in touch with us today to find out more about our access control and CCTV solutions.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR – LYNDEN JONES

Lynden joined Touchstar ATC (formally Feedback Data) in a sales role for Access Control in 2010.  Prior to joining the company, Lynden held both Production and Account Manager roles, gaining wide technical and commercial experience within the electronics market.  

In 2013 Lynden was promoted to Sales Director and in 2017 he took overall responsibility of the business as Managing Director. As well as running Touchstar ATC, Lynden still remains extremely active in the sales and key account management aspects of the business. When not involved in the business, Lynden is a keen performance car enthusiast.