Businesses lose tens of thousands of dollars each year to vandalism and theft. These losses don’t just include loss of merchandise or equipment; they also include disclosure of personal information and data. Physical security is an essential tool for every business, and having the system installed is the first step in protecting your premises. The problem is that most alarm systems are outdated and useless, so how do you choose the right one for your business?

How to choose the right security system for your company?

Choosing the best business security alarm system for the workplace is essential. If you have landed at this guide, it’s likely that your current system is causing trouble due to aging or that you have reprioritized the physical security of your company. Regardless of the reason for the change, with the proper guidance, you can choose the best business alarm system.

Step 1 – Identify the Problem

The initial step in our search for a reliable alarm system is to analyze the issues with existing models available on the market. With advancements in technology, security systems are becoming more sophisticated and efficient; however, traditional alarms may have certain drawbacks that can be addressed through an upgraded solution.

  • False alarms and their disastrous consequences

We don’t need to go into detail about why false alarms are bad. The fable of the “boy who cried wolf” is well known to most people. If you receive a valid notification after a series of false alarms, you may not treat the real threat with the urgency that it requires. They’re also annoying – no one wants to be startled awake in the middle of the night when there’s no reason to be concerned.

  • The police department became complacent

Moreover, the impact of false alarms on the police department is not to be taken lightly. Not only can they cause a decrease in productivity, but they may also lead to complacency when responding to emergency calls. This can have disastrous consequences, as delays in these situations could put lives in danger while causing a loss of hundreds and thousands of dollars.

  • Unverified alarms lead to a waste of time and resources

Alarm systems that lack verification are quickly dismissed as false and are frequently ignored. Unverified alarms lead to wasted time for staff members to attend the site and have the potential to miss genuine alerts because of a lack of trust in the system.

  • Risking the business security by sharing the alarm code with multiple employees

Not only is sharing the alarm code with multiple employees at the business site risky, but it is also a time-consuming and tedious task. It requires supervisors to manually distribute access codes to each employee and keep track of who has which code. This can lead to multiple security issues that may result in costly damage or breaches.

Step 2 – Evaluate your current situation and determine the company’s needs

By identifying potential problems associated with current systems, we can develop a comprehensive strategy for selecting a suitable alarm system. Before embarking on infrastructure upgrades or modifications, it is appropriate to assess your organization’s current security state. Seeing your reality clearly will assist you in developing a strategy that your team, budget, and infrastructure can support.

Once you understand how your surveillance system works, the next step is determining whether it can meet your business’s evolving needs. Ask yourself what is not happening that should. Organizations often bring a list containing “needs,” such as custom integrations or other specialized features.

business alarm systems

Step 3 -Find the right security system to fix the problem

As we have identified the problem with a conventional security alarm system, we are in a better position to hunt for a good solution for our business security concerns. Here, we must consider all options carefully to determine the most appropriate course of action. It is important to bear in mind that there may not be a single “perfect” solution; rather, our goal should be to identify a satisfactory solution that brings about the best possible results. There are specific criteria, that help you find the best alarm system for your business, like,

  • Efficiency against false alarms

When selecting an alarm system, it is important to choose one that not only meets your security needs but also won’t produce false alarms. This implies that a robust security solution is needed that not only minimizes the occurrence of false alarms but also provides accurate motion detection and verification processes.

  • Look for a video verification feature in the business alarm system

It’s important to verify the alarm before dispatching personnel, security guards, or police. Video is the quickest way to verify whether an alarm is real or fake. An effective alarm system with video verification will alert you to an incident and provide evidence to help you judge if the authorities need to be dispatched.

Video-verified alarms are regarded as a crime in progress with the police and will ensure speedy response times to your facility. With these additional security measures in place, businesses can be assured that their premises will remain safe and secure.

  • Choose an alarm system offering a monitoring station facility

Usually, police are least likely to respond to an alarm as they assume it to be a false one. By choosing an alarm system that can send video to the monitoring station, you are ensuring a quick response from the police since they will be able to assess the situation before arriving onsite. Additionally, these services offer customized alerts that allow you to be notified of any suspicious activity on your premises. As a result, you can ensure better security for your commercial property.

  • Can the alarm system integrate with other technology?

Modern alarm systems will come with built-in Z-Wave technology, which is an important feature to consider if you want to control your thermostat, lighting, garage doors, locks, and so much more. Z-wave technology is a wireless communication system used primarily for commercial and residential automation control.

With this technology integrated into your system, users can have the lights turned on at the beginning of the workday and turned off at night. Have your alarm automatically disarm, turn on the heat or AC, turn on the lights, and unlock the doors when the business opens. Also, one can easily see the status of all their devices through an easy-to-use app or online web portal.

  • Choose a smarter system that can notify you about what’s happening at your business

When installing an alarm system, be sure to purchase one that meets your needs and offers the features that you require. Many alarm systems offer a wide range of features, such as notification services, scheduling tools, and remote access control. Also, some alarm systems have special sensors and other pieces of hardware that can pick up on movement or sounds in a certain area.

An integrated alarm system will not only provide instant notification of any security incidents but also allow you to monitor your property remotely and control various features from your smartphone or tablet.

  • Consider the cost factor

Besides the above-mentioned factor, cost is the most crucial consideration when choosing a business alarm system company. Get a business system that meets all your security requirements while being affordable for your company’s financial capabilities.

Most of the time, only the initial installation fee is anticipated, so it can surprise some business owners. To understand the total cost, consider factors like hardware, installation, activation, business monitoring, and cyber security. When you add up these factors, you’ll realize your actual business security system costs. Banking on a reliable, all-in-one security solution provider is the most cost-effective and viable approach.

Closing thoughts

As a business owner, you have a special responsibility to ensure the safety of your property, customers, and employees. Security is essential to the success of any business, which is why so many organizations are increasing their investments in business security systems. Your company will face fewer risks and failures in the future if you prioritize safety.

There is a lot to look for when purchasing a business alarm system. With all the different options on the market, it can be difficult to know where to start. But our guide takes you through everything you need to consider before making a purchase, from features to budget. So, whether you’re a first-time buyer or just need an upgrade, we can help you find the perfect system for your needs.

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Written by : Carlo Di Leo

At the age of 24, with no experience in the security industry or any money in the bank, Carlo quit his job and started Spotter Security from his parent's basement. Founded in 2004, Spotter grew from a single man operation into a multi-million dollar security system integrator that caters to businessess and construction sites across Canada.

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