For businesses large and small, implementing the right security system is crucial for safeguarding your assets, protecting employees, and preserving your reputation in any industry. The ongoing demand for more powerful, reliable, and intuitive security systems is prompting rapid growth in the industry, with the commercial security system market set to reach a value of $343.7 billion by 2028.
However, with so many types of security systems for business leaders to choose from, it can be challenging to determine which solutions are right for your business.
As leaders in the security and access control landscape, the Infassure team has created this comprehensive guide to the business security systems available in the current market. It will help you make the choices that will protect and safeguard your organization.
What is a Business Security System?
A business security system is a comprehensive solution designed to help companies protect their physical and digital assets, employees, and customers.
Modern systems come in a range of forms to address various business threats, combining hardware and software into a single solution. Security systems can help you monitor suspicious activity in your organization, optimize access control, and even defend against major threats to life safety.
The right large or small business security systems aren’t just crucial for maintaining compliance with federal regulations and guidelines, they’re also essential to protecting against:
- Loss of assets: The right security solutions act as an additional guard in your security team, helping to minimize the risk of stolen or damaged physical and digital assets.
- Compromised safety: Essential security solutions, such as a commercial fire alarm system, help to protect both employees and visitors from significant threats.
- Legal liabilities: Security systems can give you crucial evidence you can use to protect yourself in litigation cases, reducing damage to your finances and reputation.
In recent years, many types of security systems for business leaders have grown increasingly advanced, implementing new and innovative technology, such as artificial intelligence. AI-powered surveillance cameras and access control systems can now provide companies with support for real-time threat detection, predictive analytics, and even automated incident response.
Types of Security Systems for Businesses
As threats continue to permeate the commercial environment, countless security systems have emerged to support businesses in protecting their assets, personnel, and visitors. Here are some of the most common types of security systems for business leaders and the benefits they offer.
Video Surveillance Systems
Video surveillance systems are often at the heart of a comprehensive security strategy. Video monitoring tools, CCTV systems, and IP cameras empower companies to monitor operations comprehensively, making it easy to spot and mitigate threats in an instant.
What’s more, by recording footage with a video surveillance management system (delivered either via the cloud or on-premises), companies can gather the evidence they need to protect themselves in the event of incidents, aiding in streamlined investigations and legal proceedings.
The advent of AI in video surveillance systems has also led to significant evolutions in how companies can manage their security strategy. AI features for facial recognition, object detection, and more, can make identifying and eliminating threats easier.
When choosing the best security camera or video surveillance system for your organization, focus on:
- Exceptional image quality and resolution for high-quality footage
- Robust features like low light and night vision capabilities for IP cameras
- Intuitive video surveillance management (VMS) technology with scalable cloud storage
- Intelligent integration with other security systems, such as access control solutions
- Remote access and mobile app connectivity
- AI-powered solutions for object, face, and threat detection
It’s also worth weighing your connectivity options, the power requirements of your video surveillance system, and the scalability the solution can offer.
Physical Access Control Systems
Physical access control systems (PACS) are another major component in a strong commercial security strategy. An access control system secures a facility by restricting access and entry to a building or certain spaces to individuals who have verified credentials.
The core purpose of a PACS is to protect assets, property, and people by managing entry points, such as doors and gates, without needing a 24/7 security guard. The core components of an access control system include:
- Access points: Physical barriers such as doors, gates, and windows.
- Credential verification solutions: Tools that allow employees to verify their identities, such as PINs, mobile apps, key fobs or key cards, encrypted ID badges, license plate recognition, and even biometrics on some advanced solutions.
- Control panels: The control panel in an access control system acts as the “brain” for the technology, processing credential information and determining whether to grant access.
Access control systems are extremely valuable in various business environments, from retail locations and commercial offices to hospitals and hospitality centers like hotels. They ensure ongoing security and enhance intrusion prevention by preventing unauthorized access to buildings and assets.
They can also enable companies to monitor and record entry and exit times, which can be extremely valuable during security audits. With an access control system designed by a team of professionals, companies can maintain complete control over access to their facilities.
Physical Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)
Physical intrusion detection systems (IDS) frequently play an essential role in the security infrastructure of a commercial property. Like other types of security systems for business leaders, these tools can help identify unauthorized access to an environment and improve the physical security of it.
These systems operate by utilizing an array of motion sensors and other technology placed at strategic points, such as around windows, doors, and vulnerable entry points. These sensors detect activity, and immediately relay information to a control panel, which can trigger an alarm system, or send notifications to a security guard or team.
Alarm monitoring systems connected to intrusion prevention solutions like IDS systems can be audible or silent. While audible alarms can deter intruders on the spot, silent alarms can notify security services and law enforcement groups instantly, increasing the chances of a successful arrest.
IDS solutions are critical for real-time monitoring and rapid response capabilities in business environments. They can also integrate with other security measures for a comprehensive approach to protecting critical assets.
Emergency Safety Systems
Unlike commercial access control systems, emergency safety systems focus less on protecting assets from theft or preventing unauthorized intrusion, and more on defending the health and safety of people within a building.
These systems are crucial for complying with health and safety standards in any organization, and protecting employees, assets, and visitors from fire, smoke, and other hazards. There are many types of emergency safety systems available, including:
- Smoke detectors: These tools intelligently detect early signs of danger by searching for smoke particles in the air to trigger alarms.
- Heat detectors: These solutions detect unusual increases in temperature which may indicate a fire.
- Fire alarms: Fire alarms alert occupants of a building of the presence of a fire, detecting both smoke and heat simultaneously.
- Emergency lighting: Emergency lighting systems activate when dangers are detected, illuminating escape routes to facilitate safe evacuation.
The effectiveness of emergency safety systems relies on their operational integrity, making regular maintenance checks and testing essential. Regular tests help to ensure that systems function correctly, and can perform as expected throughout an emergency.
Integrated Security Systems
For many organizations, integrated security systems represent the pinnacle of modern security strategies. They combine various individual types of security systems for business protection into a single solution. This could mean combining intrusion detection systems with video surveillance, access control solutions, and emergency safety systems into one package.
Integrated security systems work as an all-in-one holistic solution for business, employee, and asset protection. They allow for seamless interaction between previously isolated systems, enhancing the overall security posture of a business.
With integrated security systems, companies benefit from improved operational efficiency, as personnel can manage and monitor multiple security aspects from a single interface. Real-time monitoring capabilities can also significantly reduce response times to incidents and streamline operations, eliminating common redundancies and issues.
There are many types of integrated security solutions present across the commercial landscape. For instance, smart building systems in the corporate sector combine access control with video surveillance to manage employee movement and preserve secure access.
Integrated systems in the retail industry can link inventory control with video surveillance and access management to prevent theft. Even airports use AI-enhanced integrated security solutions that combine facial recognition technology, with video monitoring, and access controls.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Security System
Selecting the right security systems for business operations in your organization can be complex, which is why it’s so helpful to access insights and guidance from a professional team. At Infassure, we can help you design the perfect security solution, considering factors like:
- Business needs and requirements: The specific requirements of your business will have a direct impact on your business security needs. Assessing the size of the premises, the nature of the business, and the potential threats you might face is crucial.
- Scalability: As your business grows or evolves, your security needs will transform, too. An effective business security system should be easy to expand and adapt, without the need to replace your entire hardware or software infrastructure.
- Compatibility: Powerful business security systems need to be compatible with the security measures your company already has in place. Your solution should be able to integrate seamlessly with all existing resources used to protect your assets.
- Cost considerations: Every company has a budget to consider. When selecting your security system, it’s important to be aware of the hardware and software costs of your new solution, as well as any expenses associated with installation, configuration, and maintenance.
- Compliance and regulations: Depending on your company’s industry and location, there may be specific regulations to consider when implementing security systems. Complying with these guidelines is crucial to avoid legal penalties and reputational damage.
At Infassure, we can guide you through the process of considering all the factors mentioned above, to ensure your security system aligns with your current needs and is scalable to adapt to your future requirements.
Best Practices for Implementing a Security System
Implementing your security system effectively requires a strategic plan of action, as well as effective alignment between multiple members of your team. When you’re choosing the best security camera, access control system, or any other types of security system for business use, make sure you:
- Involve key stakeholders: Your decision-making process should include comprehensive input with key stakeholders from various departments. This will help to ensure your solution addresses all the requirements and risks specific to different areas of the company. Involving stakeholders early also helps to ensure rapid adoption of new solutions in your company, reducing the risk of issues.
- Conduct regular testing and maintenance: Before you implement your new system, testing is crucial to identify any issues or weaknesses. Regular and ongoing testing and maintenance is also critical to ensure your technology can continue to operate effectively over time.
- Seek expert advice: Companies like Infassure can help your organization make intelligent decisions about the right security systems crucial to protecting your organization. We specialize in helping organizations to master the full process of implementing a security solution, offering assistance with design, installation, and training. Contact us to find out how we can help protect your business.
- Train employees: Comprehensive employee training is crucial to ensure that your workforce can follow new security protocols, leverage new technologies, and follow emergency procedures effectively. The right training will enhance the effectiveness of your security measures, and help to protect your team members from risk.
- Invest in regular updates: Security threats in any organization can evolve rapidly. This is why it’s so important to ensure you’re regularly reviewing the functionality of your technology and making any necessary updates to your system.
Following these best practices will help to ensure your security system is fully optimized to deliver the best possible results for your organization.
Protect your Business with the Right Security System
There are various types of security systems for business leaders to consider in today’s world. Choosing the right solutions for your organization is crucial for not only protecting your assets and employees, but ensuring you can remain compliant with safety and security standards.
A proactive approach to choosing and integrating the right solutions for full business protection is essential to defending your business against a multitude of threats. At Infassure, we assist companies in all industries in choosing, configuring, and implementing the right security technologies for their specific needs. Contact our team to find out how we can help protect you against countless risks, and streamline your security strategy.