5 Important Features Every Commercial Security System Should Have

April 18, 2023 by Anas Mustafa

Your business is your life, so you invested in a commercial security system to ensure everything is protected.

However, getting the system is just the first step. You need to include some key features to help optimise the functionality and worth of the system itself. Here are the top 5 features you need to ensure are included in your package.

1. The Eyes on Your Business's Business

Cameras are one of the first things people default to when you mention security systems. Yet what should you consider when looking at cameras, and who watches the cameras themselves?

For a great view, you need to consider the following when it comes to cameras:

High Definition and Wide Angle Video: When you look at the recording, is it like watching old black and white fuzzy images, or are they crisp, clear, and could they stand up in court?

Also, can you capture all the actions or only a tiny window? High-Def and wide angles will provide the best coverage.
Colour-night vision or Low Light Performance: Where are the cameras? Are they somewhere where there is low lighting or complete darkness?

Colour-night vision can be instrumental in these instances. You can see everything with more precise images than the traditional infra-red, which is a significant deterrent.
Remote Access: Having the video recordings stored off-site is a huge advantage. Accessing this information remotely gives you more freedom and control when you can be on-site. Remote access is a great safety feature, too.

With great cameras comes great responsibility… to ensure that they are correctly and professionally installed and serviced so that there are always eyes on what's important, even when you can't be there.

Alarm monitoring goes hand in hand with installing security cameras, giving you the added protection and serenity that the alarm system is watching over your business 24/7.

2. The Heart Of The System

The alarm system you have chosen to go with is the very heart of the operation. From working with security cameras and CCTV, personalised access control gives you more safety for your staff.

With an access control system, each employee gets a personalised access card or code. Access control systems allow you to see who has entered the premises and who hasn’t. Not so much that a big brother is watching you, but to make sure you know how many people need to be rescued in the event of a fire or if there is a theft, you can narrow down the suspects without accusing everyone.

Access control comes in different forms, including card readers, PIN code pads, and even smart locks, so you can personalise your system to fit your needs even further.

With off-site cloud based access, you can keep everyone safe even when attending to matters elsewhere. A secure app on your phone works with you and your security system and allows you to lock/unlock your doors and control your alarm system.

3. Backup Protocol

One of the most important things to make sure your system has is a backup plan. What happens if there is a big storm and the power goes out? Your security system should still function to keep would-be criminals deterred.

Backup batteries or generators, solar panels, or an uninterruptible power system (or UPS) are great ways to make sure that in the event of a fire, storm, or even tampering, then you are still protected.

Fail-safe and fail-secure systems are also a great way to add extra protection in case of a power outage or system tampering. Fail-safe allows all the exits and doors to open automatically, allowing staff and clients to leave the area or building, which is exceptionally significant in the event of a fire.

The other option is a Fail-Secure system. The fail-secure system works oppositely, meaning everything shuts down and locks, keeping criminals outside. While push bars allow people to leave, this is a one-way system to get everyone out and keep the inside secure.

4. Maintain Records

Your system should have a way to record everything that happens. It will not just record images of people coming and going or stray animals inspecting your dumpsters for food. It will record things that the system encounters, too.

Seeing fluctuations in power, system glitches, and more allows you to know how the system performs and look for common weaknesses. Fluctuations indicate someone testing the system for a weak spot, or there may be a time when the internet connection is not as strong as its peak time for people to watch a streaming service.

Knowing where and when the system slows down or glitches out allows you to work with your security company to improve this or ensure extra monitoring during these times.

5. Sound The Alarm

It's not possible to be on site 24/7, as you have a personal life to maintain too. So added features such as intrusion alarms and intercoms help to keep unwanted guests away from your property and livelihood.

Intrusion alarms are the loud, deafening alarms that sound in the event of a break-in, and intercom systems allow you to speak directly to whoever is attempting to enter your property.

Intercoms work remotely as well as on-site. Your alarm company can also use two-way voice through your alarm system to speak to you and the person(s) on-site, all simultaneously, and with 911 responders.

Keeping Your Business Going

For commercial Security Systems in Toronto, reach out to CSP and get the right system for your business. Serving Canadian business owners from BC to the GTA and helping them to protect what's important, we understand how the right system means just as much as the business itself.

So call 1-877-494-9911 or request your free quote online today and speak to one of our friendly and professional experts.

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