December 14, 2022 by Anas Mustafa
With winter upon us, long, cold nights are soon to become a jarring reality. This means that you should be preparing your business for the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, as well as enhancing your security measures to reflect the change of weather.
Snow, slush, and inclement weather can easily throw a wrench in your security plans. For example, CCTV cameras can become frosted over, and rain and wind can obstruct views.
As well, long, dark nights can make your business a target to potential thieves and criminals who operate under cover of darkness.
If you are concerned about making security a top priority during the winter season, read on to discover some of the best ways that you can elevate your security during these crucial months.
During the winter season, it’s safe to say that daylight is fleeting, and nights are much longer. This can attract thieves and burglars, as they usually work in the dark.
In order to deter theft and make your business more welcoming and inviting to customers and clients, you should increase the lighting in and around your business. Make sure that dark spots and areas are well-lit using either flood lights or spotlights.
Bring out seasonal, decorative lighting if you have it. If you want to be cost-effective, consider putting a timer on your lighting for it to run from dusk until dawn or installing a motion sensor to turn on/off when movement is detected.
Whatever you decide, it’s especially important that you review your business lighting in advance of the dark winter season.
Another important task you should undertake when making security improvements for impending cold nights is ensuring all your surveillance cameras are functional. This means that they are in good working condition, are not obstructed, and are correctly placed.
Make sure there are no objects creating blind spots in your surveillance. This is all the more important as we head into, the colder months since inclement weather, fallen leaves, snow, and rain can make CCTV cameras dirty and foggy, and otherwise obscure your surveillance footage of the premises.
When reviewing your security plans, take note of whether or not they are clear and logical to you. Do they list what steps will need to be taken in the event of an emergency?
Do your employees have an understanding of security procedures? Ultimately, what role will you play should alarm bells start ringing? All of these factors (and more) come into play when planning your alarm response.
It’s better to have a plan in place should the unexpected happen rather than be caught off-guard.
Plan your alarm response thoughtfully, and make sure you share any pertinent information with employees, neighbours, and business shareholders. It’s also a good idea to keep in touch with your security company so that security strategies can be carried out seamlessly.
Make them aware of your security requirements and any special needs your business may have when it comes to safety and surveillance.
You also want to ensure that any physical safety barriers on your property are durable and able to withstand the harsh winter months.
Check your fences and gates and make sure that your perimeter isn’t broken in any way to allow intruders entry. Volatile winds and rain can make fencing become loose and disrupt your gating.
While it’s important to check on your perimeter and fencing year-round, definitely make sure not to neglect this crucial step when heading into the colder, harsher winter months.
It’s always good to have layers to your business security, instead of just relying on one or two safety modes. While CCTV, alarms, and good lighting are great for deterring theft, to give yourself additional peace of mind, you should consider hiring security guards to monitor your site while you are not present.
They can stand at entryways and exits and help observe happenings at your business.
Not only are they professionally trained, but they are equipped with the knowledge and expertise to handle conflicts and criminal activity.
They can help you rest at ease knowing that your business is safe and secure even when you are not on the premises.
With a little extra consideration, you can certainly keep your business security up and running smoothly this winter season.
Don’t let snow, slush, and sleet get in the way of your business’s safety and security.
For more information on business security systems and winter security, please call Canadian Security Professionals at 1-877-494-9911 or contact us here.
We would be happy to help you plan and operate a business security schedule that fits your needs and budget.
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