Security is an issue for all businesses and all locations. But when your company has a smaller branch or satellite location in another area, security for it may be lacking. How can you ensure that any branch offices are as secure as your main business site? Here are four key steps to put into motion.
While the satellite office might share many features with your main office, it will also have its own unique circumstances. If you treat its security the same way you would the larger location, you could introduce unforeseen risks.
For instance, the satellite office might be in a neighborhood with a higher rate of vandalism or outdoor property theft. Or it might have higher valued inventory. It might run a graveyard shift or be more sparsely populated at night. There might even be unique natural disaster hazards. Different risks need different solutions, so you should first assess the branch's real needs.
2. Establish Company-Wide Procedures
Small branches often operate largely independently when it comes to their policies and procedures. And while some security protocols should be unique to each physical location, the majority of security procedures should be standard throughout the company.
Start with cybersecurity coordination. Connect offices through a single, controlled network where you can implement the highest cybersecurity measures and oversee them directly. While this might be an inconvenience for some users, this practice ensures that your high standards are upheld throughout the company.
Even physical security standards can be made harmonious. If you use a card key system at the main office, consider whether to implement it at satellite locations as well. If a satellite office has experienced a break-in and upgrades physical security, use this as an opportunity to upgrade all your offices to the same level. Everyone can understand how the system works, receive the same training, and be held to the same expectations.
3. Communicate With Staff
Most physical security is dependent on whether or not the users follow through with procedures and enact the right security features. This means that you must be able to rely on employees to use the system correctly and follow protocols no matter where they are located. Good communication with the main office is a vital step toward having this happen at your branch office.
The more involved that staff at the branch office feel, the better they will comply with company policies and procedures. Check in with employees on a regular basis. Include them in meetings that involve physical and cybersecurity. Ask about their concerns. And maintain a virtual open-door policy if there is anything they see or hear that they want to discuss.
4. Reassess Needs Regularly
Once your branch office is in place and its security measures have been implemented, schedule a future reassessment. New systems often need time for you to work out bugs or determine if something needs to be adjusted. So, revisit your security procedures within a set period of time to see what works and what doesn’t.
You might find, for instance, that the card key entry system is onerous for a small office and compromise with a passcode system. Or your staff may have noticed unseen security risks on the site. You might even discover that staff has not kept up with security protocols, such as leaving certain doors unlocked during the day or sharing passwords.
Whatever goes on, the only way to maintain a secure facility is to make sure everyone keeps up with the best security practices.
Want help to secure an existing or planned satellite office location? Consult the security experts at All Pro Security, Inc., today. Our knowledgeable and trained professionals will combine state-of-the-art security options with the right training on how to use them. Call today to make an appointment.
