5 Steps to a Foolproof Security Plan

Whether you’re implementing a new security program or managing an existing one, these best practices will help you get it done.

Plan and Assess Your Security Program

Assess the performance of the building’s existing security program. Do your records show a decrease in security incidents since the program’s induction? If so, which types of issues, and at which locations? This will help you pinpoint problems that have emerged since the program was first created. From there, you can develop an updated plan based on the most pressing security needs and move ahead as the budget allows.

Designate a Qualified Security Director

The security director is central to the success of building security management. They are responsible for commissioning security program assessments and, based on those findings, tailoring a new program to the needs of the building. This also includes identifying the resources needed, how to obtain them and where to allocate them. Finally, the director must monitor and manage all of these aspects on an ongoing basis.

 Hiring a security director means having a primary point of contact for escalation of security incidents, as well as a qualified person to handle the day-to-day direction for the security of your facilities.

Security Staff

Security personnel is a must in any large building, and it is up to you whether you want to hire security employees or outsource. Either option has its advantages.

 Outsourcing eliminates the time and expenses required to hire, manage and replace personnel. Relying on a reliable outsource security company like Nawakara also means they can provide backup in an emergency. In-house security can be advantageous because they’ll have a direct relationship with the organization. This means they are likely to have more loyalty and thus be better on-the-ground ambassadors of the company. 

Your program should be adjusted regularly based on the changing nature of the surrounding neighborhood. For instance, your budget for security should reflect the level of crime in the surrounding area. So, keep crime statistics handy, using crime statistics portals like Statista, and be sure to measure the outcomes of your program. This will allow you to know what’s working and what needs adjustment.

In addition to where you will source security staff, you should also consider how officers will get around (e.g. on foot, in cars or SUVs, on bicycles, etc.) and which modes of travel are optimal for different areas of the property. For some physical environments, such as areas of a college campus, traveling on foot or by bicycle or scooter gives security more mobility to respond to situations than a motor vehicle.

Access Control

Access control includes measures such as:

• Waist-high turnstiles and other physical barriers. Intruders can still hop over these barriers, but the obstruction will allow security to recognize and react to a potential breach.
• Card access for interior doors, elevators, and particular floors of the building. Unlike physical keys, cards can quickly be issued, monitored, and canceled.  
• Visitor management through sign-in systems, security escorts, and guard booths in the parking lot.
• Access control regulations help security keep track of visitors, respond in time to intruders and identify suspicious activity.

Fortify Parking Security with a Guard Booth

If your building has a parking facility, you must pay strict attention to parking security. The security features of your parking lot should combine surveillance with perimeter security. This might include:

• Video surveillance cameras supplement for security presence and help monitor for signs of trouble. 
• Building access cards
• Intercoms at entrances, exits, and on the walls near elevators
• Emergency call stations in parking lot structures in case of poor cell phone signal
• Security guard shacks
• Guard booths should be installed in a central location to make the most of their design. A guard booth provides your staff with protection, privacy, and the capability to remain in constant communication and situational awareness.

If you have any difficulties in foolproofing your security plan, you can call us for help. We will happily help you to solve the problem.