Differentiating a residential versus commercial security system can be difficult for the untrained, however, the difference can be significant, depending on your business or industry. Over the years, many names have become well known in the security industry. Some of these may include ADT, The Ring, Alert 360, Vivint, SimpliSafe, and even services from an internet and cable provider like AT&T and Spectrum. The difference between the “plug and play” alarm system compared to a customized solution is substantial and can be what differentiates reactive and proactive security solutions increasing the possibility of a successful burglary.
Kits vs Custom Intrusion Systems
Residential alarms, like those provided from something like SimpliSafe or The Ring, are commonly sold in standardized packages. These can include something like an 8-piece kit that includes 4 door contacts, 1 motion detector, 1 keypad, 1 base station, and a range extender. Although this is a viable option for many, this offering does not fit the needs of most businesses. Due to the absence of customization, only a fraction of your business may be protected.
It’s important to have an alarm specialist evaluate your business by identifying your businesses’ weaknesses and greatest vulnerabilities. For example, a restaurant will not have the same requirements as a jewelry store. Having a professional perform a comprehensive site assessment will provide guidance along with best practices for your industry.
Restaurants for example have vulnerability where alcohol and cash are stored. These two areas are considered to be their greatest exposure. Providing a full coverage of alarm equipment to protect exterior doors and cash safe would be essential. Liquor cabinets should be locked and have camera coverage, as well as motion detection.
A jewelry store needs to have exterior protection with door contacts and cameras. The interior should have full motion saturation wherever jewelry or cash is stored, as well as any safes or vaults. If there is a glass store front, glassbreaks should be in place so that the alarm is triggered when someone tries breaking in through the glass.
In reference to kits provided by the DIY companies, neither of these examples would have the coverage mentioned above. Many times, insurance has basic requests for alarm systems. An 8-piece kit will likely fail to be sufficient coverage by a commercial insurance provider. Hiring an alarm professional would permit the identification of all areas requiring coverage. Your integrator should be inclined to have some sort of communication with your insurance carrier to ensure that all needs are met.
Surveillance Systems
Surveillance systems can be a great tool used during burglaries and robberies. Having a dependable surveillance system can provide evidence to your insurance provider, police department, and management after an event. Many of the DIY systems are motion activated and only provide short clips of the incident. This limitation can eliminate the option to review events that led to what you’re attempting to view.
If an item from your business has gone missing, it may take days, weeks or even months to notice it is missing. With cameras similar to those provided from DIY companies, like Vivint, it is merely a motion activated clip that will provide 20 seconds worth of video at a time. The Vivint Playback DVR may provide a full month for you to view footage, however, since its motion activated, you may miss crucial footage leading up to that event.
A burglary can be anywhere from a couple of minutes to a couple of hours. That being said, a 20 second clip will only pick up on the motion that triggered that specific camera. Sorry to say, many thefts may come from within your business. It’s crucial that you can capture your employees at any point of sale as well as areas that product may be handled by employees. This is just one of the many reasons why a robust surveillance system is needed in a commercial application as opposed to the “lick and stick” system. A kit does come at a more budget-friendly cost but encounters several shortcomings.
Not all businesses have specific requirements for an alarm professional to evaluate their assets. Nevertheless, if you have any valuables that need to be protected by alarm and surveillance systems, it is imperative to be proactive by hiring the right individual to provide the proper equipment in order to protect not only your merchandise and cash, but also you and your employees.
About the Author:
Haley Glover has several years of experience in the security industry developing and managing security integration projects for Cannabis, Jewelry, Pawn, and the Department of Defense clients. She is currently a business development and account manager for Sapphire Risk Advisory Group. Haley has also received her Level 1 Alarm Technician License from ESA.