Security is a top priority for any business owner. Investing in security systems and commercial alarm monitoring to protect your employees, customers, and inventory can no longer be a last resort, especially for retailers and convenience stores.
The US Chamber of Commerce website reports that 56% of small retail stores have been burglarized from mid-2021 to mid-2022. In 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that 3% of all violent crimes happened in convenience stores, and 2% occurred in gas stations.
These figures show that small and medium-sized businesses are vulnerable to burglaries, theft, vandalism, and other crimes – perhaps more so than bigger businesses and establishments, because most assume they have low to zero security measures.
What Is Commercial Alarm Monitoring?
Security systems come in different formats and devices. Putting together compatible security features can give your establishment a comprehensive security system.
Commercial alarm monitoring setups connect alarm systems remotely to a monitoring center where security specialists keep watch over everything. They receive and review real-time data, like live feeds from video surveillance cameras or entry logs of every person who enters code-accessed doors.
Monitoring centers in facilities that handle sensitive materials may also receive readouts on pressure gauges, freezer temperature, air quality indicators, and other environmental factors they need to monitor.
Here are examples of technologies and equipment that can be integrated into a commercial establishment’s alarm monitoring system:
- Keycard access systems and controls
- Intercom
- Fire and smoke detectors
- Security alarms
- Motion detectors
- 24/7 video surveillance
- Internet of Things (IoT) devices / smart technologies
Modern Capabilities of Commercial Security and Alarm Systems
The technology behind commercial security systems is so broad that businesses can customize alarm systems and monitors according to their unique needs. Here are some examples of the impressive features commercial security systems offer to businesses:
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- Intelligent Lighting: Adjusts to daytime and nighttime hours.
- Thermal Imaging Cameras: Useful for detecting people with fever.
- Remote, Real-time Surveillance: Allows video surveillance off-site.
- Remote, Mobile Intercom: Allows you to speak to people near surveillance cameras.
- Keycard Access: Ensures only authorized employees enter restricted areas.
- Vehicle Tracking and Monitoring: Useful for monitoring and tracking fleet activity.
- Smart Locks: Allows heads of security to revoke or grant access immediately.
- Heating, Air Quality, and Flooding Detectors: Ensures everyone’s physical safety and well-being on the premises.
The Security Benefits of Commercial Alarm Monitoring
There is no downtime for security in commercial establishments. Even if you are located in a relatively safe neighborhood, a lapse in security can lead to a break-in, causing your business to incur losses.
Commercial alarm monitoring maximizes the benefits of security alarms, empowering businesses to deter and prevent crimes. If an intruder gets past your perimeter security, you have a better chance of catching and detaining them if you have an alarm monitoring station.
Other benefits of commercial alarm monitoring systems include the following:
- 24/7 Surveillance and Security: Most crimes happen at night and on the weekends when an establishment is closed for business. Alarm monitoring systems provide passive protection: you don’t need to be there to reinforce locks, sound the alarm, or alert the nearby establishments of a crime. Additionally, if there are attempts at forceful entry or vandalism during non-business hours, you’ll have useful information to track down and identify criminals.
- Immediate Response From First Responders and Emergency Services: Modern security systems are directly connected to the nearest police station. When a qualified threat trips your security alarm, the system automatically sends a transmission to the authorities or the security company, alerting them of a possible break-in.
- Deter Criminals: Security cameras, locks, and alarms may discourage thieves from targeting your establishment. Studies and federal reports show that collective use of security cameras and alarms reduces the overall crime rate in residential and commercial districts.
- Resolve Claims: Surveillance and alarm monitoring data can also be helpful in identifying fraudulent claims, like people claiming to be injured inside business premises or harmed in any way because of employee negligence.
- Reduce Insurance Premiums: Security systems lower the risk of loss and damage to commercial property. As such, insurance companies typically reduce premiums when you have a sound security system.
- Gain Tax Incentives: Section 179 of the Tax Code allows businesses to write off the total cost of fire alarms and security systems in the same year they are bought. You can recoup this investment through tax incentives.
Choosing the Right System for Your Business
Before investing in any security product or system, it’s essential to identify your business’s goals and needs. Consider the following:
- Location
- Prevalent security threats in the area
- Your building’s physical features (i.e., number of doors and windows and window types)
- Number of entry points
- Number of employees and daily customers
- Business hours
- Number and working hours of security guards
- Value of the goods and services you sell
All of the above will help you decide what type of security systems to buy, where to install specific devices, how many devices to install, and other technical details.
It helps to consult security experts about this matter. They can advise you on how to get the best security while keeping costs within your budget.
We recommend our security specialists at Aeon Systems. Our company offers comprehensive home and business security solutions. We provide and install security devices and have operators on standby. If you seek expert advice on commercial alarm monitoring and security systems, we can help.
Browse our website to learn more about our services, and contact us to request a free quote.
