There were over 260,000 break-ins reported in the UK in 2021. Commercial property managers are investing in modern security solutions and adjusting their security strategies to ensure the assets of both property investors and commercial tenants are secure.
Want to learn how commercial properties are strengthening their security strategy? Keep reading for the top four strategies for commercial security – that could help you to fortify your commercial property against the modern threat landscape.
Implementing Cloud-Based Security
Cloud-based security is revolutionising the way commercial property managers design security. On-premise systems are less equipped to provide the accessibility and scalability required to manage a commercial property in the modern security climate.
On-premise security systems are becoming less favoured for the following reasons:
- On-premise systems require wiring to connect different security devices and systems, making it challenging to scale and apply to other locations.
- Commercial property managers must allocate storage for security hardware. The hardware requires maintenance in person.
Due to space usage and maintenance requirements, cloud-based security is becoming an increasingly popular alternative for commercial properties. Here are some of the solutions posed by a cloud-based security system:
- Cloud-based security requires minimal hardware and connects without wiring. This makes it suitable for commercial properties that need a security system or operate across multiple buildings. The security provider can install updates and troubleshoot over the air, reducing downtime and engineer visits.
- Remote management is one of the primary reasons why commercial property managers are turning to cloud-based solutions. With remote management features, your property management team and system administrators can easily unlock doors, view security data, and receive security alerts using a mobile application. Since many businesses and commercial property tenants operate remotely or in a hybrid work pattern, remotely operable security is a desirable solution.
Converging Cyber And Physical Security
With the rise of cloud-based security technologies, businesses are rethinking and restructuring their security strategies. Treating cyber and physical security as separate entities is no longer viable for the following reasons:
- Cloud-based security data – if companies store their security data in a cloud-based centre, they will need to protect their valuable security data with cybersecurity.
- Interception of remote functions – if a third party manages to gain access to security management platforms and IoT security devices, this will enable them to unlock doors and turn off security devices – leading to a devastating security breach. So, remote features of security must be protected from a cyber standpoint.
- Digital resources are housed in the commercial property – since server rooms and valuable data are stored on the premises, it becomes necessary to protect digital resources from a physical standpoint with access control and security cameras.
As you can see, cloud-based technology calls for restructuring security for commercial properties. Commercial property managers are merging cyber and physical security teams to provide a more cohesive approach to security that considers both the physical and digital.
If both teams are connected, they can access all security information while collaborating and communicating to create overarching security strategies that meet the demands of the modern security sphere.
Optimising Security With Integrations
Open API integrations make cloud-based access control an excellent foundation for building a fully-integrated security system. Property managers are making security data accessible on a single unified platform by integrating building security and eliminating data silos.
Cloud-based access control also allows property managers to incorporate software integrations in their security strategy, expanding the function of their existing security investments. Some of the best and most popular software integrations for commercial building access control include:
- Wellness attestation software – coronavirus screening has quickly become integral to building health and safety. Wellness attestation software integrates with access control to automate the coronavirus screening process, providing building users with screening surveys to fill out on their mobile devices before entering the building.
- Visitor management software – like wellness attestation software, visitor management software provides users with registration forms to fill out before entering the building as a visitor. The software acts as a digital receptionist, granting visitors temporary access credentials to enter the building and automatically logging their entry and exit times.
Utilising Touchless And Hygiene-Based Technology
In the aftermath of the pandemic, commercial property managers are investing in technologies that make everyday building use more convenient and hygienic. Touchless access control is one of the most popular solutions for reducing the spread of germs with daily building use.
Instead of using a pin pad or button to enter the building, users can simply wave their hand over the access reader. This is the same with gate access control. The user will have mobile credentials instead of a keycard, fob, or pin code. The reader can communicate remotely with their mobile device to detect their mobile access credentials.
Reducing the number of touchpoints a user must come into contact with when entering the building significantly reduces the spread of germs and provides a more health-conscious facility, which is why it has been one of the leading technologies for commercial properties since the pandemic.
Summary
The modern security climate presents commercial property investors and managers with a new threat landscape. They must consider the cyber threat and health and safety more fastidiously in their security strategy. These four building security strategies and technologies are helping commercial properties to fortify building security in light of new and emerging security demands.