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Workplace Security After Lockdown: Keep Your Company Safe

Published: 29th March 2021 15:23

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Keeping Your Workplace Secure After Lockdown

With different rules in place in different parts of the UK, it can be difficult to plan how to best look after your business. If you’re reopening your offices, shop, or extending your retail hours as lockdown restrictions ease you’re bound to have lots to think about. Top of that list may not be how secure your business premises are, but it should be. Keeping your business premises safe is one of the best things you can do to protect your company.

Many local commercial locksmiths are recommending that businesses use this new start as the chance to review their security measures and make any improvements or upgrades. It may also be a time to consider how new working practices may mean that security measures that were perfectly adequate in the past are no longer suitable, and should be changed.

So what should you be looking for and what could you change? We spoke to the team at Locksmith Derby to find out.

· First know where you’re starting from

You wouldn’t change any other part of your business without making an assessment of where you are, and making a plan to get where you want to be. Don’t treat your commercial security any differently. Start by taking an audit of your current security measures. The most effective way to this is to ask a professional locksmith to do this for you. Many will conduct a security audit completely free of charge.

· Examine your locks

Even if you opt not to have a professional audit your security measures for you, you should take some time to check your existing locks. If your property has been closed over lockdown there is the possibility, however unlikely, that someone may have tried to break-in and damaged your locks in the attempt. You may also find that locks that have been unused for a period of time may have become stiff and difficult to use.

· Check for lost keys

If you’re the only member of your staff who has a set of keys to your business property then hopefully you’ll know where they are. However if you have other keyholder it’s worth making sure they haven’t mislaid them during lockdown. If any sets have keys have been misplaced, the safest option is to change your external locks.

· New technology for new working patterns

One of the biggest changes that companies have made over lockdown is the move to staff working at home. Even as restrictions ease, many businesses are discovering that a more flexible approach to where people work is both welcomed by staff and leads to a more productive workforce.

In the future this may mean that fewer people will be working a standard 9-5, and consequently you may be looking for a way to allow more flexible access to the workplace without compromising security. The answer could be a smart security system using card or digital entry. These allow you to restrict access to your premises to authorise personnel, while still letting them come and go when they need to. Using card locks will also let you monitor who is on the premises, and when.

· Consider cybersecurity

As well as reminding all staff of the importance of keeping passwords secure, you should also have a recap of the particular precautions they should take if they are using equipment such as laptop away from the workplace.

This includes not only ensuring that equipment isn’t left unattended, but also remembering not to use unsecured networks when going online. Of course, if they are keeping equipment at home this should be kept in a safe place, preferably locked away at night, and certainly never left in car boots or similar.

· Finally, look outside

Once you’ve ensured that all the doors, locks and windows at your business property are secure, take the same care over any external entrances such as rear security gates or yard doors. Also make sure that there are no obvious points around the perimeter of your business that could be easily provide access to a potential burglar.

As you move forward there will be a lot of challenges to face, and much of the future remains uncertain. However, you can control how secure your company is, so talk to a local locksmith today, and make sure you face everything to come with a well-protected business.