Top Reports to Monitor Physical Security of a Commercial Business
If you’re running a business, you know that physical security is non-negotiable. The security of your storefront, facility, and employees should always be a priority in your business operations. Physical security goes way beyond keeping the doors locked. There are numerous tools and techniques that businesses can use to monitor and enhance their physical security efforts, and one of the most important tools in that arsenal is reporting.
Physical security reporting is an essential part of any security strategy. Reports help you understand the types of threats and risks that your business is facing, which can help you make more informed decisions about how to protect your assets. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the top reports you should be monitoring to ensure that your physical security efforts are up to par.
Daily Activity Reports
A daily activity report (DAR) is a document that records all of the activities that took place during a shift. DARs are usually filled out by security guards or personnel responsible for physical security of a facility. This report includes information like patrols, incidents, and critical events that happened during the shift. If you do not have a physical security team in place, there are a number of automated reports available through many of our technology systems. These reports can help you determine patterns of criminal activity or inadequate security coverage and help you plan new measures. Reporting can also provide insight into resource usage, access activities, arming schedules, occupancy rates, and many other metrics that can help you run your organization and its security needs more effectively.
Incident Reports
If a security incident happens at your facility, Incident Reports provide important information that a company needs to ensure proper follow-up. Incident reports are also the result of any criminal activity or accidents. These reports will detail the time and date of the incident, what happened, who was involved, and any resulting damage or loss. Empowering all employees to report incidents is a best practice for this area, especially if you do not have a security team. Create a system of reporting for all to capitalize on this technique. Then, monitor incident reports to help you identify deficiencies in your security plan. If you see a common pattern of criminal or suspect activity occurring at your facility, you can take steps to prevent that activity from happening in the future or reduce its impact in case it does happen again.
Audits and Inspections Reports
Periodic audits and inspections are necessary to ensure the effectiveness of a security program. During these inspections, inspectors review different procedures and systems. Audits and Inspections Reports provide a detailed picture of the security program status by providing key metrics to monitor progress. Lapses in physical security can be identified and corrected with the ongoing monitoring of these categories. This is a main area where All Secure can help. We are happy to provide regular audits and inspections for our ongoing customers. We also provide complimentary auditing services to those reviewing current security protocols.
Video Surveillance Reports
Video surveillance of a facility is an essential part of the physical security workflow. By integrating advanced video analytics into the surveillance systems like facial recognition, license plate readers, etc, you get more comprehensive insight. Video surveillance reports will contain detailed information of hours of video footage recorded, the storage location of the files, or timestamp information about the time and duration of specific incidents. Video Surveillance Reports can be helpful in the case of an investigation and provide a comprehensive story, involve law enforcement, and provide valuable legal evidence.
Quarterly Summary Reports
One way to infuse a greater degree of accountability and transparency into your security program is to conduct regularly scheduled quarterly reviews. Quarterly Summary Reports will summarize the key takeaways and key risk indicators, such as numbers on security incidents or dispositions of cases. The Quarterly Summary Reports can be shared with the entire team in the quarterly security meeting. These can cover key sections of the DARS, Incident Reports, Audits and Inspections, Video Surveillance Reports, and other Reports. Because the reports will be issued every quarter, it is a great opportunity to review the previous quarter for any operational or budgetary adjustments.
By keeping an eye on these five reports: Daily Activity Reports, Incident Reports, Audits and Inspections Reports, Video Surveillance Reports, and Quarterly Summary Reports, you can be confident that your physical security is top-notch. While there may be some initial costs in setting up monitoring, taking a proactive approach to security will ultimately save your business from potential thefts, loss of company assets, disruptions in business, or legal ramifications. Physical security reporting is a prime tool to ensure your business is adequately protected. If you are unsure of your needs or would like a more robust reporting mechanism, let’s talk!