The Ultimate Guide to Commercial Building Security Systems

Explore the essential features to consider when choosing security solutions for commercial buildings.

Last Updated:
January 2, 2025
| ~
6
min Read
By
James Wang
,
Marketing Writer
,
LVT

Commercial building security has come a long way when it comes to safeguarding your business. Where padlocked doors, fortified gates, and activated alarm systems were once the industry standard, today there are much more innovative and varied ways one can create a comprehensive security system.

This article emphasizes the importance of modern security systems for commercial buildings, given the significant risks and financial losses businesses face from burglaries and other crimes. The implementation of advanced security systems has become essential for crime deterrence, ensuring safety, protecting assets, and improving operational efficiency.

COMMERCIAL BUILDING SECURITY: REDUCING RISKS AND LOSSES

According to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, businesses lose about $800 million annually to retail burglaries and are four times as likely to be burglarized than homes. Furthermore, businesses without alarm systems are four times more likely to be targeted than businesses that have them.  

It’s no wonder why more companies are placing an emphasis on commercial building security and recognizing the value it brings. While there can be an upfront initial financial investment, many security experts tout the benefits as a worthwhile return on investment.

The benefits of commercial security systems include, but are not limited to: 

  • Crime deterrence
  • Employee and customer safety
  • Asset protection
  • Operational efficiency and adherence

4 COMMERCIAL SECURITY MEASURES TO CONSIDER 

It’s more important than ever to take the appropriate measures to safeguard your business. With a plethora of security measures to choose from, the best security solutions often depend on your business needs, your budget, and your business’s vulnerabilities. 

A risk assessment can be extremely useful in identifying specific challenges and weaknesses in security. After all, commercial offices in a skyscraper may have very different needs than a standalone brick-and-mortar store. Each building or lot comes with its own unique set of challenges that can be aided by the following security measures.

1. SURVEILLANCE

All businesses can benefit from some level of surveillance, whether in the form of guards or security cameras. While having personnel patrol your business is effective, it can be costly. Surveillance cameras are an attractive alternative or complementary option. High-definition video cameras can ensure that every angle of your lot is covered. Night vision and thermal imaging technology can ensure comprehensive surveillance even when visibility is less than ideal. 

Surveillance camera systems are adaptable in the sense that you can implement as many or as few cameras as you need rather easily. Not only are surveillance systems flexible, but they are also scalable; as your business grows, the number of surveillance cameras can grow right alongside it.

Security cameras have evolved from the mounted stationary “eyes in the sky” of the past. Today’s models offer advanced features such as 360-degree views and pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) capabilities. The ability to control the camera views allows users to monitor and investigate situations in real-time, while quickly disregarding false alarms, which increases efficiency in time and cost.

Another benefit of camera surveillance systems is that many of them can be accessed remotely via any smart or mobile device with an internet connection. This eliminates geographic limitations for business owners, allowing them to monitor their operations from anywhere in the world at any time. Furthermore, by adding multiple authorized users to the camera surveillance system, businesses can ensure 24/7 monitoring and safeguarding of premises, employees, and clients.

2. ACCESS CONTROL

Access control systems are the sentinels at the gate. They provide a way for businesses to keep track of and control who enters their premises. Access control can be achieved in person, such as through a security guard or receptionist, or electronically via a swipe card, fob, or even remote visual identification using security cameras. This not only fortifies the perimeter and entry points of commercial buildings, but the right solution can also provide an entry log of people who visit the facilities. 

Security can be further strengthened by adding multiple access control points, creating additional layers of verification. These points can be implemented between floors, in areas requiring heightened security, or in transitory spaces such as elevators and stairwells.

3. ALARM SYSTEMS

Alarm systems are critical for alerting others to unauthorized access and deterring further unwanted behavior during a security breach. They can include audible alarms meant to attract attention and silent alerts that are transmitted to support teams.

Alarms can be set up and triggered based on specific actions or abnormal conditions, including: 

  • Tampering or forced entry: Sensors on windows or doors can sense and alert others if damaged or opened without authorization.
  • Environmental: Unusual conditions such as the detection of carbon monoxide, smoke, excessive changes in temperature, or high levels of water can trigger an alarm or emergency services.
  • Motion detection: Movement in secure or high-value areas can set off alarms, alerting teams that the region has been infiltrated through intrusion detection.  

Alarm systems can even send immediate notifications to law enforcement or emergency services to ensure timely responses when something goes wrong. 

4. INTEGRATED MONITORING SOLUTIONS

When considering a commercial building security system, understanding how that system integrates with other smart technologies can level up your business security. You want the various technologies to work seamlessly with each other, and by pairing multiple technologies, you can create even more powerful and robust security systems.  

The right features can turn passive surveillance cameras and alarm systems into active deterrents. When cameras and alarms detect suspicious activity, they can automatically trigger multiple actions—like audible warnings to perpetrators, strobe lighting, and instant alerts to personnel and law enforcement—to thwart potential criminals. 

With artificial intelligence, analytics is increasingly playing a vital role in both data collection and crime prevention. Utilizing information from cameras, access points, motion detection sensors, as well as other innovations, data can help identify security vulnerabilities or traffic patterns, analyze operational efficiencies, and highlight suspicious behaviors. This helps ensure protocols are being followed, while also providing insights to inform security decisions and operational improvements.

THE LVT ADVANTAGE

As businesses look for innovative ways to fortify their commercial building security, attention is often focused on keeping bad actors out. However, prevention starts even before criminals enter the front door—it begins at the perimeter. 

This is where LVT’s mobile surveillance units can be a game changer. Their relatively small footprint allows them to be used almost anywhere while still packing a powerful punch. They are easily and quickly set up and can seamlessly be integrated with other security solutions. Armed with advanced cameras, sophisticated motion detection technology, two-way communication, and remote monitoring and control, they help ensure that your business and premises are defended, while crime is detected and deterred. Reach out to see how LVT can be a partner in your overall security needs and experience the LVT difference.

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