When you've put your heart and soul into your small business, the last thing you want to do is leave it vulnerable to burglars, fires or other potential hazards. Investing in a good security system can really limit the potential risks and help keep all of your small business assets safe!

Here at IDS Security Systems, we offer a wide range of business security systems that can be tailored to suit the needs of your small business perfectly. Today we're going to look at the elements that make up the best security systems for small businesses. If you'd like our help designing a security system for your small business, give us a call on 029 20 753 251.

Preventing Break-Ins

Most small business premises contain a range of valuable items that are (unfortunately) very attractive to burglars. Laptops, products, and cash registers can be stolen and re-sold for a hefty price if criminals get their hands on them. Don't worry, there are things you can do to make a break-in at your small business premises less likely, starting with a good, reliable intruder alarm!

Before the days of intruder alarms, it was very easy for criminals to target a vacant store and make their way in to claim their bounty - nowadays (with a good intruder alarm) their chances of breaking in without detection are much lower.

Modern-day intruder alarms are triggered by motion sensors, meaning any unusual activity within your small business will be flagged up right away. Thanks to smart technology, you can even have intruder alerts sent directly to your mobile phone in real-time, meaning you can assess the situation and call the necessary emergency services quickly.

Intruder alarms are a great deterrent for criminals, and the loud noise they emit will do a great job of driving unwanted visitors back out onto the streets. Some neighbours or passers-by might hear the alarm and be able to intervene before the incident goes any further. For these reasons, intruder alarms are an important element of the best security systems designed for small businesses.

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Fire Safety

While your small business is in its early phases, you might not give much thought to the fire safety system on your premises. After all, they're not really necessary if no one's working there, right? Wrong! It's absolutely vital that your small business premises has a suitable fire safety system in place from day one. Fires can still start without human intervention, and whether you're renting or buying your business premises, you want to make sure it won't go up in flames.

Our team of installers have implemented fire safety systems at a broad range of premises, both commercial and residential, so we're happy to help you make your business safer whatever the size. We first start by assessing the building and surrounding grounds, then we can make a detailed plan to show you where all of the vulnerable areas are. From this point, we can arrange to install a fire safety system that will keep your premises safe no matter where a fire breaks out.

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CCTV Systems

CCTV cameras are essentially the eyes and ears of your small business when you're not around. With CCTV installed at vulnerable entry points, you can keep an eagle-eye on your small business 24/7. Some small business owners consider using smart devices to create a CCTV network on their premises, however, these aren't always effective, so we wouldn't recommend them if you're looking for the best security system for your small business. 

Time and time again, we are asked to rectify problems created by these smart devices because they've either been installed incorrectly, or they've malfunctioned and the business owner can't find the right support to get them up and running again online. Unfortunately, this is part of the package when you choose to take your small business security into your own hands. If you're looking for the highest level of protection and the best small security system on the market, we'd highly recommend choosing a CCTV system from a professional company. 

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Read More: Do Smart Devices Make Good Security Systems?

So there you have it, a round-up of the things to include if you want to create the best security system for your small business. There are a lot of different security companies out there, but if you choose to work with us, we'll take all aspects of your small business into consideration and help you install the best, bespoke security system for your needs.

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When it comes to getting a security system installed at either your home or business by a professional security company, it's important to know that whoever is carrying the installation out is a trustworthy and certified business that possess all of the necessary and required accreditations.

Here at IDS Security Systems, we have a range of industry-recognised accreditations that prove we are a security system that you can rely on when it comes to any commercial or domestic security installations. All of which can be viewed below. 

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As a business owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your business is kept safe and secure by following all of the required laws and regulations regarding fire safety. 

Now, we understand that this is not an easy thing to do. With so much legal stuff to keep on top of, ensuring everything you do is 'by the book' can be a struggle, especially when it comes to health and safety and the various laws that come with it.

One of the most important areas in health and safety that can't be overlooked, however, is fire safety. Negligence here can lead to some very serious problems such as property damage and even death. So, it's extremely important that as a business owner, you ensure that your commercial fire alarms and fire safety measures are up to scratch.

To make things a little easier for you, IDS Security Systems is here to guide you through the requirements of your business fire alarm!

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If you own a storage unit that contains either highly-valuable or sentimental goods, you'll want to make sure that it is always kept under the tightest security measures to ensure your belongings are as safe as possible at all times.

At the most basic level, you can expect your storage unit to have a strong lock and maybe a nearby security camera but if that's not enough, there are further measures that you can implement.

This blog is here to provide you with additional security systems for storage units that increase the level of security for your goods!

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For the past year, the UK has been subject to a range of lockdown restrictions that have drastically changed our normal lives. The usual routines of heading out to work, popping to the pub on a Friday, and meeting friends for coffees have been taken away from us in order to keep the country safe. 

When thinking about the impact that the "stay at home" orders have had on crime rates, you'd probably expect to see them go down dramatically. After all, a large number of crimes including drug dealing, anti-social behaviour, and shoplifting require criminals to go outside. 

That being said, it might be naive of us to think that criminals who already break the law on a daily basis are sticking to the lockdown restrictions religiously, even if it means putting their lives and the lives of others on the line. 

So, let's dig a little bit deeper into some crime statistics that were collected during lockdown to find out whether crime rates have, in fact, gone up or down. 

Data collected by The Office for National Statistics

During the months of April and May 2020, the UK was put under strict national lockdown restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19. The Office for National Statistics conducted a Telephone-Operated Crime Survey to find out how trends in crime were changing during this period. 

They were then able to compare the crime rates during this two-month period to a pre-lockdown two-month average to establish whether or not crime rates had gone up or down.

What did they find out?

The Office for National Statistics reported that during the period between April and May 2020, crimes (no including computer misuse or fraud) fell by 32%. During this time, there was also a shift in the public's perception of police officers, with 91% of all adults in the survey reporting that they were satisfied with the way the police in their area were responding to the ongoing situation.

Which crime rates fell the most and why?

There are a few crimes in particular that happened far less frequently due to lockdown restrictions. One of these was theft. In fact, theft offences fell to almost half the level recorded in April and May 2019.

Of these theft offences, domestic burglary saw a significant drop. With people at home more frequently and for longer periods of time, the opportunity for domestic burglaries in vacant properties was dramatically reduced. 

Shoplifting offences were also less frequent. A lot of shops that would usually be open to the public were closed, therefore removing the opportunity for theft in public spaces.

Were there any exceptions to this trend?

Yes, sadly the coronavirus pandemic didn't stop certain criminals from carrying on with their daily business. Drug offences actually rose by 22% in April and 44% in Mary 2020 compared to the same months in the previous year. 

This doesn't necessarily mean that the number of drug offenders doubled during this time. With police attention away from crimes like shoplifting and domestic burglary, and with fewer people out on the streets, it was easier to identify potential criminal activity and prosecute accordingly. 

Home and Business Security

While these statistics indicate that certain crime rates have gone down, that doesn't mean that now is a time to neglect your security measures. 

Business owners, who may have empty premises for the next few months (or longer) should really consider improving their business security to protect any assets inside. While shoplifting is certainly easier when a shop is open and operational, burglars are guaranteed to attempt a robbery at an unoccupied business if they can see there are no security measures in place.

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Homeowners who have been spending more time than even in their properties might have become a little bit relaxed with their security systems. After all, we know that burglars are unlikely to attempt a break-in if they know you're at home. 

That being said, many of us will be returning to work, visiting friends, and (hopefully) heading off on holidays later in 2021, so now is a great time to get your home equipped with a reliable home security system. 

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Our engineers are still working despite the COVID-19 lockdown and we've got measures in place to keep you safe. Get in touch to arrange a free quotation today!

Read More: Keeping You Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic