Retail crime is on the rise in Australia. According to the National Retail Association, shoplifting, robbery and vandalism cost Aussie businesses $9 billion annually. From lost profits to stock shortages and unsafe workplaces, retail crime has a tangible negative impact.
But it’s possible to mitigate the risk by installing a suitable, fit-for-purpose security system. A strategic combination of cameras, alarms, access control, and monitoring services will discourage bad actors and safeguard your bottom line against crime.
What Do You Need To Secure Your Business?
There’s no one-size-fits-all security solution. A set-up that works well for one establishment may prove inadequate or excessive for another. The ideal security system is tailor-made to suit your specific business needs, factoring in variables like location, size, industry, assets, and staff.
Retail outlets, for example, often report shoplifting as their primary security concern. A string of conspicuous, easy-to-spot cameras will discourage light-fingered crims in this situation. Commercial offices, on the other hand, are more concerned about break-ins and vandalism, making alarm systems and monitoring a valuable add-on.
In workplaces where employee theft is an issue, small hidden cameras can help catch unscrupulous staff in the act. Meanwhile, access control systems can prevent unauthorised entry to restricted zones.
Location and size are other essential considerations. Small, stand-alone shops in high-crime areas may need more sophisticated systems (including add-ons like fog cannons) than businesses within an established shopping district. Large retail spaces need more cameras and access control hardware than small shopfronts.
Industrial or warehouse premises often retain a significant amount of valuable assets on-site. These high-risk businesses would be wise to invest in a comprehensive security system, including around-the-clock monitoring.
A reputable local security supplier like Sec Tech Group can evaluate your unique business requirements and custom-create a suitable solution.
Determining Your Budget
Cost is a crucial consideration in every business decision, and security is no exception. Spend too little, and you’ll expose your people and assets to risk. Invest too much, and you’ll eat into your annual profits unnecessarily.
Much like the requirements, a suitable security budget will vary between businesses. A large retail space or asset-rich warehouse should invest more than a small corner store. While a smaller player could spend a modest amount on a basic camera system, a large or high-risk business may need to invest thousands more on monitoring or access control.
Subscription-based monitoring plans entail an ongoing cost, which you’ll continue paying long after the hardware has been installed. However, for many high-risk settings, advanced features like access control and 24/7 monitoring represent excellent value for money. Furthermore, bundling services and signing long security contracts can help keep expenditures low.
Sec Tech Group understands all Australian businesses must stick to a strict security budget. Drawing upon in-depth experience across various industries, we can tailor-make a cost-effective solution to suit your specific business needs.
Types of Security Systems
A comprehensive security system comprises cameras, alarms, access control, and monitoring.
Security Cameras
Security cameras offer a first line of defence against crime, making them an essential, cost-effective solution for businesses of all types.
The Benefits of Hikvision Security Cameras in 2023
Sec Tech Group offers state-of-the-art security camera systems from Hikvision, an industry-leading CCTV manufacturer.
While competing products capture dull, pixelated images, Hikvision cameras record crisp high-definition video (up to 4K) with a wide field of view, even in low-light conditions. These high-tech devices aid alarm accuracy and keep a permanent record of small, difficult-to-see details.
The Hikvision Pro Series incorporates ColourVu technology, enabling it to render crisp full-colour images in low-light conditions. ColorVu cameras can capture vivid, full-colour video with as little as 0.0005 lux, the equivalent of a moonless night.
Panoramic Hikvision cameras use an advanced image fusion algorithm to compose a 180-degree field of view image in high-definition. This crisp, wide-area footage reduces the number of cameras required in an area to lower installation and operational costs.
Hikvision also fits many of its products with AcuSense technology, which uses Motion Detection 2.0 to identify potential threats like humans and automobiles. AcuSense assists real-time monitoring efforts and helps fast-track video searches by labelling relevant incidents.
Why Are Security Cameras Important For Businesses?
Not only do cameras catch criminals in the act, but they also serve as a powerful deterrent. Bad actors would rather move onto a softer target than commit crimes under a camera’s watchful eye.
Security cameras also offer an array of other benefits for Australian businesses. Employees are more likely to be productive when recorded while analysing customer interactions can help staff fine-tune their sales skills. Maintaining security footage also provides valuable evidence to protect your business against unfair liability claims.
Alarm Systems
An alarm system emits an ear-piercing siren upon detecting an intrusion, instantly alerting passers-by and staff via a mobile app.
The Benefits of the Bosch 6000 Alarm System in 2023
Sec Tech Group sells and installs the Bosch 6000, an easy-to-use security alarm system ideal for business use.
With the capacity to support up to 16 access doors, 144 unique zones, and 990 individual users, the state-of-the-art alarm is suitable for businesses of every size. This high-level capacity makes the Bosch 6000 the go-to option for small businesses planning to scale.
A user-friendly graphical interface and illuminated keyboard make operating the device a breeze.
The Bosch 6000 lets users arm or disarm the alarm in numerous ways, from a unique pin to a token or a smart card to a wireless remote. The device even has a biometric fingerprint reader to safeguard high-risk areas.
The Bosch 6000 is compatible with the MyAlarm mobile app, enabling real-time interactions and alerts by any authorised employee with a smartphone. Up to 10 registered users receive alerts via push notifications, emails, or SMS.
Authorised staff can perform scheduled actions such as arming or disarming the alarm (or even switching off the lights) from anywhere with an internet connection. A status feature lets you remotely check whether your alarm is active—no more rushing back to the office to double-check.
More than just an alarm, the Bosch 6000 incorporates an access control system with an intuitive user interface. Advanced smart card technology lets management assign or remove access to specific employees, ensuring only authorised personnel can enter restricted internal areas.
Why Are Alarm Systems Important For Businesses?
As most criminals don’t work standard office hours, it’s crucial to protect your business 24/7. An alarm system will keep watch well after your staff have clocked off.
Much like cameras, alarms also provide a powerful deterrent against crime. Would-be burglars are much less likely to attempt a break-in should they notice your business is protected by an alarm.
When combined with the MyAlarm app, a security alarm provides invaluable peace of mind. No matter what time the siren triggers, you and your nominated employees will receive an instant alert and can take appropriate action.
Access Control Systems
Large retail spaces and offices use access control systems to ensure only authorised personnel can enter restricted areas. While businesses once relied on a primitive lock and key, modern access control systems now offer superior security, extra features, and real-time tracking.
The Benefits of the Inner Range Access Control System in 2023
Sec Tech Group offers top-quality access control systems from Inner Range, a global leader in access control technology.
These cutting-edge solutions can identify and track a user with pinpoint accuracy through various hardware options. Examples include keypads, facial recognition technology, fingerprint readers, entry cards, tags, and smartphone or smart watch-enabled interfaces. Each hardware type works seamlessly on internal and external entry points to restrict unauthorised access to pre-determined zones.
Inner Range has developed an enviable reputation for providing the most user-friendly access control systems on the market. Easy-to-follow instructional videos teach staff to master the system in minutes, negating the need for costly technical training. Intuitive dashboards streamline essential tasks, such as registering new users or adjusting zone controls. That way, your employees can perform time-sensitive functions without requesting help from an administrator or off-site technician.
Furthermore, Inner Range can integrate with compatible systems, enabling employees to control the lighting, arm or disarm alarms, and set access control timers for high-risk zones.
An Inner Range system doesn’t just restrict access to selected areas; it can also provide essential information in real time. The system constantly tracks statistics such as access permissions, entry/exit time stamps, user activity and area controls. This high-level functionality lets your security team keep close tabs on every corner of your premises.
Furthermore, Inner Range systems can create itemised activity history reports, including the traffic flow through entry points and the movements of individual personnel. Advanced filtering features let you sort reports by user, entry point data, and employee access status. Security managers can opt to automatically receive reports via email in file formats such as PDF, HTML, XLS, or CSV.
The Inner Range Sky Command App allows authorised staff to monitor movements and view reports on any internet-enabled device, including smartphones. Users can utilise the app to arm or disarm alarms, lock or unlock doors, review real-time alerts, or even adjust the lighting and heating.
Why Are Access Control Systems Important For Businesses?
The traditional lock and key combo leaves your business vulnerable—locks can be broken and keys copied or stolen. Moreover, non-digitised systems don’t create a record of people entering a restricted area, which increases the likelihood of theft or property damage.
A modern access control system lets management restrict access to individual entry points and monitor the activity of clients and employees. Authorised staff can adjust permissions through a centralised system, thus eliminating the need to cut new keys. Advanced access control systems offer alert notifications of unauthorised entries and provide insightful real-time reports.
Alarm Monitoring
A back-to-base alarm monitoring system offers next-level protection by coordinating with a central security team. Working around the clock, the off-site team can review and respond to alerts in real-time—and at any time.
The Benefits of the Permaconn Alarm Monitoring in 2023
Sec Tech Group offers alarm monitoring services from Permaconn, a prestigious back-to-base alarm monitoring provider and a market leader in the signalling solutions sector.
Staffed 24/7, their security control centre works non-stop to keep a watchful eye on businesses Australia-wide. Trained personnel monitor and respond to a broad range of alerts, from triggered alarms to unauthorised entry point access and suspicious activity on a CCTV camera.
Permaconn operates an encrypted signalling solutions network with an industry benchmark uptime of 99.95%. With this degree of around-the-clock reliability, you can rest assured every alert will be promptly actioned.
Why Is Alarm Monitoring Important For Businesses?
While many modern alarm systems can send alerts via a mobile app, these push notifications often fall on deaf ears. Even the most ambitious business owners won’t monitor their phones in the wee hours of the morning when many break-ins occur. Other issues, such as a flat battery or poor mobile reception, can also lead to prolonged response times.
Every minute matters with critical incidents, such as a burglary or fire, when a delayed response could cause substantial additional damage.
A back-to-base monitoring system ensures every alert is assessed instantly. Furthermore, the central security team can review and respond to potential issues, such as flat alarm batteries or weak transmission signals.
DIY vs. Professional Installations
While a DIY security system is the cheaper option, the benefits of a professional installation far outweigh the modest cost savings.
A reputable security company knows its products inside out and can recommend the perfect combination of devices for your unique business needs. That expertise ensures you remain adequately protected without purchasing unnecessary hardware.
DIY security systems often lack functionality. Professionally installed systems, on the other hand, use top-of-the-line technology to streamline operations and keep your business safe.
More sophisticated security systems span numerous components, which must integrate to achieve acceptable results. A professional understands which products are compatible with different systems and can custom-create a fully-integrated network.
A professional installation also comes with a warranty and ongoing support, ensuring any unforeseen issues are promptly addressed.
Choosing a Provider
Selecting the right provider is the first step towards obtaining a suitable, fit-for-purpose security system.
Based in Brisbane, Sec Tech Group specialises in providing fully-customised security systems to businesses throughout South East Queensland.
Our expert team boasts extensive experience working with numerous industries, from retail to government and health to hospitality. We understand the local market and can custom-create an integrated, cost-effective security solution to suit your specific business needs.
Call us today on 1300 020 358 to see how our tailor-made solutions can safeguard your company from crime.
