There are three common mistakes that companies make when looking to have a security project installed. Security systems can range from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars, so making the right choice for the company and which products to use is vital.

 1.  Picking the Wrong Security Company

It can sometimes be a difficult and daunting task to find qualified security companies. There can be literally hundreds of companies in a given metropolitan area. So how do you narrow down the field to just a few companies to get bids from? Then the problem is finding the time to check references and perform background checks on the companies you do select. These are important factors that will impact not only the initial project, but your company’s security for years to come.

 So how do you get the right security company? Start by asking other companies that you have relationships with. Ask who they use for their security and how their experiences have been with their security provider. This should get you a good list of names while at the same time it checks company references. Next, make sure you check the certifications of the company. There are numerous industry and manufacturer certifications a company should have. Finally, check how long the company has been in business. A company that has been in business for less than 7 years can be risky since a typical security system will last for about that amount of time.

 2.  Implementation Strategy

A commonly overlooked aspect when installing a security system is the short and long-term strategy used to implement the system. You should have clear defined goals that you want the new security system to accomplish. Goals could include: decrease theft or vandalism, help with workman’s compensation claims, and/or restricting access to restricted or sensitive areas. Some of these goals may be long-term and others short. Once you have formulated all of your goals, you can make sure that the security products you select will accomplish those goals and the company installing the system clearly understands the expectations of the system.

 3.  Selecting the Wrong Equipment

Selecting a bad security company can be bad but selecting the wrong security products can be devastating from both a financial and from a time loss standpoint. When I say wrong equipment it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a bad product or manufacturer. This may be the case but it can also be that the security company sold you only cameras when what you really needed was access control. Or you have a guard service and the interface software isn’t user friendly and is difficult to learn. The decision to implement a security system, whether it’s cameras, access control, or an intrusion alarm, can be a large investment. Getting the right equipment the first time is essential. To make sure that you select the best equipment for the project ask for a demonstration at your location or request to see a system installed at another location. This simple step may take some time, but greatly improves your odds of installing a system that works well and solves your goals.

 These common mistakes can easily make or break your security project. More importantly, they can be the difference between receiving a system that will serve you well for years to come and becoming an aggravation that wasted too much of your company’s time and money.