Category: News

Are you thinking about installing automatic gates on your commercial property? As a first line of defense, automatic gates provide a significant advantage over other types of security measures. Here are seven reasons why your commercial property needs automatic gates:       

1. Improve the safety and security of your facilities by preventing unauthorized personnel from entering your commercial property. Since the electronic gates are designed with irreversibly geared motors, it’s incredibly difficult for burglars to force them open. Moreover, the solid, sturdy design of your automatic gates will function as a deterrent to all types of crime.

2. Since automatic gates come along with customizable options, you can choose between several designs and colors based on the overall theme of your business. Both sliding gates and swing gates can be integrated with a variety of locking mechanisms, as well as fire control and access control systems in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

3. With manual gates, you have to hire staff to open and close them as visitors come and go. However, automatic gates can be operated simply with a remote control. This way, visitors don’t have to get exit their vehicles if there aren’t any employees around. This is especially practical at night or during bad weather. In addition, when access controls are built into your automatic gate, you can even observe visitors and determine whether or not you want to give them access to your property.

4. When you make the wise decision to install automatic gates in Philadelphia, New Jersey or Delaware, you’ll enjoy a convenient installation process. At Access Security Corporation, the highly trained technicians arrive at every job with all the equipment and supplies necessary to perform a safe, efficient installation on your property. Plus, with one of our preventative maintenance programs, you can have confidence in the life expectancy, dependability and overall functionality of your system, all year round.

5. Compared to traditional gates, most automatic gates have been designed with stainless steel and aluminum, which prevents corrosion due to weather damage or decomposition.

6. There are many reasons why the value of your commercial property might fluctuate; however, improving your facility’s security will almost always increase its value. By adding automatic gates to your property and promoting a safer, more secure presentation of your facility, both your curb appeal and value will increase, making it more attractive for buyers in the future.

7. Insurance is a crucial investment that commercial properties must have. Since automatic gates provide another layer of protection to your property, your insurance company might be more inclined to give your company additional insurance breaks.

Interested in automatic gates on your commercial property? Receive a professional security consultation by calling (800) 554-5626 or by completing a contact form on our website.

http://www.accesssecurity.com/contact-us/

A sound security system for your residential property will protect both your residents, your property, and your business!

1. Screen both residents and employees
   • Background checks and security screenings ensure that you are bringing in quality residents and employees. A potential resident, or employee, with prior arrests may disrupt the community and cause issues with other residents.
2. Preform preventative maintenance
   • Property managers and maintenance staff should regularly test and evaluate security cameras, lights, locks, and all other equipment. Making sure all your systems are in proper working condition can prevent future incidents from taking place.
3. Communicate with residents
   • Make sure your residents know they need to always lock their doors, windows, and mailboxes. A great way to do this is through a monthly newsletter with security tips. Or, your leasing consultant can walk all new residents through the community’s security features when they first move in.
4. Make your staff recognizable
   • All your staff members should be easily identifiable – especially those who enter resident’s homes on a regular basis. Burglars can often be mistaken for maintenance workers if they make sure they look the part. Access Security recommends requiring all staff to carry an ID badge and wear a uniform that is unique to your community. Moreover, residents should be alerted in advance when a member of your team is scheduled to enter their residence.
5. Implement a community crime watch program
   • All resident should feel comfortable reporting suspicious activity. More importantly, they should know how to report it and to whom. You could even implement an official committee consisting of a committed group of residents who wish to make a safer environment for the entire community. This committee could work together to update residents on security protocols and work as an active neighborhood watch group.

Access Security Corporation believes that every guard team should be working directly with a video surveillance system to enhance a facility’s overall security. The combination of manual security and digital security greatly enhances the security of a facility.

1. A video surveillance system can be your guard team’s extra set of eyes
   • A security guard, or even an entire team of guards, is bound to miss something – they are human after all. Perhaps, they missed an incident because they were on rounds elsewhere, or maybe they just had their back turned at the wrong time. A video surveillance system, and the guard monitoring it, will pick up the slack when a guard may simply overlook something suspicious.
   • Tip: Some video surveillance systems can detect motion and track objects and people as they move through an area. Contact our team of security experts to learn more.
     
2. Your guards will be able to cover more ground
   • Even with all the walking security guards do – a video surveillance system still covers more ground. Cameras can cover every inch of your facility if needed. With the cost of IP cameras falling and video quality continuing to improve large high quality systems are becoming more common than ever.
   • Tip: Unlike a camera, a security guard can stop a crime. It is best practice and whenever possible to have a guard or monitoring service viewing the surveillance camera system. Monitoring of the system allows on-site guards to respond to situations, events and alarms.
3. A video surveillance system is more credible during investigations
   • Compared to video, eyewitness testimonies are inherently unreliable. Many eyewitness accounts are vulnerable to recall bias, which occurs when outside forces cause the brain to completely rewrite a memory. A person can easily forget or not even notice important details of an event. In fact, according to ISPUB, 20% of critical details are sometimes not even recognized and other details are completely irretrievable after the incident. It will be a lot easier for your guards to analyze incidents and recall information using a video surveillance system because they can easily watch the recorded event.
   • Tip: When research video surveillance systems ensure that it’s easy to use and you can quickly locate, retrieve, and export video. Make sure to ask your security vendors or partner how many steps it takes to perform this common and simple task. The more steps – the more complicated the surveillance software is. A quality system should be able to deliver a video in 3 to 5 clicks.
4. You’ll save money
   • The combination of security guards and video surveillance is undoubtedly a reliable option for increased security, but you may be able to scale back on your guard force or minimize certain shifts after implementing a video surveillance system. According to PayScale, a team of ten (10) team guards could cost you up to $350,000 per year, not including benefits. Implementing a video surveillance system could easily help save upwards of $100,000 per year! While a video surveillance system may be more upfront; the payout can easily be worth it.
   • Tip: Is your team worried about additional costs after the system has been installed? Make sure that you have keep money in the budget for software upgrades and camera upgrades. Technology is always advancing with higher resolution and feature rich IP cameras.  Keeping a small amount in a budget for updates and upgrades is always a good idea.

When you’re a school official, the protection of your education facilities should, without a doubt, be at the forefront of your concerns. If you’re struggling with security issues or it’s been years since your last upgrade, here are five reasons to speak with an expert about improving the safeguard of your school:

1. Safety and security. Above all else, the protection of your students, faculty and visitors should be your number one priority. You’re responsible for guarding them from potential threats on both the inside and outside of your school. By making sure that you can recognize and respond quickly to any issue, you’ll have more peace of mind about providing a quality education to all your students.

2. Keep track of who enters and who leaves your buildings. When you turn to a team of professionals specializing in campus security in Philadelphia, PA like Access Security Corporation, they can install card access control systems to help you monitor the whereabouts of your students and guests when necessary. This way, you can find out exactly when and where someone is if a problem arises.

3. Protect your reputation. If you don’t have the appropriate safety measures set in place for your school, you risk the possibility of getting caught off guard and being slow to respond to an emergency. Any type of security breach that isn’t handled correctly will give students, and parents a negative view on the plans and procedures that take place inside of your education facilities.

4. Automatic gates. In addition to card access control systems, you can also implement automatic gates around your school’s perimeter to improve your campus security in New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Delaware; so, unless someone is authorized to be on your campus, they won’t even be allowed into the parking lot. With so many different threats to prepare for, this is one of the best ways to cover all the bases and ensure the protection of everyone inside of your school.

5. Video Surveillance System. The trained technicians and engineers at Access Security Corporation can also add a video surveillance system to your existing security measures. With IP Megapixel Camera Technology, DVR access, archived video storage and remote access from any device, school officials can record everything that goes on inside and outside of their buildings. From vandalism and misbehaving students to potential intrusions and theft, you’ll have an eye in the sky that lets you know about everything that’s going on at any given moment.

Optimize your school’s security measures to ensure the protection of everyone involved!

Interested in improving the security of your campus with the help of Access Security Corporation? Receive a professional security consultation by calling (800) 554-5626, or by completing a contact form on our website:

http://www.accesssecurity.com/contact-us/

According to the US Department of Education, over 75% of schools have at least one video surveillance camera within their school to improve safety and monitor activities.

While some may argue with the idea of having camera within our school, they have proven to be very effective in the prevention, control, and aftermath of any unsafe situations.

If you don’t have a video surveillance system yet, let us try to convince you…

Here are 5 top reasons surveillance cameras are a key to any security plan:

1. Faster Detection of Intruders
   Camera coverage, especially when covering a large area is key to speeding the time to identify and locate an intruder.
2. Identification
   Cameras can help security staff identify a person during an incident or assist with identification after the fact.
3. Documentation
   Video retrieval will depend on the Video Management Software and the amount of storage used. The right system will allow you to easily identify an incident and retrieve the video for playback.
4. Verification
   When trying to secure a large area, security cameras allow staff to quickly verify if an alarm or incident is real and respond with the appropriate actions.
5. Safer Environment
   According to a recent report by Ipsos Public Affairs, 60% of parents feel that their children would be safer at a school with surveillance cameras in place.

 

Want to learn more about securing your school?

Download our whitepaper: The Definitive Guide to Securing Your Campus

 

Your video surveillance system can do a lot more than you think. These systems can save your company millions of dollars, improve employee productivity, and even assist in training exercises!

• A video surveillance system can drastically lower your company’s insurance rates.
  • According to Insurance321, many insurance companies provide discounts on premiums for customers who implement security and threat prevention devices. Insurance companies prefer clients who pose the lowest threat and research has shown that properties with video surveillance are less likely to be broken into or vandalized.
• A video surveillance system can protect your company from fraudulent lawsuits.
  • The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud discovered that fake “slip and fall” setups can cost businesses up to $30 billion each year! Footage from your video surveillance system can be used as a defense in a lawsuit against your company.
  • A video surveillance system can also help you in any suspicious workers’ compensation situations. Just a few months ago, The Department of Financial Services’ Division of Investigation and Forensic Services arrested a Fort Lauderdale woman after she attempted to collect workers’ compensation payments for an injury on the job. This woman claimed an object fell from the ceiling and hit her on the head, however video surveillance later proved that she struck herself with the object instead.
• Your employees will prove to work more effectively with a video surveillance system present.
  • In most cases, employees are inclined to work more efficiently if they know they are being watched. However, not many organizations are utilizing their video surveillance systems to evaluate employee performance. In fact, according to Amanet, only 7% of the companies surveyed admitted to terminating an employee based on what they witnessed on their video surveillance system. Employee performance is definitely an untapped use for surveillance cameras!
• You can utilize surveillance footage for employee training purposes.
  • A lot of businesses, especially those in a more retail setting, can use their video surveillance systems to capture stellar job performances. Managers can use these videos during training sessions or team meetings. Not so stellar performances can also be used for one on one employee reviews.
• A visible video surveillance system will discourage untrustworthy employees.
  • The main purpose for a video surveillance system is to monitor your property against criminals…but sometimes those criminals are your own employees. According to CBS Money Watch News, a typical organization can expect to lose up to 7% in revenue due to employee theft and over 75% of people have stolen at least once from their employer.

• Live footage from your video surveillance system can keep our first responders safe.
  • A surveillance system will keep first responders more prepared during any kind of threatening situation. For example, what if you had an active shooter in your building? With a surveillance system, first responders may be able to locate the shooter within the building. Additionally, they may be able to detect what kind of weapon the suspect is carrying or what they look like.

 

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Have you been thinking about finally getting an electronic access control system? Here are five signs that you NEED to invest!

1. You leave your doors or areas open during normal business hours.

Workplaces, schools, retail stores, hospitals or office buildings all contain expensive equipment and assets. Are you leaving your locks open for convenience? If your answer is “yes”, then it may be time to invest in an electronic access control system to make sure you are protecting your businesses’ investments. Besides, at the end of the day, wouldn’t it be significantly more expensive to replace all of your stolen equipment than to invest in an access control system?

2. You are about to terminate a trusted employee.

Letting an employee go is never an easy task. It’s even harder when they have their own set of keys. Even if you make a point to ask for them back, how do you know they didn’t make multiple copies? An access control system will make this process easier, and will give you peace of mind. No one wants an ex-employee entering your building unannounced or unnoticed.

3. You want to be able to track your employee’s whereabouts.
Do you have a team member that takes one too many breaks? What about an employee who takes an extra-long lunch hour and attempts to sneak back in unnoticed? Are things disappearing from your stock room or warehouse? Or, do you simply want to check on who is in the office working and who is not? An access control system would give you the flexibility to report on employee whereabouts without seeming like a micro-manager. In addition, most systems allow for you to easily export this data and create automatic email reports.

4. You wish for enhanced control of your building– especially when you are not there.

An access control system is perfect for managers who can’t always make it to the office each day. As long as you have an internet connection; you’ll be able to lock and unlock doors from anywhere!

5. You want to restrict access to employees based on specific times.
Use your access control system to keep your team’s work life balance in check with an automated schedule. You can set your system to lock down during off hours, holidays, and weekends. You can always remotely lift barriers or locks if it’s an absolute emergency and someone needs to pop by the office after hours!

If you want to take the next step and learn even more about our access control system’s – just email sales@accesssecurity.com or give us a call at (800) 886-5625

Get Your Plan in Place Now!

Recent, and not so recent, national tragedies have proven that a proper lockdown procedure is an absolute must for businesses and corporations.  A secure lockdown procedure will ensure that your building and, most importantly, the people within your building are safe and secure in a threatening situation. A sound lockdown procedure serves as a great resource for during and after an incident.

If you don’t have an established lockdown procedure, you should strongly consider enacting one. Here is a starter guide you can reference during the early planning stages.

One of the most useful tools any business can develop is an official Threat Assessment Team.

A Threat Assessment Team is a group of officials who gather on a semi-annual basis (that’s the minimum – the more meetings; the better) to identify, evaluate, and address threats or potential dangerous incidents that could jeopardize the safety of your facility.

Tip: Create a diverse team of employees from all departments. Moreover, you could even ask local law enforcement or outside medical and mental health professionals to join the team as well depending on the size of your organization.

Note: Your building may already have a Threat Assessment Team if you reside in a leased office space. You can talk to building management about joining and getting a copy of the lock down procedure.

The first task the Threat Assessment Team should tackle is planning and conducting a risk assessment meeting to discover all potential emergency scenarios.

It’s important to not base your lockdown procedure just on active shooter scenarios. This plan should be crafted to handle fires, gas leaks, localized flooding and any other types of threats discussed in the risk assessment meeting

Tip: Think about your geographical location when discussing these situations. Do you live in an area where severe weather is common? Have other local businesses experienced threats in the past?

After your Threat Assessment Team has carefully crafted a fully functional lockdown procedure, emergency drills need to be conducted. A recommendation is doing two drills every year!

Tip: Create two different drills so you can accurately test the fluidity of your procedure.

Following each drill, make sure to have a review meeting with the Threat Assessment Team.

How did the staff react during the drill? What went right? What went wrong? What can we improve?

Tip: Businesses with large properties can especially benefit from implementing a “panic button”. These devices are easily configured to trigger multiple emergency alerts simultaneously and have the ability to automatically lock all doors within a building. Moreover, similar to fire alarms, these devices also have the ability to contact local law enforcement. They create a seamless mechanism that is stress free for your team!

Not only should you plan a secure lockdown procedure to keep your building and people safe and secure during threatening situations, but you should also consider adding innovative security systems to improve the overall protection of your entire facility. From camera surveillance and building access control systems in New Jersey to intrusion alarms and automatic gates in Delaware, you can count on Access Security Corporation to provide the security solutions you need.

There’s no denying how important it is for schools to strengthen the safety and security of their buildings. With so many young children and a large number of faculty and staff present on a daily basis, protection must be a top priority. Here are four security systems that will definitely improve the security of any educational facility:

 1. Video Surveillance System

School security cameras in Philadelphia, PA and surrounding areas, help to improve the safety and security of any school tremendously. First off, with full camera coverage, school officials will be able to identify and locate an intruder before they even gain access to your building. Moreover, cameras can also assist with identification and visitation. To explain, school officials will be able to make sure that the person on the other side of the door is really who they say they are. Thirdly, the presence of security cameras has been known to stop some criminals (or rebellious students) right in their tracks!

2. Intercom System

Intercom systems provide schools with a quick and easy way to communicate essential information to students, faculty and visitors. There’s really no faster way to spread the word about a fire or any other perceived danger. A high-quality intercom system will help to keep everyone that’s involved informed and protect throughout any dangerous situation. Systems can be strategically designed to effectively cover even the largest campuses.

3.  Fire Alarm Systems

High-tech fire alarm systems are of utmost importance when it comes to school safety. If a fire were to break out, these systems would quickly warn everyone in the building and help to move them all outside. They would also automatically alert local fire departments and other emergency personnel, which significantly reduces response times. Since fires spread quickly and can lead to serious destruction, you can count on these systems to deliver the signal that a fire has started somewhere in the building.

4. Access Control

Building access control systems in New Jersey and everywhere else, consist of electrified door hardware and cloud security solutions used to monitor who enters a school and at what time. Since these systems help to keep unauthorized individuals outside, school officials have more peace of mind regarding the safety of those on the inside. Unless someone has clearance, access control systems won’t allow them through the doors.

5. Integrated Security Systems

Integrated security systems conveniently combine some of the most important security systems into one package. Through the consolidation of video surveillance systems, intercom systems, fire alarm systems, building access control systems and more, school officials can greatly improve the safety and security of their buildings. Faculty, students and visitors will all be in good hands when an integrated security system is used as a shield against danger.

Security systems are incredibly valuable to commercial location owners. By striving to protect the entire circumference of your location, you’ll be able to ensure the effective safeguard of your employees, visitors, assets and sensitive information. But by not taking the appropriate measures to prevent a security breach, though, you’ll be putting a lot on the line. The convenience and protective measures provided by reputable security companies, such as Access Security Corporation, will help you to eliminate the possibility of your company’s safety being jeopardized. To assist you in developing a better idea about the responsiveness of security professionals, we’ve outlined the crucial steps that security corporations will take in securing your location, should your security ever be compromised.

1. As soon as your alarm system sounds, a signal is immediately transmitted to the central station. The monitoring team will then work quickly to identify the specific areas in which your property’s security system has been violated.

2. To rule-out the possibility of your alarm system being accidentally tripped, the monitoring team will call your company to confirm the alarm. A password will be on file at the central station, as well, so that you can identify yourself to the operator in the event of a false alarm.

3. If no one answers the call, or if the person that does is unable to provide the correct password, then the central station will relay the breach of security to the authorities.

4. After emergency responders have been contacted, such as the police, fire department and EMTs, the monitoring team will contact the people listed on your company’s “emergency call list” and inform them of the situation.

When you choose an established security service provider to implement protective solutions for your company, you’ll be given the peace of the mind that your business is protected from possible security breaches. From access control systems in Philadelphia, PA to video surveillance in Montgomery County, PA—there are security technicians prepared to help provide your company with an ideal level of protection. When you request central station monitoring support, you’ll have the confidence that your property is secured 24 hours a day, 365 days a year—even if phone lines are down.

Visit our homepage today to learn more about our available security system services relating to access control systems, intrusion alarm systems and commercial surveillance systems in Philadelphia, PA and surrounding regions.