Category: News

Your IT closets contain critical infrastructure your organization needs for daily operations and workflow. Having your network interrupted could be detrimental for your employees, customers, and day-to-day business practices. When it comes to your IT closet – you should implement the highest security measures possible to prevent criminals from gaining access to your organization from the inside.

• Sensitive Information Might Get stolen
  • After a break in, a criminal can easily gain access to sensitive company and employee information. Think of all the information you gather from your employees throughout their tenure. You may have sensitive health information for insurance purposes or even access to their finances for payroll deposits or expenses. If this information is not properly encrypted and protected, it can cause employees a lot of turmoil if stolen.
  • This is precisely what happened to Coca Cola in 2014 when equipment was stolen from their largest bottling plant. Personal health, financial, and vehicle information of over 74,000 employees were stored on some of the stolen devices. The employees are still affected today. Many of them had their identities stolen and are still attempting to build their credit scores back up and get their finances in order.
• Loss of Revenue
  • Besides the fees that could come along with any legal action associated with a data breach or burglary, your company needs to replace anything that was stolen. This could cost you tens of thousands of dollars depending on what was taken.
• Damage to Reputation
  • Not securing your IT closets puts your customers at risk as well. If their information is compromised because you failed to protect it – they are sure to lose confidence in you as a business partner. The same goes for your investors.
  • In fact, Target is still picking up the pieces when it comes to their reputation. After their 2013 security breach, Target saw their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) score, which is an enterprise measurement combining workplace, governance, and citizenship metrics, fall dramatically. According to Market Watch, it was the largest CSR drop among any retail company in the United States.
• Workplace Culture
  • Similar to both customers and partners, your employees could also lose trust in your company. You may see a shift in company culture after a theft or data breach and employees may start looking to work for more secure organizations.
• Delayed Business Operations
  • Depending on what was taken, your day-to-day operations could potentially come to a complete stop for several hours or days after a physical security breach. What if your file-sharing sever was taken or compromised? Your entire company shared drive would be gone. All sales documents, invoices, HR files – everything would be lost. Or, what if they took the sever that controlled your phone and internet? Your office would definitely be out of sync for a number of days. Imagine what would happen if someone took your entire server rack…

Not sure if your IT closets are up to par? Follow these security best practices to prevent a physical security breach.

1. Make sure you are keeping your IT equipment in a locked separate room. Having these devices in a person’s office or even in a shared storage space leaves your system vulnerable to damage or theft.
   1. If you can’t keep your equipment in a separate room, you should try to organize the equipment into separate locked sections.
2. Allow only authorized personnel access to your IDF/ MDF and server rooms. You can even limit access to specific racks for added security!
3. Utilize an access control system to properly secure your server room. This system will also be able to document all employees who enter your server room, which can prove to be extremely beneficial if anything should happen to your operating system or if you feel that an employee is tampering with your equipment.
4. Place cameras in and around these secured rooms. As mentioned before, documentation is key if your system goes down unexpectedly. You can even opt to use motion-activated cameras that can trigger an alarm should anyone enter the sever room after hours.
5. Install temperature and moisture monitoring devices that will notify authorized users if anything malfunctions or seems out of the ordinary. The security experts at Access Security suggest keeping the temperature of your server room between 65 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature should never exceed 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Servers create a lot of heat. Make sure to have your security partner install fire alarms within your server room to protect equipment and data.

The security experts at Access Security Corporation can help your organization effectively implement any of these best practices. Contact your sales representative today or email sales@accesssecurity.com to start the discussion.

In 2013, Francis Brown, a partner at Bishop Fox, a security consulting firm focusing on foreign governments and financial matters, created a device powerful enough to duplicate 125KHz RFID proximity badges and cards from less than a foot away.

 
The device, which is known as the RFID Thief, was created to steal badge information so Bishop Fox associates could gain physical access to restricted networks and devices for penetration testing. The firm shares how to create similar devices on their website. Their goal is to make it easy for security professionals to recreate their own RFID readers so they can perform physical penetration tests and better demonstrate the risks posed by these technologies to their management (Bishop Fox).

 
Since it’s 2013 creation, the device has been improved to now read proximity cards from up to 3 feet away, which makes stealing badge credentials even easier for criminals. Bishop Fox explains that a typical attack scheme would include simply placing the reader in a messenger bag or purse and walking by someone in line at the local coffee shop. The device is completely silent, and even stores all badge information to a text file on a microSD card for future reference.

 
The best way to avoid someone using a RFID reader against you or one of your colleagues is to switch over from old proximity technology to the latest smart card technology.

 
Smart cards use an encrypted computer chip loaded with cardholder information; including employee credentials and access points. Smart cards can also be easily integrated with different technologies and can be used in various locations as well.

 
A smart card is extremely flexible when it comes to growing organizations. The proprietary sequence control mechanism with smart cards will eliminate redundancies or duplication errors and protect your organization from the RFID Thief!

 
If your organization already has multi-technology card readers the change is relatively easy. Contact your Access Security representative or email sales@accesssecurity.com to see what is needed to upgrade your security today.

A school’s entrance is the first line of defense when it comes to school safety. The right security enhancements and visitor protocols can protect your students from potentially threatening situations or individuals.
Could your school use any of these enhancements at your entrance?

Single Point of Entry

• During high traffic times, like arrival or dismissal, it’s important to create one single point of entry for all students and visitors. Having just one point of entry makes it much easier to monitor traffic coming in and out of your school. If you need to have more than one point of entry, it’s critical to make sure that all access points are being monitored.

Extra Staff

• It’s been proven that the presence of security guards or supervising staff members deters unruly behavior or criminal activity. Make sure to station more guards or staff members during the entrances and exits during both arrival and dismissal since those are the most high-traffic points of the day.

Double Entry

• Having a series of locked doors between your students and visitors is a terrific way to add an extra layer of security to your school. Ideally, visitors would pass through the first set of doors which would lead them directly to the main office. Visitors can only get through the second set of doors into the school if they register or check in with the main office and are allowed access.
  Automatic Gates
• If you can’t reconfigure your space to have a double entry within your school you can opt to use an automatic gate within the parking lot. With an added intercom system, visitors can check in via the automatic gate and be granted access by staff from within the building. Not only will this option keep trespassers from attempting to enter your school – it will keep them off the property in general.

Security Cameras & Intercom

• Implementing a security camera and intercom system at the entrance and front office to your school can help your staff to safely identify and allow entrance to visitors and guests. A video surveillance system will help staff to confirm that the guest attempting to enter your school really is who they say they are. Moreover, having cameras at both your exits and entrances is extremely beneficial if an incident should occur. Footage of everyone who came in and out of your school could be very helpful during a criminal investigation.

Access Control

• Access control systems consist of electrified door hardware and cloud security solutions that are 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. Moreover, you can limit some access levels to certain times. If you don’t want your staff to be able to enter after hours then you can make this a rule within your system.

Visitor Management System

• One of the most important ways to keep your school entrance safe is implementing a visitor management system. Even if it’s just a paper check-in log! A record of who came in and out of your school and at what time is valuable information. Your visitor management procedure needs to be utilized at all times and at every entrance.

The International Association for Healthcare Safety and Security Foundation (IAHSS Foundation) recently released their healthcare crime survey. The overall purpose of the study is to provide healthcare professionals with a better understand of the crimes that take place within hospitals. It was packed with information.

Here are a few takeaways…

1. The most common type of crime within a hospital in 2016 could be classified as disorderly conduct, with assault and theft coming in second and third respectively.
2. “Violent Crimes”, which include murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, have decreased by almost 50% since 2014.
3. For 2016, “Workplace Violence, Type” dominated every other type of workplace violence. The IAHSS defines Workplace Violence, Type 2, as “Violence directed at employees by customers, clients, patients, students, inmates, or any others for whom an organization provides services.”
4. In 2016, “Workplace Violence, Type 2” accounted for 91% of all assaults in U.S. Hospitals.
5. On average, only 15% Workplace Violence, Type 2 incidents resulted in legal action during 2016.

Click Here to view the full report

Are you looking for the best way to maximize the perimeter security of your facility? Here at Access Security Corporation, we can install automatic gates in Philadelphia, PA, New Jersey or Delaware to help you protect the following aspects of your workplace:

1. Assets. No matter which industry you’re in, it’s likely that there are some very expensive assets inside your building (e.g. technology, products, tools, equipment, machinery, etc.). Of course, these items are all crucial to the success of your business. So if any or all of these assets were to get damaged or stolen, your ability treat to patients, serve customers or answer the needs of your clients would quickly diminish. Replacing such essential property could be a financial burden that your business might not be able to recover from.

2. Sensitive information. From education and healthcare facilities to corporate offices, government buildings and more, sensitive information is required and recorded by all sorts of institutions. While business transactions, for example, typically involve the transfer of in-depth financial information, healthcare providers, in a similar way, ask patients for their social security numbers, birth dates, addresses, etc. Not to mention, healthcare facilities use IT equipment to store private medical history. All of this information can be easily exploited if accessed by an intruder.

3. Staff. Although you might already know this, it’s important to remind you anyway: without your staff, you wouldn’t be able to keep your lights on. That said, never jeopardize their safety by undermining the importance of their protection. Moreover, their employment indirectly demonstrates that they trust you to provide them with a safe work environment. Honor that trust by reinforcing the perimeter protection of your facility. In turn, you and your staff will gain more peace of mind about the security of your company’s work environment.

4. Visitors. Regardless of whether you call them visitors, guests, customers, clients, patients, or what have you, you must be reminded that they are people with families who are willing to give you money in return for their services. When they step foot inside your facilities, they should always have the sense that they’ve entered an environment that’s free from harm. Of course, some things are unpreventable; however, you must do everything you can to make your visitors feel as comfortable and confident as possible about their protection when they’re inside your building.

Interested in installing automatic gates in New Jersey, Delaware or Pennsylvania? Receive a professional security consultation by calling (800) 554-5626 or by completing a contact form on our website.

Today, it seems that most businesses are utilizing security cameras throughout their facilities for both investigative and preventative reasons. With that being said; how can you be sure you are installing your cameras in the right places? Here is a list of the top 6 areas you NEED a camera!

1. All entrances and exits
   • Having cameras at all entrances and exits is a great way to capture facial images that can be used later to identify individuals should they cause any trouble. However, the placement of these cameras is very tricky due to lighting changes, especially in areas with large windows and doors (ex: lobby or waiting room).
2. Near Valuables
   • Your organization needs to install security cameras if you have valuable machinery, expensive retail items, or a cash register. These items are prime targets for thieves and a noticeable video surveillance camera could prevent and/or record a robbery or any suspicious behaviors.
3. Employee Work Stations
   • 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.
4. Storage and Stock Rooms
   • It’s not uncommon for businesses to store extra inventory, electronics, valuable customer data, and even critical business information in storage closets or stockrooms. Cameras near these locations will prevent employee theft, protect your customers, and help to track inventory.
5. Loading Areas
   • A lot of our clients have highly valuable shipments coming in and out of their facilities on a daily basis. The main goal for this is to keep the area safe and secure, but they also use these cameras to keep an extra set of eyes on any precious cargo. Moreover, a surprising number of employee injuries take place in the loading area or loading dock. A video surveillance system could protect your business from any false worker’s compensation claims.
6. Secluded Areas
   • Security cameras can give you coverage in places you wouldn’t normally look, like back alleys, dumpsters, and even parking lots (hint: license plates). Our security experts even recommend installing floodlights in these locations in addition to security cameras. Criminals and trespassers will think twice when they see all the precautions you have implemented in these usually vulnerable locations.