Published on September 12th, 2017 | by Guest

6 Must-Avoid Blunders When Installing Workplace Security Program

Safety must be made top priority in workplaces. It is as much a legal necessity as it is an amenity. Companies and employers are legally responsible for preventing accidents and injuries to employers on their property. Further, the workplace must be properly secured against criminal activities.

However, in certain cases, while company owners and employers do invest heavily in workplace security, they end up committing security blunders that nullify the measures taken.

Here is a list of security blunders that should be avoided when installing a workplace security program.

1. Installing CCTV without Security Survey

Closed-circuit television, or CCTV as it is better known, has emerged as the go-to or the most reliable solution as far as workplace security is concerned. However, there are far too many instances of property destruction, burglary, and theft despite adequate CCTV installations.

Who, or rather what is the culprit behind this, and what should property owners pay heed to? Installation of CCTVs without a security survey can totally invalidate their purpose. Several workplace owners feel content in simply installing CCTVs. But, this is not enough. Until and unless CCTVs are strategically installed, the camera placement can leave numerous potential crime spots uncovered.

Conducting a security survey before installing the cameras is a must. This will help in discovering inconspicuous locations that require camera coverage as well as in devising a strong security map. This means that you will know exactly where to install the cameras and where they are not necessary.

This will also allow employers to have greater control over their budget. Besides, surveys also give a wide perspective of how other cameras function to capture the area and will provide you with a firsthand understanding of what your installations will be covering.

2. Inadequate Training in Handling of Toxic Materials

Workplace security programs must impart adequate training to employees. In the absence of adequate training, the risks are high. The stakes are higher in environments where workers are constantly exposed to toxic chemicals and poisonous gases.

As a result, even if the employer has installed security systems to deal with an accident, they will fail to function to their full capacity if the workers are not appropriately trained to handle toxic materials safely in the first place. Accidents and workplace hazards will be commonplace in such an environment despite safety and security measures being perfectly in place.

3. Failure to Detect Unauthorized Computer Access

An efficient security system is the perfect amalgamation of the right hardware and software measures. Data loss is a serious issue that companies face. As per a report, 70 percent of IT professionals say that unauthorized programs are used for more than half of companies’ data theft.

Workplace computers can house extremely sensitive and professional data like customer records, employee social security numbers, payment information, invoices, client lists, product inventories, and much more. Hence, computer security threats are massive nuisances for companies.

Companies that don’t take internal and external computer security seriously are paving way for hacking attacks, data theft, and numerous other security concerns. Monitoring of computer access and ensuring only authorized personnel have access to company computers is crucial for data protection. Companies that don’t regularly evaluate authorization and mitigate risks involved in interaction with other networks, appliances and users are setting themselves up for huge security breaches.

4. Unattended and Freely Available Physical Information

Companies may have elaborate security systems in place, but if confidential company information is left unguarded in the workplace, it can lead to severe security issues. USB drives can contain highly sensitive data. This information, if held and received by a competitor, can lead to adverse circumstances for the company and can render security measures futile. Several companies miss out on this simple, but much-needed safety measure and do not keep their USB drives locked up in safe places.

Similarly, whiteboards are a regular feature in official meetings, conferences, and training sessions. From financial figures to client lists, a lot of important information is denoted on whiteboards. Unattended USB drives and whiteboards can, thus, pose serious threats to information security and confidentiality.

5. Not Installing Proper Security Software

It is appalling how many companies and workers forego the basic step of installing proper security software on their appliances, whether it is a laptop, smartphones, or a desktop. Sensitive business data can easily be compromised if adequate security solutions are not installed on your device. Most workers underestimate this important security measure and end up losing data, time, money, and in some cases, even their job.

Alternatively, the employer himself can equip all office appliances with proper security solutions. Such a measure takes minimum time and investment.

6. Foregoing Full-Height Turnstile at Entry Points

A full-height turnstile is increasingly becoming a need for comprehensive and competitive workplace security system. The installation is simple. It is equipped with wide-range integration and can be aligned with different controller systems like Fingerprint, Biometric devices and RFID devices.

Full-height turnstile is appropriate for both, the indoors and the outdoors, and amps up the security of a company immensely when installed at entry points. It is needed when you are looking for high-security access control solutions, as it is robust, rigid, and durable, and meets fire-control passage requirements.

Not making full-height turnstiles a part of your security solutions system is a safety blunder for a workplace.

To Conclude

Workplace security is a serious issue that needs to be addressed adequately. It’s imperative that employers and organizations take the required measures and prevent the blunders mentioned above, so that chances of data theft as well as physical robbery or vandalism are omitted or minimized drastically.

Author bio:

Rachel Oliver is a freelancer who has a way with words. She likes to write about anything and everything under the sun, but themes like Security and Fire Product, technology, electronics & gadgets, sports, construction and maintenance interests her more. You can get in touch with her on Google+, Facebook, and Twitter.

Tags: blunders, installing, must avoid, program, workplace