Electronic security: the 4 most important advantages

A robbery or a burglary: as an entrepreneur, you would rather not experience such a nightmare. Nevertheless, 40% of entrepreneurs have to deal with a burglary once. Fortunately, there are plenty of possibilities to secure your business. A burglary or robbery cannot be completely prevented, but with a good security system, the risk of burglary drops by 92%.

Electronic security: the 4 most important advantages
Three types of security are important for the ultimate security of business premises: structural, organisational and electronic security. With structural security, you make sure that the locks and hinges work properly. This provides the first barrier the burglar encounters when he tries to enter. Organisational security includes, for example, clearing the mail when the place is closed and making sure that all windows and doors are closed when you are not there.

But only when you use electronic security does the risk of burglary decrease significantly. An alarm and/or camera system has a preventive effect, but is also important during a burglary or robbery. The burglar is spotted, the alarm goes off and the police are alerted immediately. Burglars will leave the premises as soon as possible, limiting the damage.

Only a combination of these three types of security reduces the risk of burglary by 92%. An electronic system makes all the difference, which is why the four most important advantages are listed.

1. The small print of the insurance
Burglar alarm systems are not required by law, but many company insurance companies require an alarm system to be installed on their premises. In many cases, the property insurance company requires electronic, structural and organisational security,” says Jasper Brinkman of Feenstra Beveiliging. In other words: among other things, you have to provide an alarm system and good locks. But also for a security protocol and awareness among employees. After all, an alarm system makes little sense if it is ‘off’. Logically, good locks don’t add anything if you forget to close the windows’.

The insurance company can therefore oblige you to install and use a security system, because otherwise you are not covered. Brinkman: ‘Some insurers are very clear about this, others put it in the small print of the conditions. If your signature is there and you don’t have the security in order, the insurer will not make payment if the business premises have been broken into. You have not fulfilled your obligations.

There are also insurance companies that do not make it compulsory, but give a discount on the premium to entrepreneurs who have an ‘alarm system’ in the building. Incidentally, an insurance company can only oblige you to purchase and use an alarm system. A system with camera surveillance is not compulsory, not even according to the law.

2. Always an eye on things
With a camera system you as an entrepreneur can literally keep an eye on things at all times. You watch over your properties, as it were. But you can also, for example, remotely call in staff in case of crowds or send employees home at quiet moments. That can lead to considerable savings on personnel costs’, Brinkman explains. It’s also possible to monitor employees via the camera. Especially in the annoying cases where money suddenly disappears from the cash register, the video images provide a quick answer and can prevent worse damage’.

Of course, employees must be informed about the camera system. Feenstra’s security expert says: ‘The easiest way is to get new employees to sign a form as part of their contract. That way you announce that video footage is being made for security purposes and to keep an eye on things. If you don’t do this and a dismissal for theft ends up in a lawsuit, you can lose it too. Even though you have evidence on video, the employee must be informed about the camera system and you must be able to prove that you have done so’. brandbeveiliging nodig?

3. Sense of security
As an entrepreneur, you are not on the shop 24/7. Still, it’s nice to know that everything is monitored and that you can watch live if you want to,’ says Brinkman. It’s also nice for employees in the company to know that the emergency services are alerted as soon as the panic button is pressed or the alarm goes off. In short: it gives a calm and safe feeling.

Guests also like the fact that attention is paid to prevent unpleasant situations, the safety expert knows. And not only to prevent, but also in the event that something actually happens, people often like the idea of an alarm going off or video recordings being made.