If you’re like most business owners, you’ve worked hard to keep your company running.  You’ve invested time, money, blood, sweat, and maybe tears to get where you are.  The facility, whether it be a corporate office, salvage yard, or healthcare facility, is where business happens.  No matter what type of business you may be conducting, there are physical and financial assets that warrant some level of protection.  Perfect Connections, Inc. a security systems company, servicing Northern and Central New Jersey for over 20 years, recognizes this, and we can help you in your quest to safeguard what you’ve worked so hard for.

Perhaps you’ve considered security systems in the past, but thought you could manage without one.  So why now?  Maybe another local business caught fire, and due to a poor smoke detection system, the building went up in flames before a fire station could be properly notified.  Maybe someone you know forgot to close their loading dock before leaving the premises resulting in substantial theft; with no cameras to help catch the crooks who committed the crime either.  Perhaps you or an employee was a recent victim of a burglar who gained access to your office by means of an unmonitored entry.  Whatever the reason may be, you now realize the need for a comprehensive security system.

Unfortunately, no business is immune to crime or natural dangers such as fires, flooding, and carbon monoxide poisoning.  According to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) “In 2013, there were 1,240,000 fires reported in the United States. These fires caused 3,240 civilian deaths, 15,925 civilian injuries, and $11.5 billion in property damage.”  Of those reported fires 487,500 were structure fires.  It’s statistics like these that make it crucial for any business owner to invest in a comprehensive security system that includes a reliable fire alarm system in conjunction with a proper sprinkler system that meets local code requirements.

Unlike natural dangers, criminals are opportunists.  If they perceive easier access to a certain facility, due to lack of security, it’s more than likely they will pursue that target.  As Henry David Thoreau once said, “The path of least resistance leads to crooked rivers and crooked men.”

Without a comprehensive security system any business opens itself up to catastrophic loss, substantial property damage, and financial crisis.  Company theft and burglary is not always an external issue.  According to CreditDonkey 95% of employees steal from their own employers, nationally this cost companies a total of $34.5 billion in 2011.  These substantial losses can be significantly decreased and potentially prevented by installing a proper security system.

On the upside, a nationwide report from the FBI shows that burglary was down by 8.1%, and larceny was down by 4.7% from 2012-2013.  These statistics are a “big picture” view of reported crime in the United States, reported being the operable word.  Many crimes go unreported, for example, employee theft often goes unreported because the employer is often unaware it’s happening until it’s too late.

There Is a Solution

Fortunately there are steps you can take to safeguard your business and its assets.  If this is your first time considering a security system you will want to do a little research on local system providers and installers.  Reviews online or from a personal reference can be helpful when trying to decide on a company.  Having a licensed professional come to your site and perform a security assessment would be the next step.  They will help you figure out where your weaknesses are, suggest an appropriate system solution, and provide you with a cost estimate.  When choosing a security company be sure they are experts in their field.  You wouldn’t hire an electrician to fix your plumbing, right?  One size does not fit all when it comes to selecting a security specialist.  Don’t fall for companies with false claims because you’ll end up with inadequate protection that will most likely cost you more than just a service call.

For new construction projects, it is imperative to contact a security systems expert early on.  This will help ensure a more integrated solution, and in all likelihood save money on the back end.  If you are a tenant in a larger commercial space, it is up to the landlord to provide code compliant safety measures for the whole building, but that doesn’t mean each unit comes equipped with a security system.  To ensure your unit is safeguarded, call a trusted security systems provider for an assessment.

Here are some questions to ask a licensed professional:

• Where are my weaknesses?
• How can I better protect my business?
• How and what type of security system would work best?
• What type of system will fit my budget?
• What features are included?
• Does the cost include labor?
• Who will be installing the system?
• Does the company have the proper state licenses?
• Who/how is the monitoring managed?
• How long is the system under warranty?
• Will I own the system, or will it be leased?
• Is the installation company insured?

The Benefits

What are you actually protecting or preventing when you have a security system installed?  What are the advantages?  You’re preserving the integrity and potential growth of your business.  With monitoring and recording systems you can be sure your employees will feel safer while on the job, and you can rest easy knowing your business is protected even while you’re away.  Through remote access by means of a smartphone, tablet, or computer you can keep an eye on what is happening at your facility when you are not there.  Incorporating an access control mechanism will give you peace of mind knowing who is coming and going, decreasing the risk of intruders.

Once a security system is installed making your security presence public knowledge through signage can help deter potential thieves or vandals from wreaking havoc on your facility.  Having proper fire alarms, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and flood warning notifications as integral parts of your security system will help prevent irreparable damages.  By installing a comprehensive system the chances of vandalism, information theft, employee theft, shoplifting, fire, flooding, carbon monoxide poisoning, burglary, break-ins, and crime in general will be decreased.

As technology evolves so will security systems.  The two are becoming more and more intertwined, so it’s important to select a company, like Perfect Connections, Inc., that is informed and informative on the fluctuating trends.  Don’t fall victim to the mentality that cheaper is always better, what good is a cheap system that fails when you are most vulnerable?  While nothing is perfect, installing a security system will help significantly decrease the chances of a potential disaster, saving you time, money, and aggravation.

Learn more about the security system features and services available to your business at Perfect Connections, Inc.  We have been a trusted security systems provider in Central and Northern New Jersey since 1992.  You can be sure we understand the challenges businesses face, and how to provide a comprehensive solution.

If you live in Central or Northern New Jersey and would like information on any of the topics discussed above, please call 800-369-3962 or simply CLICK HERE.

Image Credits: Image #1 by Yuri Samoilov-Flickr-Creative Commons, Image #2 by John-Flickr-Creative Commons, Image #3 by Intel Free Press-Flickr-Creative Commons,