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Property owners and building managers will be well aware of the risks and responsibilities that come with protecting both physical structures and the people who live, work and enjoy leisure time in them. A considerable amount of time and effort must go into mitigating threats and promoting building security, while also ensuring the secure building feels accessible and welcoming. All of these responsibilities require round-the-clock attention, which can put a strain on property managers and security staff.
A 2022 study revealed that 88% of companies have reported an increase in physical security threats in recent years, and the FBI estimates almost 7 million property crime offenses to occur each year. Faced with these figures, it is essential that commercial and residential property developers commit to implementing reliable and adaptive building security systems in order to assist property managers in this crucial aspect of their jobs.
To help reduce property managers’ workload, and in turn contribute to a more efficient and effective building security policy, this guide will cover the common threats posed to commercial and residential buildings and outline actionable solutions to improve building security.
Security for buildings covers all actions designed to protect property, assets and people from intruders, acts of violence and any unsafe or potentially dangerous situations that could lead to physical harm or damage. Building and property management security seeks to detect, deter, prevent and respond to security threats as quickly and effectively as possible, with the aid of smart technology and solutions.
Developing, installing and maintaining an intelligently designed building security system helps property managers to improve incident response times and prevent potential threats before any serious harm can occur. In turn, this helps to facilitate a secure building for all residents and staff to enjoy.
Modern systems for secure property management will typically contain several integrated technologies configured to share real-time data, as this helps teams to develop informed security responses. By enabling each aspect of an installed building security system to alert wider connected devices and features, property managers can better understand unfolding events as they happen.
Common building security features include:
Even buildings equipped with comprehensive property security systems and intelligently designed security policies will likely experience some degree of environmental or security threat. Though if property managers are prepared for such instances with future-forward building security measures, elements of risk can be mitigated.
To ensure that all staff, residents and property managers remain safe and protected from harm, it’s wise to understand different types of common security threats, as this will help teams to invest in the right building security technology in order to ultimately develop effective incident responses. An awareness of property security trends will also help building security managers to find appropriate solutions using the latest technology.
Attempted forcible entry occurs when an intruder tries to gain property access by breaking into a secured door, window or another similar entryway but abandons the attempt before entering the building. This is the most reported type of burglary incident, present in 55% of cases.
Forced entry events can be deterred by installing and operating visible security cameras near to all noticeable access points, as well as by utilizing motion and pressure sensors with real-time alert functions to enhance property safety. This is supported by data suggesting 60% of burglars will avoid homes with visible alarms; choosing highly visible external security for buildings is a fast and effective way of deterring criminals.
Unlike forced entry, in unlawful entry events offenders gain building access via unlocked doors, unsecured entryways or through acts of deception such as pretending to have a valid reason to enter a property. Unlawful entry events are often hard for property managers and security teams to identify, but technological property security trends can be of assistance.
The installation and operation of advanced access control systems helps to improve security in buildings as any unlawful entry attempts will be prevented if the intruder does not possess valid credentials. By utilizing video cameras with AI-powered video analytics software, security staff can be alerted to the presence of any unknown individuals that may have gained entry using stolen access credentials.
Additional features that can aid security in buildings by preventing and recording unlawful entry events include license plate recognition cameras capable of identifying and alerting property managers to suspicious vehicles, and cloud-based sensors used to inform staff of motion in secured locations.
Any intrusion events using weapons or acts of violence can pose a significant risk to building occupants and, in some cases, the physical structure itself. Property managers and security teams must be prepared to not only react appropriately to such incidents with an effective lockdown building security policy, but also to detect such events using modern technology.
Installing an integrated cloud-managed building security system can help to improve incident responses to armed intrusion events by leveraging multiple physical security measures to create an automated lockdown procedure. Cameras equipped with AI analytics can detect intruders from afar, sensors can alert staff to areas of interest and alarms can be triggered to contact law enforcement.
Additionally, access control readers can be installed and programmed to lock entrances in response to invalid credentials, with metal detectors and other related sensors used to alert building security teams of intruders carrying weapons. Property security trends increasingly point towards the benefits of integrated systems, as each of these devices will be able to share real-time data as events occur.
For property management security teams tasked with protecting large buildings, organizations with multiple properties and those faced with hygiene-based proximity restrictions such as hospitals or locations under strict social distancing regulations, operating cloud-based devices can be essential.
By connecting all active building security features such as access control, surveillance cameras, visitor management and alarm systems via a centralized cloud-based management platform, teams can monitor, adjust and operate building security devices remotely at any time using a web-based dashboard.
Utilizing such a system allows property managers to perform essential day-to-day tasks such as issuing or revoking property access, checking visitor management logs and reviewing recorded security camera footage without needing to be physically present to access on-site interfaces.
To help improve security for buildings, and to keep residents safe on a daily basis, property management security teams should perform frequent safety checks. Examples include:
Property managers are responsible for keeping people, properties and buildings safe and secure from outside threats, but an individual can only achieve a certain amount – not to mention the many other tasks a property manager is responsible for on a daily basis. Managing security for buildings requires constant situational awareness, and vigilance in maintaining property safety standards and protocols; building security technology can help a property manager gain greater oversight of events around a site without becoming overstretched.
Modern secure property management covers a range of methods and tools. By following property security trends and developing an integrated network of devices, a security guard or security teams can measurably improve incident responses and help to facilitate a safer environment and secure building for all to enjoy.
Our video security experts can help you implement the right security system for your business.