If your organisation is protected by an access control system, alarms and/or CCTV, then it has made an investment in its physical security that’s worth looking after.
A Preventative Maintenance Plan can maintain the value of your physical security assets, keeping them performing optimally, increasing their operational life expectancy, and reducing the cost of maintenance in the long term.
Here are 10 Good Reasons Why You Need a Service and Maintenance Plan:
1. Minimise the possibility of breakdowns
Prevention is better than cure. It’s less costly too. Proactive management of your electronic security equipment allows for early detection of any deterioration that, if left unchecked, may result in a costly technician call-out and system downtime. It can also help in reducing the costs and disruption of false alarms. Ignoring upgrades and repairs will end up costing you in the long term.
2. Ensure compliance with your insurance policy
Theft and vandalism happens. But if your security systems, locks, or doors have let you down because of poor maintenance, your insurers could be justified in not honouring your insurance claim, leaving you to foot the bill of replacing what you’ve lost.
3. Ensure compliance with health and safety
Workplace health and safety legislation makes businesses responsible for the health and safety of their workers and others influenced by their work. Faulty security systems can make workplaces vulnerable to security and safety incidents, exposing a business to greater risk of employee injury, business disruption, reputational damage, and litigation.
4. Ensure compliance with building code
From a regulatory perspective, how often you need to have your security systems serviced depends on the jurisdiction you’re located in. In Australia, this is set out in state and federal building legislation, such as the BCA. In New Zealand, it is dependent on your local body IQP regime. Avoid the pitfalls of code non-compliance!
5. Protect your security system investment
A Preventative Maintenance Plan can reduce the cost of maintenance in the long term and maintain the value of your assets, keeping your assets looking good and increasing their operational life expectancy. Inspection may be required more frequently depending upon manufacturer’s recommendations and other factors.
6. Take advantage of updates to software
Regular service and maintenance ensures your manufacturer’s material and product warranties remain intact, and – importantly – that your security software receives timely updates and security patches. Remember, most electronic security systems – whether they’re CCTV cameras or access-controlled doors – are networked. If it’s connected to your corporate network, a poorly patched camera is a cyber vulnerability.
7. Keep your system working at optimal performance
Things can go bump in the night, including cameras. If a CCTV camera is no longer pointing where it’s meant to, or no longer focused on what it should be, it’s no longer fit for purpose. Environmental factors can also affect your outdoor security devices. Coastal properties, for example, can be affected by salt and moisture, and dust can be an issue inland. Regular inspections allow you to keep track of how your electronic security equipment is performing, and to accurately plan and budget future maintenance and capital works.
8. Ensure your system is targeting current threats
Ensure your systems continue to do the job they were installed to do: protect your people, information and assets. Security threats are constantly changing; organised crime moves in or out of town, a shopping centre opens in the neighbourhood, an insider threat emerges. Regular servicing should also involve a Risk and Threat Assessment to review the nature of threats your premises needs to be protected from.
9. Ensure your system is keeping up with you
Are you making changes to your premises? A re-fit, extension, or a new building? Perhaps a redesign of your vehicle access/egress points and carparking? Have you moved your valuable items within your premises, have you bought new plant and equipment? Has your workforce grown? Vulnerability Assessments as part of your regular servicing should assess their impact on your security measures and recommend any changes.
10. Ensure operator use is optimised
Regular serving is also an opportunity for your in-house staff responsible for security (or contracted security personnel) to receive refresher security system training or get u-to-date with the latest changes. It’s also an opportunity to identify any poor security practices, such as employees disabling door locks, disarming doors, or propping doors open. Security isn’t always on top of everyone’s minds, so security awareness training as part of regular servicing can empower your most effective security control: your people.
Interested in talking about Preventative Maintenance?