Five Common Physical Security Threats to Businesses and How Apardion Can Help

Whilst technology continues to develop and get more sophisticated, so too do the associated security risks.

However, any bricks and mortar business must not overlook the physical security issues that still pose a very real and substantial threat to them.

Here we delve into some of the most common physical security issues that businesses face today and why it’s so important for you to safeguard against them in order to protect your business, your premises and of course your employees.

1. Theft

According to the 2022 Commercial Victimisation Survey the most common crime committed against businesses in the previous 12 months was theft (reported by 15% of businesses). And whilst businesses in retail and hospitality are often the most vulnerable to theft, other businesses including construction are also left exposed to the risks of theft. High value items such as equipment and tools as well as materials like metal and lumber can be particularly attractive to thieves which are often left unattended.

2. Vandalism

After theft, burglary (including attempts) and vandalism were the second most common crime in 2022. The same report showed that 143,000 businesses reported that they had been a victim of vandalism.

Unlike theft, vandalism doesn’t necessarily result in a financial loss to the business (for example if money or inventory isn’t taken), but there’s still a cost.

Businesses with broken windows can find themselves vulnerable to further security breaches, and graffiti and other criminal damage can have an effect on the reputation of the business, impacting its trust and reliability.

3. Tailgating

Tailgating, in the context of physical security management, might not seem like a serious security risk, but allowing unauthorised access to your premises can be potentially very harmful. It can lead to risks to personnel, access to sensitive data and damage to, or theft of, equipment and materials. Installing access control solutions can help prevent this.

In a society where we don’t want to be seen as being rude and politeness often extends to holding a door open for someone following us into a building, this seemingly innocent act of kindness can be exposing a business to multiple opportunities to breach security.

4. Arson

According to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service there are more than 3000 deliberate fire setting attacks on businesses each year in the UK. And there are all sorts of reasons why someone might deliberately start a fire; from a disgruntled employee, to a business rival or it could simply be opportunistic.

Fires don’t just cause damage to a businesses property but in the most serious cases could lead to injury and even death.

Depending on the type of business, issues such as poor security measures, access to combustible materials and poor storage of flammable or hazardous materials could all leave a business vulnerable to arson.

5. Terrorism

An act of terrorism isn’t something you hope will never happen to your business, but whether you’re running an entertainment venue, a public sector organisation or anything in between, terrorism is a potential threat and must be planned for.

The Commercial Victimisation Survey also reported that during 2022, 58% of premises that were victims of crime reported at least one incident to the police. Interestingly, the second most common reason for not reporting a crime was because they didn’t think the police would be interested.

What’s clear is that despite the evolution of cybercrime, physical crime is still an issue and businesses must ensure they have robust security measures in place to guard against the physical threats that pose a risk to them.

And there are some definite benefits to maintaining physical security for your business. It can act as a powerful deterrent to crime; where CCTV, security guards and mobile patrols are in place they can discourage potential intruders and reduce the risks of theft, vandalism and unauthorised access.

Additionally, having robust security protocols can mean businesses pay lower insurance premiums as insurance companies recognise and acknowledge the reduced risks associated with businesses who have security measures in place.

Not only that, but ensuring your business has effective security processes protects the safety and wellbeing of your employees as well as fosters trust amongst customers and visitors.

At Apardion, we offer a range of security services in Scotland to effectively safeguard businesses and offer peace of mind. From access control solutions that control the flow of people and vehicular access, to rapid and effective alarm response services and fully customisable CCTV solutions, we can help you safeguard your employees, buildings, materials/equipment and the public.

Our team of security professionals have a wealth of experience across many different industry sectors including construction, education, public sector and corporate, and we are SIA approved meaning you can be sure you’re receiving the best possible service.

Whatever your business we will carry out a thorough risk assessment, identify your security needs and create a bespoke package to fulfil those needs.

If you’d like to talk to us about how we can help your business, contact us on 01224 649 000 or complete the enquiry form.