Common Business Access Security Risks

As a business owner, it’s your job to make sure every area of your premises is safe and secure. To be successful, both your business processes and staff need to function safely to prevent setbacks.

As access control experts, OLS understands the importance of business safety and the possible risks that can appear from poor practices. A breach in your premises can result in lost assets, safety hazards, revenue loss, and more. Because of this, mitigating common security risks is vital.

Here are the most common business access security risks, and how to prevent them.

Key Loss

How do you get through a locked door? With a key, of course. However, keys are prone to getting lost, creating a potential security risk should an unauthorised individual pick them up. If someone copies your keys, they can easily compromise your entire premises if you use the same locks on multiple doors.

Key loss can be costly, not just in replacing the key itself, but also the locks which become compromised. Staff can also share keys, allowing them to access different areas of the building without authorisation. Once staff no longer need the keys, it can be difficult to get them back, as you must depend on them to return them. Luckily, access control can provide key alternatives that are cost-effective and business efficient.

Alternative door systems like mobile credentials and fobs, prevent the risk of unauthorised access, as access can be revoked from the device remotely should it become lost or compromised. Biometric systems can take this a step further, removing this risk completely since they don’t need an extra device.

Trespassing and Area Control

Making sure staff only access the areas they need to help to prevent accidents and opportunities for intruders. Trespassing can be a real issue for many premises, especially those with high-value assets. In buildings with large numbers of staff and visitors, it can be difficult to control foot traffic to specific areas, placing both assets and individuals at risk.

Especially in large capacity premises, the risk of tailgating is high. Tailgating is when an unauthorised individual gains access to a premises by coming through an entry directly behind a staff member. Think of when you hold a door open for someone you don’t know, you could be allowing them into an area where they aren’t allowed.

Physical access control systems for offices:

Proper security and access control, like CCTV controlled entry systems, help to stop trespassers. In the event an individual tries to get somewhere they’re not meant to, your system can stop them in their tracks and record evidence for further investigation. To prevent accidental trespassing by visitors, contractors, or cleaners, access control can be used to create temporary passes for the duration of their visit. This helps not only to prevent damage to assets or the premises but also keeps visitors safe from potentially hazardous areas.

Liability and Duty of Care

In addition to protecting your staff and visitors from accessing areas they shouldn’t, proper security is important for keeping them safe in the event of an emergency.

Staff management control systems:

When an emergency occurs on your premises, it is your responsibility as the site manager to ensure procedures are followed and everyone exits safely. Knowing where your visitors and staff members are at any one time can be difficult, even without the added pressure of an emergency.

Access control can help to keep track of everyone’s whereabouts, showing you in real time if they are in the building or not. Not only does this help with emergencies, but it also makes incident reports much easier.

Reputational and Financial Risks

Your premises security is a reflection of your business. Poor security controls can give an unprofessional or outdated image to clients and customers and may compromise their trust in your company. If your business seems insecure, it can appear that you don’t care. This may cause you to lose clients and make your business a target for burglars or trespassers.

Poor access control can also impact your business’s ability to pass security audits or compliance checks. Weak or improperly enforced security measures increase breach risks, leading to potential violations and monetary fines in worst-case scenarios.

In addition to potential financial losses due to fines, businesses which rely on attendee subscriptions could lose out on revenue from unpaid entry. In businesses like gyms or leisure centres, users pay for services within the facility. Without a subscription, the business can lose revenue from unauthorised entries.

Proper security systems and access control mitigate non-paying users. Restrictions can be automatically placed on users based on billing status, preventing access for members with overdue payments or expired memberships, mitigating lost revenue.