Technology features seem to be making their way into every aspect of life these days, and the security field is no different. If you’re looking to improve your organization’s security position, then you’ll want to look at these five ways to integrate technology into your guard shack.
1. Install a Phone Line
For a while, it certainly seemed like landline telephones were going away. Cable and Internet providers have come out with a number of high-tech landline solutions that work right through the web, however. These can give your security staff a handy way to get in touch with management as well as outside emergency services. If there were ever a break-in or an accident, then they could contact the authorities before alerting other people inside your own organization.
2. Add Additional Displays
Most medium-to-large companies have closed-circuit television cameras positioned throughout their campus. These are often tied to monitors in a central location. You could consider carrying their feeds over a network so a guard inside your security booth would get a view of your entire operation. Big companies that manage multiple buildings on the same lot often run into situations where someone could potentially evade detection by hiding somewhere out of sight. Giving your security booth staffers a few camera feeds can help alleviate this issue.
3. Connect Your Alarms Together
Using a high-quality prefabricated guard shack is probably the best way to protect your company’s front and rear entrances. The guard inside may not be as familiar with the situation elsewhere in your organization, even if you’ve enabled them to look at every security camera feed you have. Newer wireless alarms and sensors can connect to the Internet. That gives your guards immediate feedback regarding potential problems, no matter where they might occur.
4. Give Out Two-Way Radios
You might think of traditional walkie-talkies as a thing of the past, but modern models combine the best of conventional shortwave transmitters with all of the latest mobile features. Modern handsets make it easy for security staffers positioned throughout your plant to contact the guard booth at the front gate and ask if someone should be there or not.
5. Check the Wireless Connection
Depending on where your Wi-Fi router is, staffers inside your security booth might not be able to access the web. See if you can get a signal inside it. If you can’t, then you may want to add a booster or move your modem. Security staffers can use a web browser to post alerts and update databases of parking stickers.
6. Put Together a Complete Directory
By using the latest in office software solutions, you can create a complete directory of your entire company, along with maps and photos. Run a few of these off with a laser printer and provide them to the daytime staffer in your security booth. They’ll be able to pass them out to new visitors, which will reduce the chances that someone accidentally ends up in a sensitive area.
They’ll be able to pass them out to new visitors, which will reduce the chances that someone accidentally ends up in a sensitive area.
