Is your business secure?

Are you sure?

It takes more than a lock on the front door to truly defend against the many security risks posed toward everyday businesses. Thieves are clever, and if you aren’t smarter than they are, you may find your business becoming the next victim of their trade.

Protect your investment. Learn about these 5 common security risks for companies as well as the best ways to defend against them.

5 Security Risks Your Business Should Defend Itself Against

When you realize the threats against your business can be both internal and external, it can be unnerving. However, knowing the risks will allow you to be proactive in reducing, defending against, or eliminating them.

Here are five risks to look out for and how to protect your business from falling victim to them.

1. Guarding Your Business Against Burglary and Theft

One of the most recognizable threats to any brick and mortar business is the possibility of burglary and theft. Take a walkthrough of your premises and thoroughly investigate its internal and external design.

Do you have locks on all the doors?

Are your windows secured and fortified against shattering?

Do you have locks on the closets and drawers housing sensitive data?

A good locksmith can provide you with a host of security options, including advanced digital locking methods with different levels of security.

2. Protecting Your Company from Prying Eyes

Temptation starts with a glance. As you are doing your walkthroughs, take note of what individuals can see through your windows. Not only can keeping your valuables visible run the risk of burglary or theft, but it can also lead to data breaches.

Employees often will leave sensitive documents on their desk or passwords on sticky notes placed upon their computer monitors. It’s their private office, after all. Who is going to notice?

Yet this is exactly how some businesses have had their sensitive data stolen. Make sure you keep your windows from revealing any important information and have your staff keep private information in a secure location.

3. Preparing a Strategy Against Mother Nature

We often don’t consider Mother Nature a threat until she rears her ugly head. Consider the area in which your business is located.

What are the common natural disasters in that area?

Do you have the proper insurance or precautions to defend against them?

While natural disasters are less common than intentional security threats, they are no less devastating. That’s why it’s important to be proactive, not reactive, in your defense against them.

Have a procedure in place and any physical fortifications you may need to better protect your investment.

4. Defending Against Cyber Attacks

Are your emails encrypted?

Do you have a firewall or other digital security protection standing guard over your server and hardware?

If not, act quickly. Cybersecurity threats are on the rise, including ransomware–a form of malware designed to hold your business’ data hostage until you pay a ransom.

Many businesses hire data centers to manage and protect their data, server, and backups.

5. Identifying Infiltration Threats

Do you have security cameras in your business? If not, you should install them. Some of the biggest threats to your business can start from the inside.

While none of us want to think our employees would work against us, it happens quite often. All it takes is data stolen via USB or an employee getting his or her hands on information or hardware that they aren’t privy to.

Create a plan and procedure to protect your business through various clearance levels and managing employee access to control panels, information, or rooms they don’t need access to.

Is It Time to Upgrade Your Business Locks?

If you need help protecting your business against physical security risks, talk to Kenny’s Locks. Servicing Dorchester, Massachusetts and the surrounding area, we can help you explore your options and choose the best locks to crack down on your business’ defenses.

You might be surprised to learn that many companies aren’t always clear about all of the services that a commercial locksmith is able to provide. 

It’s not just about locks anymore!

A well-trained commercial locksmith is a very important partner for your business/building, and is able to help you in a wide variety of ways that you might not have thought of. 

But rather than bore you with a simple list of the various services a commercial locksmith is able to provide, here’s a great article that adds some interesting background to the history of the commercial locksmith, as well as offering a good overview of today’s services. 

 

Take a few minutes and read an entertaining look back, and then a look into the present day.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Commercial Locksmith: 4 Essential Business Services

Theft will always be at the back of your mind if you own a business. In 2016, nearly nine percent of small businesses were victims of theft or burglary. If you don’t want to be one of them, protecting your place of business should be a priority.

The best way to defend an area is to control the access points. Doors and windows are the first lines of defense against intruders.

Securing these entry points with strong locks is one of the most basic and effective strategies to protect your property.

Commercial locksmith services offer this and more. Here are four reasons why you need to hire a professional locksmith to safeguard your business.

1. Be the Master of Your Domain

As the boss, you need to have access to all the areas of your business. Installing a master key system is one of the conveniences a professional locksmith can implement. Instead of carrying a bunch of keys, you now have the ‘one key to rule them all.’

Convenience is one thing, but that is not the only benefit of having a master key.

With a master key system, you can organize and streamline the workflow of your office. You have control over which areas some employees have access to, and which areas they don’t.

This will help prevent employee theft and unauthorized use of office equipment. Also, knowing that you can enter any room at any time will keep your employees honest and transparent.

2. Fortify Your Locks with Restricted Key Systems

A castle is only as strong as its fortifications. For business offices, security depends on how tough the locks are.

For this reason, areas that are marked restricted should have specialized locks with specialized keys. This is accomplished by installing a restricted key system.

With this system in place, you have locks with high-security cylinders that are resistant to lock-picking and lock bumping.

Your keys will be copy-proof due to the unique patented design. These keys are also larger and thicker, and thus, more durable than standard keys.

3. Escape Danger

An exit device, also known as push bar or panic bar, is a spring loaded bar mounted on the egress side of the door. One push will unlatch the lock, allowing easy exit in emergency situations.

A professional locksmith can install exit devices to increase the safety of your employees. Doors with these devices remain locked and only allow exit, not entry.

4. New Technology Offered by a Commercial Locksmith Service

Nowadays, everything is digital, from phones to currency.

While the traditional lock and key system can provide security, it also has drawbacks. These include requiring a ‘keyholder’ person to open the lock and door manually, and keys getting lost or copied.

Technology provides solutions to some of the limitations of mechanical locks.

A digital door lock with a keyless entry can be set up by a commercial locksmith. You can open this lock with certain credentials, such as passwords, key fob, or biometric scans.

Eliminating the need for a physical key is just one of its advantages. Doors can be opened remotely with a telephone entry system. You can also check who entered a specific room and when.

However, this technology has disadvantages as well. Sometimes, simple is best, and the lock and key method may be more suitable to your needs. Contact us and we’ll help you decide!

 

 

It seems that everything around is electronic today,  but should the locks on your Dorchester home or business also be electronic? This blog post explores three types of electronic locks, and looks at the pros and cons for each. 

1. App based Access

Also known as wireless access control. These locks work with a key or by an electronic signal. Like everything with technology, the more it is used, the cheaper it becomes. As such, many homes and businesses have locks that are app based.

Are they Good or Bad?

First, there is a difference between wired and wireless. The technology for both is good, but wireless has not completely caught up with electronic locks for wired doors. The second issue with wireless locks is that they are not always in real-time. If there is a problem, access is not immediate. While the idea of wireless locks is appealing, there is still a ways to go before these types of locks become standard. 

2. Keypad Control Access 

The big feature here is that you never have to worry about losing your door key again. All you need to do is remember the access code, and your door opens. Is that a good thing? For many of us yes it is. Because this technology is older, the options for keypads for homes and businesses in the Dorchester or Revere area are affordable. 

Are They Good or Bad?

Yes. These locks are very secure, and they give homeowners many options for placement of the lock pad. Also, the code is easy to share so your mom can get into your house if you are still at work  – simply by calling you. If there is a downside to these locks, it is that the keypad needs to be sheltered from the extreme weather. Otherwise, these locks bring a modern approach and many conveniences to homes and commercial properties. The trick to keeping these locks secure is to safeguard the code. 

Keypad locks work best with a security system. When the locks first appeared, they were easier to crack than they are today. Thieves would simply look at the keypad and see which numbers were used the most, and then try to guess the code. Burglars don’t have that much time to devote to trying to crack the code.  

3. Token Access – Also known as a FOB Locks.

These locks work much like the ones on your car. If you have the FOB in your pocket and you approach the door, then the lock automatically opens. While the idea is appealing, there are potential issues for home use. These locks work well when access to a building is secured through other means, such as a deadbolt lock. For businesses, FOB locks are beneficial and help to segregate access to specific areas. 

Are they Good?

For homes, these locks are not the safest. The car thieves have already figured out how to bypass wireless car door locks to gain access to vehicles. It is just a short jump to bridge the technology to those locks on people’s homes. 

If you are looking for a modern way to secure your home, consider a keypad lock for your doors. If you are unsure what type of locks work the best, reach out to our professionals, and we can walk you through your options. 

 

Was there ever a situation that required the help of a locksmith? If not, the chances are good that there will be!

Finding the right locksmith, especially in an emergency situation, isn’t easy.  Follow these guidelines to help choose the right locksmith for your needs.

Never agree to having your lock completely replaced simply because you locked yourself out of your home or business. Talented locksmiths can unlock almost every door without needing to replace a lock. Replacing a lock will force you to spend extra money for no reason.

Research a locksmith prior to hiring them. You do not want to get someone that is untrustworthy. There are less than reputable locksmiths out there who make a habit of making extra copies of keys for themselves, so use caution. Make sure any locksmith you hire will have an id before you schedule an appointment. Ask them while they’re on a phone and say that you’re expecting someone that’s a professional to identify who they are. A good professional should also be in uniform, but at least make sure an id is involved before you accept services from them.

Be wary of locksmiths who increase the quote once they arrive at your location. Some will try and get more money than they deserve. Refuse to work with the individual and continue your search elsewhere.

Always be prepared, regardless of whether you think you’ll ever be locked out or not. Research before you need one and find someone that you can trust. Put a locksmith’s contact number into your cell phone for easy access.

Avoid additional fees by not calling a locksmith after regular business hours. After hours, you can expect locksmith costs to vary quite a bit. For example, finding yourself locked outside of your car during business hours may cost $100 or so, but after hours this can easily double.

Choose a company that is an active participant of their professional community. While this is just a bonus, you can be assured that a locksmith that is a member of an association or earns additional certifications is up on current trends. It can also help you avoid poor locksmiths that take you for all you’ve got!

Before permitting a locksmith in your house, get some references from him. Next, call all of them to make sure he is the real deal. Naturally, you want a skilled technician, but you also need to be able to trust this person. Look at a prospective locksmith’s credentials before allowing them in your home. Cross-reference the address on the listing that you found with the phone number that is given to you. With easy online access, you can double check anyone you want to hire.

Ask the locksmith how long he or she has worked. If it’s been quite a while, they are likely reliable. A new locksmith isn’t necessarily untrustworthy, but you should proceed with caution.

After the job is complete it is important that the locksmith give you a receipt for the services that were performed. Most locksmiths are of course honest, but there are scam artists out there. Get proof that you paid for the service before the locksmith leaves. Keep your receipt safe and stored in case a problem arises.

A little preparation, and a lot of common sense will protect you and help ensure that you work with the right locksmith. Use these tips to help you find the right one for you!