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The Seven Things To Consider Before Buying An Intruder Alarm For Your Business

Oct 13, 2017

If you have a small business, you’ll want to protect it. After all, it’s your livelihood.

But when it comes to an intruder alarm, it’s not a case of selecting the cheapest or just any old system off the shelf. Instead, you need to invest in what your business needs and make sure you consider any insurance requirements too.

Here are seven things to consider to ensure you get it right.

1. Is the system scalable?

While you want to protect your business now, you also want to bear in mind any growth plans for the future. If you increase the size of your building or extend the size of your team, how easily can your security system be modified to cope with the additional needs?

Ideally, you want a system that can be upgraded with minimal disruption and at a cost that pays.

2. System requirements

Long gone are the days when an intruder alarm was all about a noisy deterrent.

Modern advancements in smart technology means you have far more choice over what your system is able to do. That includes everything from access control to in-built fire detectors, to the ability to print out who’s on site at any one time.

In short, don’t build a system around its use as a criminal deterrent alone. Take time to understand all the features available so that you end up with a valuable asset that adds value every day of the week.

3. Priorities

Due to the number of functions now available, a new intruder system can cost a serious amount of money. That said, you should also be mindful of your budget. You don’t want to stretch yourself unnecessarily or invest in ‘nice-to-haves’ that aren’t business critical right now.

This is where your budget matters. You want to get the balance right between what your business needs and what you can afford and need to do.

4. Design

Protecting your business involves more than installing a few sensors and adding a bell box to the external walls. The real installation skill comes from knowing where to place sensors to maximise protection.

That’s why a good alarm company will seek to understand your business first. They’ll want to know about your operation, your workforce, and your visitors. They’ll want to know about stock and vehicles and the state of your perimeter. 

In short, it’s only when you understand the big picture at your business that anyone can design a security system that’s fit for purpose.

5. Contingencies

Most intruder systems rely on a mains power supply to keep the batteries charged, but there will be times when this isn’t available.

For example, outages and power surges can cut power to your alarm system rendering it relying on the batteries.

That’s why you need a back-up plan. You need to know what will happen to your alarm if there is no mains’ power. This is where back-up batteries and alternatives are key. After all, you’ll only have peace of mind if you know your system is fully functional and operational 24/7.

6. Monitoring & servicing

You’ll rely on your alarm every day and every night. And with so much use, there’s bound to be some wear and tear at times. Over time electrical components will corrode and the back-up battery will run down. That’s why you’ll want to consider maintenance and servicing as well as installation.

Regular system checks are vital for peace of mind and to ensure your security system is operating at its peak.

7. Monitoring

What happens if your intruder alarm sounds?

If you want to ensure someone will respond and investigate, then you’ll need to add on a monitoring package too. There are monitoring and keyholder services that supply this option. Some businesses will also be required to apply for Police Response to comply with their insurance requirement should the worst happen.

As you can see, there’s a lot involved in choosing the perfect security system for your company. That’s why we offer free Site Visits to small businesses that want to protect their livelihood.

So if you want to ensure your security system is up to scratch and fit for the purpose, we’d be very happy to offer you our expert advice. To book a free Site Survey and get a comprehensive proposal that addresses your individual security needs, contact us.

 

 



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Category: Commercial

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